Myanmar: Myanmar Government Profile

President: Thein Sein

Thein Sein was sworn into office in March 2011, officially launching a nominally civilian government to replace almost 50 years of military rule.

He had been hand-picked by Senior General Than Shwe, the country's paramount leader since 1992, to succeed him as Myanmar's head of state.

The military-led State Peace and Development Council was dissolved, although the new cabinet included several ex-military men, many of whom were ministers in the junta.

Mr Thein Sein, who held the rank of general and was prime minister in the previous administration, competed in parliamentary elections in November 2010.

The elections were marred by the absence of the National League for Democracy party which won the previous election of 1990 by a landslide and which is led by Aung San Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest at the time of the election. The NLD opted to boycott the vote.

Mr Thein Sein had long been seen as the relatively untainted face of the military government, and it is thought that Senior General Than Shwe regarded him as the most suitable frontman for Myanmar's democratic transition.

He is generally considered to be a reformer, and since he became president, there have been undeniable moves towards political liberalisation.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who was freed from house arrest soon after the 2010 election, has been allowed to resume her political activities, although she complains that the government has blocked her from standing in 2015 presidential elections because her children are half-British.

After a visit to Burma by then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in December 2011 ended military sanctions on Myanmar and opened up the country to development aid.

Increasingly frosty relations with the NLD and tension between Buddhists and Muslims have cast a shadow over relations with possible donors, and prompted warnings from the United States about backtracking on progress towards full democracy.

Government Type:  Nominally civilian regime comprised primarily of former senior military officers.

Constitution:

Burma adopted a new constitution through a deeply flawed May 2008 national referendum. The government held elections in November 2010, though credible observers inside and outside Burma found numerous flaws with the process leading to the elections and election-day conduct (including government-sponsored malfeasance). The constitution went into effect with the seating of a new Parliament in early 2011.

Burma remains an authoritarian country dominated by active or former members of the military. The nation is headed by a civilian president and two vice presidents. On paper, power is apportioned between executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The military remains an institution unto itself, and the head of the armed forces retains the right to invoke extraordinary powers including the ability to suspend civil liberties and abrogate parliamentary authority.

The SPDC changed the name of the country to "Myanmar" in 1989, but some members of the democratic opposition and other political activists do not recognize the name change and continue to use the name "Burma." Out of support for the democratic opposition, and its victory in the 1990 election, the U.S. Government likewise uses "Burma."

Capital: Rangoon - 4.259 million (2009)

Other Major Cities: Mandalay 1.009 million; Nay Pyi Taw 992,000 (2009)

Administrative divisions: Burma consists of 14 states and regions. Administrative control is exercised by the central government through a system of subordinate executive bodies headed by chief ministers. It is unclear how the country's new civilian regional power structures will share responsibilities with regional military commanders.

7 divisions (taing-myar, singular - taing) and 7 states* (pyi ne-myar, singular - pyi ne)

divisions:

Ayeyarwady,
Bago,
Magway,
Mandalay,
Sagaing,
Tanintharyi,
Yangon

states:

Chin,
Kachin,
Kayah,
Kayin,
Mon,
Rakhine (Arakan),
Shan

Independence Date: 4 January 1948 (from the UK)

Legal System: Myanmar accepts compulsory International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction; and accepts International criminal court (ICCt) jurisdiction