An Asian country bordering China and Thailand, Burma is home to over 41 million people. Prior to World War II, it had been invaded and ruled by Britain. Seeking to drive them out, the Burmese people formed an alliance with Japan. But at the end of the war, the Japanese severely persecuted the Burmese people forcing them to side with the British against Japan. When Japan was defeated, the British agreed to relinquish control of Burma. Aung San, a popular general, was elected. He was killed three months later before taking office.

In 1962, General Ne Win staged a military coup of the government and installed himself as the new leader declaring a socialist agenda. The economic situation deteriorated and many shops were taken over by the government, ethnic minorities expelled, and many items were only available black market. This fueled unrest in the Burmese people against Ne Win’s government. Students took to the streets in protest. In 1988 under mounting pressure, Ne Win yielded power to the State Law and Order Restoration Council. This military regime’s response was to gun down and murder the protesters. Thousands of innocent people were killed. The military roamed the city hunting down and killing unarmed civilian protesters. The bodies were burned in the street, some while still alive.

Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of Aung San who helped Burma to gain independence from British rule, spoke out against the SLORC. She urged the people to continue to resist non-violently even, herself, calmly facing soldiers ordered to shoot her. She was placed under house arrest.
Thinking they had silenced all opposition leaders, in 1990 they held elections only to have over 80% of the population vote for Aung San Suu Kyi. The SLORC refused to accept the results and retained power over the country.
In 1991, Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Western countries put economic sanctions in place that nearly drove the already decimated country to complete collapse.
Aung San Suu Kyi has been released only to be placed under house arrest again. She has never been able to claim the leadership position that she was elected to by an overwhelming majority of the population. As of the time this song is being written, September 2003, she is still imprisoned by the military regime that has a stranglehold on Burma.

Sources:
“A rising tide of reasons to boycott Burma” By Andrew Silver, Chapel Hill. 8 August, 1997
“Burma: 40 Years of Repression” By Yvette Turlings, 18 July 2002 Radio Netherlands