Describe the government of Burma (Myanmar), and explain the civil liberties that citizens have.

1 answer

Burma, officially known as Myanmar, is a unitary presidential constitutional republic. The country is governed by a President and a Parliament, which is made up of two houses: the House of Representatives and the House of Nationalities. The President is both the head of state and the head of government.

The government in Burma has a reputation for being repressive and authoritarian, with a history of human rights abuses, restrictions on freedom of speech and the press, and persecution of ethnic minorities. The military has played a dominant role in politics and government in the country for many years, and has been accused of suppressing opposition through intimidation, harassment, and violence.

Despite these challenges, there are some civil liberties that citizens of Burma enjoy. These include the right to vote and participate in elections, the right to education, and the freedom to practice religion. Citizens are also entitled to a degree of freedom of speech, although criticism of the government is often met with punishment and censorship.

Recently, Myanmar has been in the news due to the military coup of 1 February 2021. This event has suspended the civil liberties of citizens and has put the country in a crisis state. The violation of human rights and repression of democracy are issues that the world is closely monitoring.