Changes

The United States downgraded its level of representation in Burma from Ambassador to Chargé d'Affaires after the government's crackdown on the democratic opposition in 1988 and its failure to honor the results of the 1990 parliamentary election.  

The United States downgraded its level of representation in Burma from Ambassador to Chargé d'Affaires after the government's crackdown on the democratic opposition in 1988 and its failure to honor the results of the 1990 parliamentary election.  

===Relations with China===

===Relations with China===

only access to the Indian Ocean.<ref>[http://www.kachinpost.com/article2005/jan18.html China Builds up Strategic Sea Lanes], ''[[Washington Times]]'', January 18, 2005. Retrieved from the Kachin Post, October 12, 2007.</ref> These close relations are one explanation the Peoples Republic of China on January 12, 2007, vetoed a U.S.-sponsored U.N. Security Council resolution criticizing Burma’s [[human rights]] record. The veto was only the fifth that China has ever exercised in the [[U.N. Security Council]].

only access to the Indian Ocean.<ref>[http://www.kachinpost.com/article2005/jan18.html China Builds up Strategic Sea Lanes], ''[[Washington Times]]'', January 18, 2005. Retrieved from the Kachin Post, October 12, 2007.</ref> These close relations are one explanation the Peoples Republic of China on January 12, 2007, vetoed a U.S.-sponsored U.N. Security Council resolution criticizing Burma’s [[human rights]] record. The veto was only the fifth that China has ever exercised in the [[U.N. Security Council]].

==Human trafficking==

====Human trafficking====

Burma is a source country for men, women, and children trafficked to East and Southeast Asia for sexual exploitation, domestic service, and forced commercial labor; a significant number of victims are economic migrants who wind up in forced or bonded labor and forced prostitution; to a lesser extent, Burma is a country of transit and destination for women trafficked from China for sexual exploitation; internal trafficking of persons occurs primarily for labor in industrial zones and agricultural estates; internal trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation occurs from villages to urban centers and other areas; the military junta's economic mismanagement, human rights abuses, and policy of using forced labor are driving factors behind Burma(Myanmar)'s large trafficking problem.  Burma does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so.

Burma is a source country for men, women, and children trafficked to East and Southeast Asia for sexual exploitation, domestic service, and forced commercial labor; a significant number of victims are economic migrants who wind up in forced or bonded labor and forced prostitution; to a lesser extent, Burma is a country of transit and destination for women trafficked from China for sexual exploitation; internal trafficking of persons occurs primarily for labor in industrial zones and agricultural estates; internal trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation occurs from villages to urban centers and other areas; the military junta's economic mismanagement, human rights abuses, and policy of using forced labor are driving factors behind Burma(Myanmar)'s large trafficking problem.  Burma does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so.

==Illicit drugs==

====Illicit drugs====

Burma remains world's second largest producer of illicit opium with an estimated production in 2005 of 380 metric tons, up 13% from 2004 and cultivation in 2005 was 40,000 hectares, a 10% increase from 2004; the decline in opium production in the United Wa State Army's areas of greatest control was more than offset by increases in south and east Shan state; lack of government will to take on major narcotrafficking groups and lack of serious commitment against money laundering continues to hinder the overall anti drug effort; major source of methamphetamine and heroin for regional consumption; currently under Financial Action Task Force countermeasures due to continued failure to address its inadequate money-laundering controls (2005).

Burma remains world's second largest producer of illicit opium with an estimated production in 2005 of 380 metric tons, up 13% from 2004 and cultivation in 2005 was 40,000 hectares, a 10% increase from 2004; the decline in opium production in the United Wa State Army's areas of greatest control was more than offset by increases in south and east Shan state; lack of government will to take on major narcotrafficking groups and lack of serious commitment against money laundering continues to hinder the overall anti drug effort; major source of methamphetamine and heroin for regional consumption; currently under Financial Action Task Force countermeasures due to continued failure to address its inadequate money-laundering controls (2005).

It is severely censured by groups from [[ASEAN]] <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3085819.stm </ref> and [[Amnesty International]] <ref>http://web.amnesty.org/report2005/mmr-summary-eng</ref> for its [[human rights]] abuses, ranging from forced labour, to a campaign of oppression and what some claim amounts to [[genocide]]<ref>http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs3/Horton-2005.pdf</ref>.

It is severely censured by groups from [[ASEAN]] <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3085819.stm </ref> and [[Amnesty International]] <ref>http://web.amnesty.org/report2005/mmr-summary-eng</ref> for its [[human rights]] abuses, ranging from forced labour, to a campaign of oppression and what some claim amounts to [[genocide]]<ref>http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs3/Horton-2005.pdf</ref>.

== Political Unrest/Democracy Movement ==

== Political Unrest/Democracy Movement ==