"To those who have visited even briefly, Myanmar is one of the most attractive and intriguing places in Asia. It has vast potential for economic growth thanks to its natural resources. And its human resources are equally promising. Indeed, it was expected that after independence the country would do as well as most countries and better than those less endowed."
This kind of statement was frequently made by academics during the period immediately before and after Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, gained its independence in January 1948.
But military dictatorships have held power for nearly four of the five decades that have since passed. The essential conditions for economic and social progress, political stability and the rule of law, have been absent. The military government uses corruption both as a political tactic to control people and out of sheer greed. Worst of all, people have to live under constant fear for their safety and economic well being.