People took to the streets to demonstrate for democracy, but the military retaliated in the summer of 1988 by gunning down thousands of civilians. Soon afterward the military announced that the State Law and Order Restoration Council would rule the country. Years of ruthless and violent repression against all citizens have been the result. In 1991, Aung San Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize, but remained a prisoner under house arrest until her release in July of 1995. Despite Ms. Suu Kyi's release, which many hoped would spark an improvement in human rights standards, widespread political repression, human rights abuses, abject poverty, forced labor, and summary executions continue unabated.
Most foreign revenue is derived from natural gas and oil reserves.
Saying, 'We know they're doing it, but we're not doing it', doesn't let you off the hook. If you know it's being done, you're ethically responsible for it. It's your responsibility to mitigate the harm they're doing to those people. Many economists believe that investment in Burma is just bad business. Tough sanctions, not 'constructive engagement', finally brought the release of Nelson Mandela and the dawn of a new era in my country.