Article #87-1 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from The 1993 CIA World Factbook, by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Names:
conventional long form:
Union of Burma
conventional short form:
Burma
local long form:
Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the US Government as Union of
Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of Myanmar)
local short form:
Myanma Naingngandaw
former:
Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma
Digraph:
BM
Type:
military regime
Capital:
Rangoon (sometimes translated as Yangon)
Administrative divisions:
7 divisions* (yin-mya, singular - yin) and 7 states (pyine-mya, singular -, pyine); Chin State,
Irrawaddy*, Kachin State, Karan State, Kayah State,, Magwe*, Mandalay*, Mon State, Pegu*, Rakhine,
State, Rangoon*, Sagaing*, Shan, State, Tenasserim*, Independence:
4 January 1948 (from UK)
Constitution:
3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988); National Convention
started on 9 January 1993 to draft chapter headings for a new constitution
Legal system:
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 January (1948)
Political parties and leaders:
National Unity Party (NUP; proregime), THA KYAW; National League for
Democracy (NLD), U AUNG SHWE; National Coalition of Union of Burma (NCGUB),
SEIN WIN (which consists of individuals legitimately elected to parliament,
but not recognized by military regime) fled to border area and joined with
insurgents in December 1990 to form a parallel government
Other political or pressure groups:
Kachin Independence Army (KIA); United Wa State Army (UWSA); Karen National
Union (KNU - the only non-drug group); several Shan factions, including the
Mong Tai Army (MTA)
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
People's Assembly:
last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never convened; results - NLD 80%; seats

(485 total) NLD 396, the regime-favored NUP 10, other 79
Executive branch:
chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council, State Law and Order
Restoration Council
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Assembly (Pyithu Hluttaw) was dissolved after the coup
of 18 September 1988
Judicial branch: none; Council of People's Justices was abolished after the coup of 18
September 1988

*Burma, Government

Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Gen. THAN SHWE
(since 23 April 1992)
Member of:
AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador U THAUNG
chancery:
2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 332-9044 through 9046
consulate general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant); Deputy Chief of Mission, Charge d'Affaires Franklin P. HUDDLE, Jr.
embassy:
581 Merchant Street, Rangoon
mailing address:
GPO Box 521, AMEMB Box B, APO AP 96546
telephone:
[95] (1) 82055, 82181
FAX:
[95] (1) 80409
Flag:
red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing, all in
white, 14 five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing a stalk of
rice; the 14 stars represent the 14 administrative divisions

Explanation

This excerpt from The 1993 CIA World Factbook is a dry, bureaucratic entry on Burma (now Myanmar), but it is densely packed with historical, political, and geopolitical significance. Below is a detailed breakdown of the text, focusing on its content, subtext, themes, and implications, while also addressing its literary and rhetorical features—despite its non-literary nature.

1. Context & Source

The CIA World Factbook is an annual publication by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency providing geopolitical, economic, and demographic data on countries worldwide. The 1993 edition reflects Burma’s post-colonial, post-coup reality under military rule. Key historical context:

Colonial Legacy: Burma gained independence from Britain in 1948 after decades of colonial rule (noted in the "Independence" line).
Military Coup (1988): The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), a military junta, seized power in a violent coup, crushing pro-democracy protests (the 8888 Uprising).
1990 Election & Aftermath: The National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi, won a landslide victory (80% of seats), but the junta refused to recognize the results, dissolving the legislature and arresting opposition leaders.
Name Controversy: The junta renamed the country "Myanmar" in 1989, a move not recognized by the U.S. or pro-democracy groups (hence the Factbook’s use of "Burma").

This entry is not neutral—it reflects U.S. government perspectives, including non-recognition of the junta’s legitimacy and support for the exiled democratic opposition.

2. Themes

A. Authoritarianism & Military Rule

The text explicitly and implicitly highlights Burma’s military dictatorship:

"Type: military regime" – Directly labels the government as undemocratic.
"Constitution: 3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988)" – The junta abolished the constitution, ruling by decree.
"Judicial branch: none" – The Council of People’s Justices was abolished, meaning no independent judiciary exists.
"Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly... dissolved after the coup" – The elected body was disbanded, replacing democracy with military fiat.

The absence of legal or legislative checks underscores a totalitarian structure.

B. Suppressed Democracy & Resistance

The entry contrasts the junta’s power with democratic resistance:

"Elections: last held 27 May 1990... NLD 80%... Assembly never convened" – The junta ignored the people’s will.
"National Coalition of Union of Burma (NCGUB)... fled to border area and joined with insurgents" – Exiled politicians formed a parallel government, signaling ongoing civil conflict.
"Other political or pressure groups: Kachin Independence Army (KIA); United Wa State Army (UWSA); Karen National Union (KNU)" – Lists ethnic armed groups fighting the regime, indicating widespread insurgency.

The NLD’s landslide victory vs. the military’s refusal to cede power frames Burma as a battle between democracy and dictatorship.

C. Ethnic Fragmentation & Conflict

Burma’s diverse ethnic groups (Chin, Kachin, Karen, Shan, etc.) are politically marginalized:

"Administrative divisions: 7 divisions and 7 states" – The states (e.g., Kachin, Shan) are ethnic homelands, while divisions (e.g., Rangoon, Mandalay) are Burman-majority.
"Karen National Union (KNU - the only non-drug group)" – Implies other groups (like the United Wa State Army) are involved in the drug trade, complicating their moral standing.
"Several Shan factions, including the Mong Tai Army (MTA)" – Highlights factionalism within ethnic groups, some of which collaborate with the regime (e.g., Wa groups allied with the junta).

This reflects decades of civil war between the Bamar (Burman) majority and ethnic minorities.

D. International Isolation & Diplomacy

"Has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction" – The junta rejects international legal oversight.
"Member of: UN, WHO, IMF, etc." – Despite repression, Burma maintains diplomatic ties, though many nations (like the U.S.) do not recognize the junta’s legitimacy.
"US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: (vacant)" – The U.S. had no ambassador, only a Chargé d’Affaires, signaling diplomatic downgrade in protest.

3. Literary & Rhetorical Devices

Though a fact-based document, the text employs subtle rhetorical strategies:

A. Juxtaposition & Irony

"Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal" vs. "Assembly never convened" – The right to vote exists, but elections are meaningless.
"National holiday: Independence Day, 4 January (1948)" – Ironically, Burma is not free under military rule.

B. Omission & Implication

No mention of Aung San Suu Kyi (though she was under house arrest and the NLD’s leader) – Her erasure reflects the junta’s suppression of dissent.
"Several Shan factions" – The vagueness suggests complex, shifting alliances in the civil war.

C. Bureaucratic Language as a Mask for Brutality

"State Law and Order Restoration Council" – A euphemism for a military dictatorship.
"Dissolved after the coup" – Passive voice obscures the junta’s violence (e.g., massacres of protesters in 1988).

D. Symbolism in the Flag Description

"14 stars represent the 14 administrative divisions" – Supposedly unity, but in reality, forced assimilation of ethnic groups.
"Cogwheel and rice stalk" – Industrial and agricultural symbols, but under the junta, these sectors were mismanaged, leading to poverty.

4. Significance of the Text

A. Historical Snapshot of a Pariah State

This entry captures Burma in 1993, a time when:

The junta was consolidating power after the 1988 coup.
The NLD’s election victory was nullified, making Burma an international pariah.
Ethnic conflicts were escalating, with some groups (like the Wa) allying with the regime for autonomy.

B. U.S. Foreign Policy Stance

The CIA’s framing reflects U.S. opposition to the junta:

Uses "Burma" (not "Myanmar") to delegitimize the regime’s name change.
Highlights the NLD’s victory and the exiled NCGUB, signaling support for democracy.
Notes the absence of a U.S. ambassador, indicating diplomatic protest.

C. Foreshadowing Future Events

The 1993 National Convention (to draft a new constitution) was a sham process—the junta excluded the NLD and delayed democracy for decades.
The ethnic conflicts listed (Kachin, Karen, Shan) continue today, with some groups (like the Arakan Army) still fighting the military.
The drug trade (implied with the UWSA) remains a major issue, funding both rebels and the military.

5. Conclusion: A Text of Control & Resistance

This apparently neutral CIA entry is deeply political. It:

Documents the junta’s repression (dissolved legislature, no judiciary, ignored elections).
Highlights resistance (NLD, ethnic armies, exiled government).
Uses bureaucratic language to expose brutality (e.g., "dissolved" instead of "violently dismantled").
Serves as a U.S. policy tool, reinforcing non-recognition of the regime.

While not "literary" in a traditional sense, the text reveals power structures through what it includes, omits, and how it phrases information. It is a cold, factual indictment of military rule, framed by the geopolitical interests of the U.S. during the Cold War’s aftermath.

Would you like a deeper dive into any specific aspect (e.g., ethnic conflicts, Aung San Suu Kyi’s role, or the 1990 election)?

Questions

Question 1

The passage’s description of Burma’s administrative divisions—distinguishing between "divisions" (yin-mya) and "states" (pyine-mya)—primarily serves to underscore which of the following tensions?

A. The economic disparity between urban centers like Rangoon and rural agricultural regions.
B. The historical legacy of British colonial border-drawing and its lingering administrative chaos.
C. The ethnic and political fragmentation between the Burman majority and minority groups.
D. The military regime’s strategic prioritization of resource-rich regions over less valuable territories.
E. The bureaucratic inefficiency of a system inherited from the Socialist Republic era.

Question 2

The passage’s treatment of the 1990 election results—noting the NLD’s 80% victory but immediately adding that the "Assembly never convened"—is most effectively read as an example of:

A. bureaucratic understatement masking political repression.
B. neutral reporting constrained by the CIA’s mandate to avoid overt judgment.
C. ironic juxtaposition intended to highlight the absurdity of the military’s claims to legitimacy.
D. a subtle endorsement of the NLD’s right to govern, despite the CIA’s official neutrality.
E. an attempt to balance the perspectives of the junta and the democratic opposition.

Question 3

Which of the following inferences about the United Wa State Army (UWSA) is most strongly supported by the passage’s phrasing?

A. It is the only ethnic armed group that has not engaged in drug trafficking.
B. Its inclusion in the list of "other political or pressure groups" implies a tacit alliance with the military regime.
C. It operates primarily in Shan State, given its proximity to the Mong Tai Army.
D. It is the most militarily powerful of the ethnic insurgent groups.
E. Its political goals are fundamentally aligned with those of the Kachin Independence Army.

Question 4

The passage’s description of the National Coalition of Union of Burma (NCGUB) as consisting of "individuals legitimately elected to parliament, but not recognized by military regime" who "fled to border area and joined with insurgents" is structured to emphasize:

A. the futility of armed resistance against an entrenched military dictatorship.
B. the continuity between democratic governance and insurgent opposition.
C. the CIA’s implicit approval of violent resistance as a last resort.
D. the moral equivalence between the junta and the exiled politicians.
E. the geographical isolation of Burma’s pro-democracy movement.

Question 5

The flag’s symbolism—"14 five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing a stalk of rice"—is most effectively interpreted in the context of the passage as:

A. a sincere attempt to represent Burma’s unity and agricultural-industrial balance.
B. a propaganda tool to obscure the regime’s failure to achieve economic development.
C. an ironic contrast to the reality of ethnic conflict and state-controlled agriculture.
D. a bureaucratic artifact with no meaningful connection to the country’s political realities.
E. a concession to ethnic minorities, given the equal representation of all 14 divisions.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: C

Why C is most correct: The distinction between "divisions" (Burman-majority regions) and "states" (ethnic homelands) is a structural reflection of ethnic and political fragmentation. The passage lists 7 divisions (e.g., Rangoon, Mandalay) alongside 7 states (e.g., Chin State, Kachin State), signaling a dual administrative system that mirrors the Burman-dominated central government’s uneasy control over ethnic peripheries. This tension is central to Burma’s civil conflicts and the junta’s assimilationist policies.