On this day in 1974, in disgust at Gen. Ne Win’s refusal to honor former UN secretary-general U Thant with a state funeral, students seized his body, sparking riots.

On this day in 1970, Myanmar drivers switched from the left to the right-hand side of the road on the orders of Gen. Ne Win.

On this day in 1885, King Thibaw surrendered to the British in Mandalay, ending the Third Anglo-Burmese War and bringing all of Myanmar under British control.