State in Southeast Asia, in the northern part of the Indochina peninsula.
Territory - 678 thousand sq. km.
Population - 32.57 million (as of January 31, 1979); Burmese — 72%, Karen — 8, Shans — 7, Indians — 3, ranks — 2, Kachins — 0.75, Kaya, Monas, Arakans, and Chinese — less than 1%.
The capital is Rangoon (2.4 million inhabitants with suburbs).
The state language is Burmese.
The dominant religion is Buddhism.
Burma is the oldest country in Southeast Asia. In the XIX century. England, as a result of three wars (1824-26, 1852-53 and 1885), seized Burma and turned it into a colony of the British Empire. The struggle of the Burmese people against British rule in 1930-32. resulted in a popular uprising. In 1942 Burma was occupied by Japan. In March 1945, the Burmese people rose up in an armed uprising, which culminated in the expulsion of the Japanese invaders from the country. After the Second World War, the people of Burma launched a determined struggle for national liberation.
4.1. 1948 Burma was declared an independent republic. The Republic of Burma withdrew from the British Commonwealth and embarked on an independent path of development.
In 1948-62. in power were representatives of the bourgeois-landlord parties. On March 2, 1962, a military coup took place in Burma, as a result of which the national democrats came to power, choosing a socialist orientation in the restructuring of society. The supreme governing body, the Revolutionary Council, created by patriotic officers, issued a political declaration "The Burmese Road to Socialism." In the field of foreign policy, a course of strict neutrality was proclaimed, and from the beginning of the 70s. a policy of active participation in international and regional affairs began to be pursued. Burma stands for the strengthening of peace and stability in Asia, for the transformation of the Indian Ocean into a zone of peace, for the normalization of relations with neighboring countries. Until 1979, she participated in the non-aligned movement.
Since 1948, the armed struggle against the government has not ceased in Burma, which is waged by various insurgent forces enjoying external support. The right-wing feudal-landlord forces act under separatist slogans (the Army of the Shan state, the Kachin army of independence, the Karen national sok-z, etc.). The right-wing bourgeois landlord groups, which are part of the opposition National Democratic Front, are striving to restore the former bourgeois parliamentary regime. Military operations against the government are also carried out by units of the National Democratic Front led by the Communist Party of Burma, supported by the PRC.
The reason for the ongoing internal conflicts in Burma is primarily associated with the policy of the Chinese hegemonists, who take advantage of anti-government rebels of various kinds. Inciting discord between ethnic groups in Burma, encouraging separatists, arming nationalist opposition groups, they are trying to impose their diktat on Burma and force it to pursue a foreign policy course that suits them.
The USSR and other fraternal socialist countries oppose any encroachment on the independence and sovereignty of Burma, and against attempts to push it off the path of independent progressive development. The Soviet public welcomed the efforts of the Burma government aimed at a political solution to the problem of restoring internal peace. However, these efforts, due to interference in the internal affairs of Burma by external forces, primarily China, did not yield positive results.
According to the constitution, Burma 4.1. 1974 the Union of Burma was proclaimed by the Socialist Republic of Burma (it includes seven Burmese and seven national regions - Arakan, Karenni, Kachin, Kaya, Moi, Chin and Shan).
The highest body of state power is the unicameral National Assembly (464 deputies, elected for 4 years), and in the period between sessions, the State Council (29 members). Chairman of the State Council (President of the SRBS) - Ne Vin. Executive power is exercised by the Council of Ministers. Prime Minister - Maun Maun Kha.
In 1964, the Revolutionary Council adopted the Law on the Protection of National Unity, which disbanded all political parties and mass organizations and introduced a one-party system. In 1962, the ruling Lanzin party, the Burmese Socialist Program Party (BSPP), began to form. In 1971, the 1st Congress of the BSPP was held, which completed the process of transforming the party from a cadre to a mass one. In 1973, the Second Congress of the BSPP approved the draft of a new constitution, which in December 1973 was approved by the overwhelming majority of the population in a popular referendum. In 1977, the III Congress of the BSPP took place, which adopted directives for the development plan of the national. economy in 1978/79 - 1981/82 Chairman of the Central Committee of the BSPP - Ne Win, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the BSPC - San Yu.
Under the leadership of the PBSP, there are mass public organizations: the Workers' Organization of Burma, the Peasant Organization of Burma, the youth organization "Lanzin", the Veteran Organization.
Burma is an agricultural country. It has significant reserves of oil, zinc, silver, tungsten, tin and other minerals; rich in valuable species of trees, especially teak.
Under the leadership of the national democrats in Burma in the 60s, the nationalization of foreign industrial and banking capital, transport, communications, external and internal wholesale trade, and an agrarian reform was carried out. The public sector plays an important role in the development of the national economy, which accounted for 36% of GNP in the 1977/78 financial year. The cooperative sector is also developing (there are 20.7 thousand cooperatives).
Agriculture employs 70% of the working-age population and accounts for more than half of foreign exchange earnings. The growth in agricultural production in 1978/79 amounted to 7.9%, animal husbandry and fishing - 5.3%. The main agricultural crop is rice, which is the main export. The harvest in 1978/79 was 10.3 million tons. Wheat, sugar cane, cotton, jute, sesame, corn, and legumes are also grown. In 1978/79 produced (thousand tons): jute - 94, cotton - 51, corn - 76, wheat - 70, rubber - 15. Livestock (million heads): cattle - 7.9, buffaloes - 1.8, sheep and goats - 0.8, pigs - 2.
The main industries are manufacturing and mining. In 1978/79, it was produced (thousand tons): oil - 1620, zinc - 6, tin - 1.4, copper - 5.2, electricity - 978 million kWh; 380 thousand tons of teak and 913 thousand tons of hardwood were harvested.
Length of rail roads - 5 thousand km, automobile - 15.5 thousand km. River fleet - about 1700 self-propelled ships, sea - 230. Monetary unit - kyat (ja). 100 J = 9.41 rubles. (1980). The main export items are rice, timber, jute, non-ferrous metals, and precious stones. Trade partners: Japan, Germany, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, England and Singapore.
In 1978/79, the financial per capita income was $ 140. There were over 300,000 unemployed in the country.
The rationed distribution of consumer goods at state prices is preserved.
