Section Archive

On this day in 1947, a British naval officer presented Gen. Aung San with the Mayu, which would go on to serve Myanmar for 32 years.

On this day 160 years ago, King Mindon moved the royal capital from Amarapura to Mandalay.

On this day in 1949, government forces defeated the Karen National Defense Organization on the outskirts of Yangon, after it came perilously close to seizing the capital.

On this day in 1954, more than 2,600 Theravada monks from various countries began the Sixth Buddhist Council to review and settle doctrinal disputes relating to the complete text of

On this day in 1955, social activist and disability rights pioneer Helen Keller arrived in Yangon, where she met with national leaders and toured facilities for the deaf and blind.

Eleven years ago today, with corpses piled high in the wake of a deadly cyclone, the Myanmar military continued with a referendum to ratify the constitution they drafted.

On this day in 1948, U Saw, then-prime minister of British Burma, was hanged at Insein Prison for the assassination of Myanmar’s independence hero, General Aung San.

On this day in 1930, the most powerful earthquake on record in Myanmar flattened Bago, leaving a scene of death and utter devastation.

On this day in 2008, the worst storm in the nation’s history tore into the Irrawaddy Delta, ultimately killing more than 130,000 people and causing economic devastation.

May 1, 1877 saw the launch of Myanmar’s first railway line creating a better strategic connection with British India, European markets and unconquered parts of the country.

On this day in 1942, with the invading Japanese Army at their heels, retreating British forces dynamited one of their colony’s most important bridges. It would lie in ruins for the

Seventy-four years ago today Liberty Ma Mya Yin, the country’s finest exponent of traditional Anyeint dance, passed away after decades of delighting audiences of all classes.

On April 29, 1959, the soaphas, Shan State’s local feudal lords, relinquished their titles at a ceremony in Taunggyi attended by President Mahn Win Maung and Gen. Ne Win, then the

On this day in 1992, the ruling junta announced that Senior General Saw Maung was retiring as chairman for health reasons, ushering in an era dominated by Senior General Than Shwe.