Political conditions in Burma

In earlier days i.e. earlier to the 19th century Burma was a monarchy. The country was ruled by various dynasties. In the late 19th century, the British colonized Burma. Until 1937, Burma was under the jurisdiction or legal power of the British Raj.

From 1820 to 1948, Burma was ruled as a British colony. At that time the Bamar heartland was directly administered first as a part of India and in later days from the year 1937 as British Burma. Some ethnic regions outside the heartland were granted some standard of self-rule and that too along the lines of the Princely States of India.

This resulted to split commitments among the various ethnic groups to outside powers. Outside powers include either to the Japanese or British. The Bamar is the dominant ethnic group in Burma. They make up more or less 68% of the population.

At the time of World War II, many members of the Bamar ethnic group offered to fight beside the Japanese troops. They did so in hopes of bringing down the occupying British forces. In the mean time some other ethnic groups defended the Allied forces in battling the Burman and the Japanese forces.

As a consequence of this fight or struggle just after the World War II, Burma was allowed to enjoy its independence from Great Britain. The year was 1948.

The British government also gave the new ruler named Aung San after granting independence to Burma. Aung San control over different areas that were not controlled by the Bamar.

This accumulation of formerly British-owned land formed a new state. This was the home to more than 20 distinct minority racial or ethnic groups. The ethnic minorities always suffered many problems in Burma. In the year 1948 signing of Burmese Constitution took place but their condition was not improved.