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$Unique_ID{COW00653}
$Pretitle{261}
$Title{Myanmar (Burma)
Basic Facts on the Union of Myanmar}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{The Union of Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs}
$Affiliation{Embassy of Myanmar, Washington DC}
$Subject{state
myanmar
union
law
order
council
restoration
degrees
commission
country}
$Date{1990}
$Log{Table 1.*0065301.tab
Table 2.*0065302.tab
Table 3.*0065303.tab
Table 4.*0065304.tab
}
Country: Myanmar (Burma)
Book: Basic Facts on the Union of Myanmar
Author: The Union of Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Affiliation: Embassy of Myanmar, Washington DC
Date: 1990
Basic Facts on the Union of Myanmar
Geography
Mynamar is situated in Southeast Asia and is bordered on the north and
northeast by China, on the east and southeast by Laos and Thailand, on the
south by the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal and on the west by Bangladesh
and India. The country covers an area of 677,000 square kilometres (261, 228
square miles) in the shape of a diamond, 936 kilometres (582 miles) from east
to west and 2051 kilometres (1275 miles) from north to south. It is a land of
hills and valleys and is rimmed in the north, east and west by mountain
ranges forming a giant horseshoe. Enclosed within the mountain barrier' are
the flat lands of Ayeyarwady, Chindwin and Sittaung River valleys where most
of the country's agricultural land and population is concentrated.
Location
The location of Myanmar is between latitudes 09 degrees 32' N and 28
degrees 31' N and longitudes 92 degrees 10' E and 101 degrees 11' E. The
Tropic of Cancer passes through the country close to Tiddim, Tagaung and
Kutkai towns.
East Longitude 96 degrees 13' and North Latitude 16 degrees 45' run
through Yangon, the Capital of Myanmar. The Myanmar Standard Time, taken as on
East Longitude 97 degrees 30', is six hours thirty minutes (6 hrs. 30 mins.)
ahead of Greenwich mean time.
The length of contiguous frontier is 3828 miles (6159 km) and the coast
line from the mouth of Naaf Rver to Kawthaung is 1385 miles (2228 km).
Climate
The climate of Myanmar is roughly divided into three seasons: Summer,
with highest temperature during March and April in Central Myanmar up to above
110F (43.3C) while in Northern Myanmar it is about 97F (36.1C) and on the Shan
Plateau between 85F (29.4C) and 95F (35C) Rainy Season, from mid May to end of
October, with annual rain fall of less than 40 inches in Central Myanmar while
the coastal regions of Rakhine and Tanintharyi get about 200 inches. Winter
which starts from Novemer to end of February with temperature in hilly areas
with an elevation of over 3000 feet drops below 32F (0C).
As a whole, the location and topography of the country generate a
diversity of climate conditions. Seasonal changes in the monsoon wind
directions create summer, rainy and winter seasons. Extremes of temperature
are rare. The direction of winds and depression bring rains, and in some years
severe storms occur causing damage in Rakhine region.
In Rakhine and Tanintharyi regions, rain fall varies from year to year
though it is always heavy and creates no hardships.
[See Table 1.: Monthly Average Temperature in Yangon]
Population
Population of the Union of Myanmar is 40.22 million in December 1989.
The rate of growth is 1.98%. It is expected that the population will reach
the mark of 50 million by the year 2000.
[See Table 2.: Race, Racial Groups and Population of the Union of Myanmar (AS
OF 31st DECEMBER 1989)]
The Union of Myanmar
The State Flag
The State Flag is rectangular in shape and its background colour is red
with a dark blue canton at the top left corner. A pinion and ears of paddy
encircled with fourteen white stars of equal size have been superimposed on
the dark blue field of the canton.
The centre of the pinion coincides with the centre of the blue canton.
The pinion has fourteen cogs of equal size and within it are two ears of paddy
consisting of 34 grains.
At the top each cog of the pinion is a star with five vertices.
Of the three colours of the Flag, red signifies courage and dicisiveness,
white signifies purity and virtue and dark blue signifies peace and integrity.
Note: The State Flag of the Union of Myanmar was adopted on the 3rd
January 1974 in accordance with Article 190 of the Constitution of the Union
of Myanmar.
The State Seal
The distinguishing features of the State Seal are as follows:
(a) At the centre of the State Seal is a pinion with fourteen equal-sized
cogs on which the map of Myanmar is superimposed. The pinion and the map are
encircled with two ears of paddy.
(b) The ears of paddy are flanked on each side by an artistic Myanmar
lion. The lion on the right side faces towards the right and the one on the
left side faces towards the left.
(c) The words "The Union of Myanmar" are inscribed in Myanmar below the
lions and the ears of paddy.
(d) At the top of the State Seal is a star with five vertices.
(e) Myanmar floral designs are etched on either side of the ears of paddy
and the star.
The State Constitution
On 2nd March 1962, the Revolutionary Council had unavoidably taken over
State power as an historical mission. On 3rd January 1974, State Constitution
conforming to then prevailing conditions, was promulgated with 90.19 per cent
affirmative votes of the people in a National Referendum. The State was
redesignated the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma. On 18th September
1988 the powers of the state have been protected by the Tatmadaw, and the
official title of the State was changed to "The Union of Myanmar".
The State is organized into the following seven States and seven
Divisions:-
(1) Kachin State
(2) Kayah State
(3) Kayin State
(4) Chin State
(5) Sagaing Division
(6) Tanintharyi Division
(7) Bago Division
(8) Magway Division
(9) Mandalay Division
(10) Mon State
(11) Rakhine State
(12) Yangon Division
(13) Shan State
(14) Ayeyarwady Division.
The State Organs
The State Law and Order Restoration Council directs, supervises and
co-ordinates the work of the central and local organs of state power.
The State Law and Order Restoration Council composed of 19 members
including Chairman General Saw Maung and 18 other members.
The following Central Organs of State have been formed to implement the
tasks laid down by the State Law and Order Restoration Council.
The Government of the Union of Myanmar is composed of 9 members including
the Prime Minister and 8 other members.
In its declaration No. 5/88 of 27 September 1988, the State Law and Order
Restoration Council has appointed a Supreme Court with five members and is
headed by Chief Justice U Aung Toe.
The State Law and Order Restoration Council has also appointed U Tha Tun
as Attorney-General and U Khin Zaw as Auditor-General.
A Law and Order Restoration Council has been formed for each State,
Division, Township Sector and Ward/Village Sector.
In its declaration No. 1/88, dated 18 September 1988, the State Law and
Order Restoration Council outlined the immediate tasks as follows:-
1. Maintenance of Law and Order; prevailing peace and tranquillity in the
country.
2. Providing secure and smooth transportation.
3. The State Law and Order Restoration Council will strive for the better
conditions of food, clothing and shelter of the people and render necessary
assistance to the private sector and the co-operatives to do so.
4. To hold Multi-Party Democracy General Elections when the above
measures are completed.
In order to hold the free and fair Multi-Party Democracy General
Elections, a Commission has been formed with following well known
personalities:-
1. U Ba Htay ... Chairman of the Commission,
Retired Treasury Commissi