Myanmar
Historical Chronology

The Council held consultations on Myanmar with the Secretary-General’s Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari present.  In informal comments at the media stakeout afterward, Ambassador Le Luong Minh of Vietnam, Council president for July, noted that the Council reaffirmed its support for the good offices role of the Secretary-General.

Louis Michel, the EU Commissioner for Development and Aid, was allowed to visit Myanmar for two days. The Thai prime minister, Samak Sundaravej, visited Myanmar but failed to convince the Myanmar government to let in foreign aid workers.

13 May 2008

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said a second catastrophe resulting from an outbreak of infectious diseases could occur unless more access was granted to allow aid to move in rapidly. They noted that 12 days after the cyclone hit Myanmar less than one-third of the people who needed help had been reached.

12 May 2008

The Secretary-General expressed his “deep concern and immense frustration at the unacceptably slow response to this grave humanitarian crisis.” The Secretary-General convened a meeting of key donors and representatives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to discuss options for speeding up aid delivery to the cyclone victims.

10 May 2008

The Myanmar government’s referendum to adopt a new constitution went forward in spite of the humanitarian crisis in the south of the country.  The only concession was to postpone voting in the worst hit areas for two weeks.

7 May 2008

France asked the Council to agree to a briefing from Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes. France’s request was supported by the US and the UK but rejected by some other members. France invoked the concept of “responsibility to protect” as the basis for Council action to get aid into Myanmar.  This proposal was met with considerable resistance.  

2 May 2008

Cyclone Nargis struck the country. In the lead up to the 10 May referendum (and before the news of the cyclone reached it), the Council issued a presidential statement noting a commitment from the Myanmar government that the referendum would be free and fair. In the statement, it underlined the need for the government of Myanmar to “establish the conditions and create an atmosphere conducive to an inclusive and credible process” (S/PRST/2008/13). The Myanmar ambassador responded with a letter characterising the presidential statement as “highly objectionable” (S/2008/289).  

Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council (HRC) on Myanmar, reported to the HRC that the Myanmar government had accelerated rather than stopped unlawful arrests and that around 1,850 political prisoners were behind bars as of January 2008.

The Secretary-General’s Special Advisor, Ibrahim Gambari, briefed the Secretary-General on his 6 to 9 March trip to Myanmar.

6 to 9 March 2008

The Secretary-General’s Special Advisor, Ibrahim Gambari, visitied Myanmar where he met with Myanmar's foreign minister and several other ministers, members of the Convention involved in drafting the constitution, individuals planning the referendum and several political parties, including the National League for Democracy.  He also held two meetings with Aung San Suu Kyi. The Myanmar press reported that the government rejected Gambari's suggestion that Myanmar invite international observers to the referendum. 

25 February 2008

The US expanded personal and business sanctions imposed on individual family members of Myanmar's ruling State, Peace and Development Council (SPDC) after the crack-down last year.

Nine nobel laureates, led by Desmond Tutu, urged the Council and the international community to impose arms and banking sanctions on Myanmar for failing to move towards democracy.  Their statement said that Myanmar's military rulers had "made no overtures and no progress on national reconciliation."

19 February 2008

The Myanmar government announced that in May 2008 it will hold a referendum on a new constitution written under military guidance, and "multi-party democratic" elections in 2010. 

11 February 2008

Two dozen members of the National League for Democracy protested outside their headquarters calling for the release of political prisoners and asking for genuine dialogue towards reconciliation. 

The Council adopted a press statement reiterating full support for the efforts of the Secretary-General’s Special Advisor, Ibrahim Gambari, and “underscored the importance of further progress, noting that an early visit to Myanmar by Mr. Gambari could help facilitate this” (SC/9228).

The Council issued a press statement, which deplored "that many prisoners are still in jail and new arrests have occurred"; stressed the need for the Myanmar government "to create conditions for dialogue and reconciliation by relaxing as a first step, the conditions of detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and release of political prisoners and detainees"; and confirmed that the Council would "keep developments in Myanmar under close review" (SC/9171). 

11 November 2007

The Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, travelled to  Myanmar for the first time in four years.

9 November 2007

Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed for the first time in three years to meet with members of her party, the National League of Democracy.  She told them she was "very optimistic" about the UN's efforts to start talks between the military government and pro-democracy forces.

8 November 2007

While in Singapore on his way back to New York from Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari relased a statement on behalf of Aung San Suu Kyi in which she sadi that she was ready to cooperate with the government to make the dialogue process a success and expressed her commitment to pursuing the path of dialogue constructively.

3 to 8 November 2007

Ibrahim Gambari, the Secretary-General's Special Advisor on Myanmar, visited the country.  While there, he met with the country's new Prime Minister, General Thein Sein, Aung San Suu Kyi, foreign diplomats, the International Red Cross and some ethnic minorities.

2 November 2007

The Myanmar government asked Charles Petrie, head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Myanmar, to leave the country in reaction to a UNDP statement urging the government to listen to dissenting voices and warning of a "deteriorating humanitarian situation."

Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed out of her house to meet with a liaison officer appointed to "smooth relations" with her.

19 October 2007

US added more military leaders to its sanctions list and tightened further sanctions on US exports. EU also banned imports of Burmese timber, gemstones and precious metals.

11 October 2007

The Council adopted its first presidential statement on Myanmar.

5 October 2007

Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari briefed the Council on his visit to Myanmar.

26 September 2007

The Security Council held an emergency meeting during which it supported the Secretary-General's decision to send Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari to the region.

24 September 2007

Protests occurred in over 25 cities and towns, with an estimated 50,000 - 100,000 protestors in Rangoon alone.

Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari briefed the Council on Myanmar, expressing concern with the situation of political detainees in the country.

18 September 2007

There were several protest marches involving hundreds of monks and civilians who joined them. Tear gas was used to break up demonstrations in the northwestern city of Sittwe. 

13 September 2007

Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, singled out the situation in Myanmar for special mention in her address to the Human Rights Council. 

8 September 2007

At Asia Pacific Cooperation forum, Indonesian President Susilo Yudhoyono and US President George W. Bush agreed on the need to get countries in the region involved in resolving the Myanmar crisis.

3 September 2007

Ibrahim Gambari, the Secretary-General's Special Advisor on Myanmar, said in a press conference that the crackdown by Myanmar's govnerment called into question its commitment to democratisation and made it more difficult to maintain international support for Myanmar. 

early September 2007

Buddhist monks held a peaceful protest in Pakokku in support of the demonstrations that began in August. Tensions between government officials and the monks escalated when several monks were hurt by officials during the Pakokku protest.  The monks reacted by briefly kidnapping security officers and burning their cars. The government then posted police in front of monasteries in key cities.  

early September 2007

The Myanmar government completed the first stage of its "roadmap to democracy" producing guidelines for a new constitution.  Observers noted that a constitution based on these guidelines would legitimise military rule. 

23 August 2007

Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon issued a statement calling on all parties "to exercise maximum restraint in responding to protests" and to avoid "provocative action."

19 August 2007

Demonstrations began in reaction to the government's steep hike in fuel prices.

late June 2007

International Committee of the Red Cross  (ICRC) publicly censured Myanmar's government accusing it of committing serious abuses against detainees and civilians.

9 - 12 November 2006

Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari visited Myanmar for a second time in 2006 and emphasised to government officials the importance of taking concrete steps toward democracy.

September 2006

Myanmar was formally added to the Council's agenda. 

27 May 2006

Myanmar extended Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest for another year. 

18 - 20 May 2006

Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari visited Myanmar and held high-level talks with the Myanmar government and opposition leaders.  He also was allowed to meet for an hour with Aung San Suu Kyi. 

16 December 2005

The Security Council held its first ever briefing on the situation in Myanmar.

6 July 2005

The Government of Myanmar released 249 political prisoners.

June 2005

The US raised concerns about Myanmar at the Council's closed consultations under "other matters."

17 February 2005

The National Convention reconvened, without the involvement of the National League for Democracy.

17 May 2004

National constitutional convention reconvened.

30 August 2003

The ruling party, the State Peace and Development Council, announced the road map to democracy. Gen. Khin Nyunt succeeded Than Shwe as prime minister. Shwe remained head of the State Peace and Development Council.

30 May 2003

Aung San Suu Kyi and a convoy of supporters were attacked by a militia outside Mandalay. Suu Kyi was arrested shortly after.

May 2002

Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest.

December 2000

Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro of Brazil became the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, succeeding Rajsoomer Lallah.

September 2000

Aung San Suu Kyi was again placed under house arrest.

August 2000

Aung San Suu Kyi and a convoy of National League for Democracy members faced off with police. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on the government to engage in political dialogue with the National League for Democracy.

April 2000

The Secretary-General appointed Razali Ismail of Malaysia as his Special Envoy for Myanmar, replacing Alvaro de Soto.

1997

The ruling party, the State Law and Order Restoration Council, changed name to State Peace and Development Council.

1997

The Secretary-General appointed Alvaro de Soto of Peru as his Special Envoy to Myanmar.

1996

A national constitution convention closed without drafting a new constitution.

1996

Rajsoomer Lallah of Mauritius became the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, succeeding Yozo Yokota.

10 July 1995

Aung San Suu Kyi released from house arrest.

1995

National League for Democracy members walked out of the national constitutional convention because of restrictions on debate.

January 1993

The government started a national constitutional convention.

3 March 1992

The Commission on Human Rights, in resolution 1992/58, established a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. Yozo Yokota of Japan was named to the post.

17 December 1991

The General Assembly passed resolution 46/132, deploring the fact that the Government of Myanmar had not fulfilled commitments to taking steps toward the establishment of a democracy and expressed concern at the seriousness of the human rights situation in the country.

1991

Aung San Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize for her non-violent opposition to the government.

27 May 1990

The National League for Democracy won 80 percent of the parliamentary seats in the first multiparty election since a military coup toppled the government in 1962. The military regime refused to relinquish power.

June 1989

The military government changed the country's name from Burma to Myanmar.

1989

The government placed Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest.

8 August 1988

The military fired upon protestors that were demonstrating against the government.

March 1962

General Ne Win led a military coup that toppled the government.

4 January 1948

Burma gained independence from Great Britain.