By: Ashley Poyer and Olivia Sysak
 Burma is home to one of the world’s most oppressive and abusive military regimes.
The militarized government has developed plans to eliminate those who do not fit
in to what is thought of as being “Burmese.”
 As result the Karen, the largest indigenous ethnic group in Burma, who practice
Christianity in a mostly Buddhist nation, have become subject to execution, severe
torture, forced labor, extortion, and displacement.
 The Rohingya – A Muslim ethnic minority that are considered by the UN to be one
of the most oppressed people on Earth.
 The Kachin – A Christian minority that have consistently been targeted for their
Christian beliefs.
 The Shan – A community that is abused for agriculture and domestic use by the
government for mining projects.
 The Chin - A Christian minority group that is put into forced labor programs
through the army and are banned from attending culturally Chin private schools.
The Rohingya
 1962 – The Burmese military government took control and started waging counter-
insurgency campaigns against ethnic minorities.
 1988 – A Student led demonstrations broke out in response to deteriorating
economic conditions. The Burmese military violently reacted, killing over 1,000
protesters.
 2008 - Cyclone Nargis destroyed the country, killing an estimated 130,000 people.
Despite the massive destruction, Burma’s isolationist regime denied access to
international aid workers.
 2010/2012 – The military-backed government released pro-democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest and began a series of political reforms. She
was elected to parliament in the April 1st, 2012.
In 2010, the Burmese government
underwent a series of political
reforms. Since then, many sanctions
have been lifted, high-level
diplomats have visited, and there has
been increased economic and
military cooperation.
 The Obama administration appointed Derek Mitchell as the U.S.
Ambassador to Burma in 2012, lifted a travel ban on some of the
country’s senior leaders and eased sanctions on American
investments. In November 2012, President Obama became the first
U.S. president to visit Burma and he returned in November 2014.
 “ I pledge to do my part in preventing
any further genocides throughout the
world by spreading awareness”
 http://endgenocide.org/conflict-areas/burma-backgrounder/
 http://worldwithoutgenocide.org/genocides-and-conflicts/burma