Burma gains independence from Britain and moves toward a democracy. Thousands of pro-democracy protesters are killed and jailed in demonstrations violently quelled by military authorities. Thousands of Burmese flee to Thailand, China and India. Burma is renamed Myanmar. Military refuses to recognize winners from the National League for Democracy, led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who was placed under house arrest the previous year.
Schools open a short time, but universities are closed again.
United States imposes sanctions against Burma.