Answer: over 8,000

Question: How many published reports of American volumes existed in 1910?


Answer: mid-19th century

Context: Early on, American courts, even after the Revolution, often did cite contemporary English cases. This was because appellate decisions from many American courts were not regularly reported until the mid-19th century; lawyers and judges, as creatures of habit, used English legal materials to fill the gap. But citations to English decisions gradually disappeared during the 19th century as American courts developed their own principles to resolve the legal problems of the American people. The number of published volumes of American reports soared from eighteen in 1810 to over 8,000 by 1910. By 1879 one of the delegates to the California constitutional convention was already complaining: "Now, when we require them to state the reasons for a decision, we do not mean they shall write a hundred pages of detail. We [do] not mean that they shall include the small cases, and impose on the country all this fine judicial literature, for the Lord knows we have got enough of that already."

Question: When did Americans really begin to establish their own laws independent of the English?


Answer: eighteen

Question: How many published volumes of American reports were released in 1810?


Answer: 8,000

Question: By 1910, how many volumes of American reports were there?


Answer: By 1879 one of the delegates to the California constitutional convention was already complaining

Question: What did the lawmakers think of the increase in reports?


Answer: judicial literature

Question: What were the lawmakers beginning to drown in?


Answer: the Constitution

Context: Federal law originates with the Constitution, which gives Congress the power to enact statutes for certain limited purposes like regulating interstate commerce. The United States Code is the official compilation and codification of the general and permanent federal statutes. Many statutes give executive branch agencies the power to create regulations, which are published in the Federal Register and codified into the Code of Federal Regulations. Regulations generally also carry the force of law under the Chevron doctrine. Many lawsuits turn on the meaning of a federal statute or regulation, and judicial interpretations of such meaning carry legal force under the principle of stare decisis.

Question: What does federal law come from?


Answer: the Constitution

Question: What gives Congress limited power to enact statutes?


Answer: The United States Code

Question: What do you call the official compilation and codification of federal statutes?


Answer: in the Federal Register

Question: Where are regulations published?


Answer: Code of Federal Regulations

Question: Where are regulations codified into?


Answer: the Constitution

Question: Where does federal law begin?


Answer: Congress

Question: Who has the power and right to enact statutes for interstate dealings?


Answer: The United States Code

Question: What is the compilation and codification of all federal statutes?


Answer: executive branch agencies

Question: Who do the statutes give the power of creating regulations?


Answer: the Code of Federal Regulations

Question: Where are the regulations from executive branch agencies found?


Answer: Commerce and Spending Clauses

Context: During the 18th and 19th centuries, federal law traditionally focused on areas where there was an express grant of power to the federal government in the federal Constitution, like the military, money, foreign relations (especially international treaties), tariffs, intellectual property (specifically patents and copyrights), and mail. Since the start of the 20th century, broad interpretations of the Commerce and Spending Clauses of the Constitution have enabled federal law to expand into areas like aviation, telecommunications, railroads, pharmaceuticals, antitrust, and trademarks. In some areas, like aviation and railroads, the federal government has developed a comprehensive scheme that preempts virtually all state law, while in others, like family law, a relatively small number of federal statutes (generally covering interstate and international situations) interacts with a much larger body of state law. In areas like antitrust, trademark, and employment law, there are powerful laws at both the federal and state levels that coexist with each other. In a handful of areas like insurance, Congress has enacted laws expressly refusing to regulate them as long as the states have laws regulating them (see, e.g., the McCarran-Ferguson Act).

Question: What areas of the Constitution deal with issuses such as aviation, railroads, and trademarks?


Answer: regulating them

Question: In areas of law such as insurance, there are laws refusing to regulate them as long as states have laws doing what?


Answer: intellectual property

Question: What type of property are trademarks and copyrights?


Answer: federal law

Question: What governs things such as military, money, foreign relations, etc.?


Answer: Commerce and Spending Clauses of the Constitution

Question: What enabled federal law to begin expanding into other areas such as avaition, telecommunications, railroads, etc.?


Answer: start of the 20th century

Question: When did the Commerce and Spending Clauses of the Constitution allow federal power to begin expanding?


Answer: McCarran-Ferguson Act

Question: What is a law enacted by Congress that states that it refuses to regulate some industries as long as the states have regulations in place already?


Answer: coexist with each other

Question: What happens when both the federal and state governments have regulations that overlap?


Answer: the President

Context: After the President signs a bill into law (or Congress enacts it over his veto), it is delivered to the Office of the Federal Register (OFR) of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) where it is assigned a law number, and prepared for publication as a slip law. Public laws, but not private laws, are also given legal statutory citation by the OFR. At the end of each session of Congress, the slip laws are compiled into bound volumes called the United States Statutes at Large, and they are known as session laws. The Statutes at Large present a chronological arrangement of the laws in the exact order that they have been enacted.

Question: Who signs a bill into a law?


Answer: Office of the Federal Register (OFR) of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

Question: Where does a bill go after it is signed?


Answer: a law number

Question: What is a new law given at the OFR of the NARA?


Answer: a slip law

Question: After being given a law number, a new law is prepared for publication as what?


Answer: private laws

Question: What kind of laws are not given statutory citation by the OFR?


Answer: delivered to the Office of the Federal Register (OFR) of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

Question: Where does a bill go once the President signs it into effect?


Answer: assigned a law number

Question: What happens after a bill is delivered to the OFR?


Answer: publication as a slip law

Question: After a bill is assigned a number, what is it made ready for?


Answer: session laws

Question: Once the slip laws are placed into the United States Statutes at Large, what are they called?


Answer: a chronological arrangement of the laws in the exact order that they have been enacted

Question: What is the United States Statutes at Large?


Answer: statutes

Context: Congress often enacts statutes that grant broad rulemaking authority to federal agencies. Often, Congress is simply too gridlocked to draft detailed statutes that explain how the agency should react to every possible situation, or Congress believes the agency's technical specialists are best equipped to deal with particular fact situations as they arise. Therefore, federal agencies are authorized to promulgate regulations. Under the principle of Chevron deference, regulations normally carry the force of law as long as they are based on a reasonable interpretation of the relevant statutes.

Question: What does congress often grant to give rulemaking authority to federal agencies?


Answer: regulations

Question: Federal agencies are authorized to make what public?


Answer: law

Question: Regulations normally carry the force of what?


Answer: relevant statutes

Question: Regualtions carry force of law when based on reasonable interpretation of what?


Answer: broad rulemaking authority

Question: What power is granted to federal agencies by Congress?


Answer: too gridlocked to draft detailed statutes that explain how the agency should react to every possible situation

Question: Why does Congress give generalized powers to federal agencies?


Answer: the principle of Chevron

Question: What gives regulations imposed by federal agencies the right to enforce their regulations?


Answer: regulations normally carry the force of law as long as they are based on a reasonable interpretation of the relevant statutes

Question: What does the Principle of Chevron provide for?


Answer: stare decisis

Context: The difficult question is whether federal judicial power extends to formulating binding precedent through strict adherence to the rule of stare decisis. This is where the act of deciding a case becomes a limited form of lawmaking in itself, in that an appellate court's rulings will thereby bind itself and lower courts in future cases (and therefore also impliedly binds all persons within the court's jurisdiction). Prior to a major change to federal court rules in 2007, about one-fifth of federal appellate cases were published and thereby became binding precedents, while the rest were unpublished and bound only the parties to each case.

Question: What is used to determine whether federal judicial power extends to formulating binding precedent?


Answer: the act of deciding a case becomes a limited form of lawmaking in itself

Question: What is stare decisis?


Answer: an appellate court's rulings will thereby bind itself and lower courts in future cases

Question: Why is stare decisis a limited form of lawmaking?


Answer: impliedly binds all persons within the court's jurisdiction

Question: Who else does stare decisis affect?


Answer: federal judge Alex Kozinski

Context: As federal judge Alex Kozinski has pointed out, binding precedent as we know it today simply did not exist at the time the Constitution was framed. Judicial decisions were not consistently, accurately, and faithfully reported on both sides of the Atlantic (reporters often simply rewrote or failed to publish decisions which they disliked), and the United Kingdom lacked a coherent court hierarchy prior to the end of the 19th century. Furthermore, English judges in the eighteenth century subscribed to now-obsolete natural law theories of law, by which law was believed to have an existence independent of what individual judges said. Judges saw themselves as merely declaring the law which had always theoretically existed, and not as making the law. Therefore, a judge could reject another judge's opinion as simply an incorrect statement of the law, in the way that scientists regularly reject each other's conclusions as incorrect statements of the laws of science.

Question: Who has noted that binding precedent did not exist when the Constitution was written?


Answer: reporters often simply rewrote or failed to publish decisions which they disliked

Question: Why were decisions not reported or recoded correctly?


Answer: law was believed to have an existence independent of what individual judges said

Question: What are the natural theories of law that that the English judges in the eighteenth century used?


Answer: saw themselves as merely declaring the law which had always theoretically existed, and not as making the law

Question: Why could one judge reject another judges opinion?


Answer: incorrect statement of the law

Question: Why would one judge reject another's opinion?


Answer: no plenary reception statute at the federal level that continued the common law

Context: Unlike the situation with the states, there is no plenary reception statute at the federal level that continued the common law and thereby granted federal courts the power to formulate legal precedent like their English predecessors. Federal courts are solely creatures of the federal Constitution and the federal Judiciary Acts. However, it is universally accepted that the Founding Fathers of the United States, by vesting "judicial power" into the Supreme Court and the inferior federal courts in Article Three of the United States Constitution, thereby vested in them the implied judicial power of common law courts to formulate persuasive precedent; this power was widely accepted, understood, and recognized by the Founding Fathers at the time the Constitution was ratified. Several legal scholars have argued that the federal judicial power to decide "cases or controversies" necessarily includes the power to decide the precedential effect of those cases and controversies.

Question: How did the federal agencies differ from their English counter-parts?


Answer: granted federal courts the power to formulate legal precedent

Question: What did the missing plenary reception do?


Answer: the federal Judiciary Acts

Question: Where do the federal courts fall?


Answer: Article Three

Question: Where is judicial power found in the original Constitution?


Answer: implied judicial power of common law courts to formulate persuasive precedent

Question: What does Article Three give federal agencies?


Answer: nineteenth century

Context: In turn, according to Kozinski's analysis, the contemporary rule of binding precedent became possible in the U.S. in the nineteenth century only after the creation of a clear court hierarchy (under the Judiciary Acts), and the beginning of regular verbatim publication of U.S. appellate decisions by West Publishing. The rule gradually developed, case-by-case, as an extension of the judiciary's public policy of effective judicial administration (that is, in order to efficiently exercise the judicial power). The rule of precedent is generally justified today as a matter of public policy, first, as a matter of fundamental fairness, and second, because in the absence of case law, it would be completely unworkable for every minor issue in every legal case to be briefed, argued, and decided from first principles (such as relevant statutes, constitutional provisions, and underlying public policies), which in turn would create hopeless inefficiency, instability, and unpredictability, and thereby undermine the rule of law.

Question: When did binding precedent become possible in the United States?


Answer: creation of a clear court hierarchy (under the Judiciary Acts), and the beginning of regular verbatim publication of U.S. appellate decisions by West Publishing

Question: What made binding precedent a possibility?


Answer: hopeless inefficiency, instability, and unpredictability

Question: What can invalidate the rule of law?


Answer: in the absence of case law, it would be completely unworkable for every minor issue in every legal case to be briefed, argued, and decided

Question: Why was the rule of precedent allowed?


Answer: the Judiciary Acts

Question: How is a court hierarchy established?


Answer: the doctrine of Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins

Context: Under the doctrine of Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins (1938), there is no general federal common law. Although federal courts can create federal common law in the form of case law, such law must be linked one way or another to the interpretation of a particular federal constitutional provision, statute, or regulation (which in turn was enacted as part of the Constitution or after). Federal courts lack the plenary power possessed by state courts to simply make up law, which the latter are able to do in the absence of constitutional or statutory provisions replacing the common law. Only in a few narrow limited areas, like maritime law, has the Constitution expressly authorized the continuation of English common law at the federal level (meaning that in those areas federal courts can continue to make law as they see fit, subject to the limitations of stare decisis).

Question: What states that there is no general federal common law?


Answer: 1938

Question: When was the doctrine of Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins put into effect?


Answer: lack the plenary power possessed by state courts

Question: Why can't federal courts just make up law?


Answer: absence of constitutional or statutory provisions replacing the common law

Question: When are states allowed to use plenary power?


Answer: federal courts cannot dictate the content of state law when there is no federal issue

Context: The other major implication of the Erie doctrine is that federal courts cannot dictate the content of state law when there is no federal issue (and thus no federal supremacy issue) in a case. When hearing claims under state law pursuant to diversity jurisdiction, federal trial courts must apply the statutory and decisional law of the state in which they sit, as if they were a court of that state, even if they believe that the relevant state law is irrational or just bad public policy. And under Erie, deference is one-way only: state courts are not bound by federal interpretations of state law.

Question: What is a major implication of the Erie doctrine?


Answer: federal interpretations of state law

Question: What are states not bound by?


Answer: Erie doctrine

Question: What states that deference is one way only?


Answer: state courts are not bound by federal interpretations of state law

Question: What does it mean when Erie states that deference is one way only?


Answer: state constitutions, state governments, and state courts

Context: The fifty American states are separate sovereigns, with their own state constitutions, state governments, and state courts. All states have a legislative branch which enacts state statutes, an executive branch that promulgates state regulations pursuant to statutory authorization, and a judicial branch that applies, interprets, and occasionally overturns both state statutes and regulations, as well as local ordinances. They retain plenary power to make laws covering anything not preempted by the federal Constitution, federal statutes, or international treaties ratified by the federal Senate. Normally, state supreme courts are the final interpreters of state constitutions and state law, unless their interpretation itself presents a federal issue, in which case a decision may be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court by way of a petition for writ of certiorari. State laws have dramatically diverged in the centuries since independence, to the extent that the United States cannot be regarded as one legal system as to the majority of types of law traditionally under state control, but must be regarded as 50 separate systems of tort law, family law, property law, contract law, criminal law, and so on.

Question: What does each state posess?


Answer: separate sovereigns

Question: What are the 50 states in the Union known as?


Answer: judicial branch

Question: Which ranch applies, interprets, and occasionally overturns both state statutes and regulations?


Answer: legislative branch

Question: What branch of government enacts state statutes?


Answer: executive branch

Question: Which branch of government promulgates state regulations?


Answer: state courts

Context: Most cases are litigated in state courts and involve claims and defenses under state laws. In a 2012 report, the National Center for State Courts' Court Statistics Project found that state trial courts received 103.5 million newly filed cases in 2010, which consisted of 56.3 million traffic cases, 20.4 million criminal cases, 19.0 million civil cases, 5.9 million domestic relations cases, and 1.9 million juvenile cases. In 2010, state appellate courts received 272,795 new cases. By way of comparison, all federal district courts in 2010 together received only about 282,000 new civil cases, 77,000 new criminal cases, and 1.5 million bankruptcy cases, while federal appellate courts received 56,000 new cases.

Question: Where are cases usually argued?


Answer: involve claims and defenses under state laws

Question: What types of cases are argued in the state courts?


Answer: 103.5 million

Question: How many new cases were filed in 2010?


Answer: 282,000 new civil cases, 77,000 new criminal cases, and 1.5 million bankruptcy cases

Question: What types of cases did federal district courts receive in 2010?


Answer: 272,795

Question: How many cases did appellate courts receice in 2010?


Answer: federal constitutional case law interwoven with the federal and state statutes

Context: The law of criminal procedure in the United States consists of a massive overlay of federal constitutional case law interwoven with the federal and state statutes that actually provide the foundation for the creation and operation of law enforcement agencies and prison systems as well as the proceedings in criminal trials. Due to the perennial inability of legislatures in the U.S. to enact statutes that would actually force law enforcement officers to respect the constitutional rights of criminal suspects and convicts, the federal judiciary gradually developed the exclusionary rule as a method to enforce such rights. In turn, the exclusionary rule spawned a family of judge-made remedies for the abuse of law enforcement powers, of which the most famous is the Miranda warning. The writ of habeas corpus is often used by suspects and convicts to challenge their detention, while the Civil Rights Act of 1871 and Bivens actions are used by suspects to recover tort damages for police brutality.

Question: What makes up the law of criminal procedure?


Answer: inability of legislatures in the U.S. to enact statutes that would actually force law enforcement officers to respect the constitutional rights

Question: What did the exclusionary rule provide for?


Answer: writ of habeas corpus

Question: What might a suspect use to challenge their detention?


Answer: Miranda warning

Question: What must a police officer recite to a suspect upon arrest/


Answer: Civil Rights Act of 1871 and Bivens actions

Question: What acts cover tort damages from police brutality cases?


Answer: The law of civil procedure

Context: The law of civil procedure governs process in all judicial proceedings involving lawsuits between private parties. Traditional common law pleading was replaced by code pleading in 24 states after New York enacted the Field Code in 1850 and code pleading in turn was subsequently replaced again in most states by modern notice pleading during the 20th century. The old English division between common law and equity courts was abolished in the federal courts by the adoption of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in 1938; it has also been independently abolished by legislative acts in nearly all states. The Delaware Court of Chancery is the most prominent of the small number of remaining equity courts.

Question: What is over all judicial proceedings involving private party lawsuits?


Answer: code pleading

Question: What did New York enact that replaced traditional common law proceeding?


Answer: modern notice pleading

Question: What was code pleading ultimately replaced by?


Answer: 20th century

Question: When did code pleading get replaced by modern notice pleading?


Answer: The old English division between common law and equity courts

Question: What did the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure abolish?


Answer: New York, Illinois, and California are the most significant

Context: New York, Illinois, and California are the most significant states that have not adopted the FRCP. Furthermore, all three states continue to maintain most of their civil procedure laws in the form of codified statutes enacted by the state legislature, as opposed to court rules promulgated by the state supreme court, on the ground that the latter are undemocratic. But certain key portions of their civil procedure laws have been modified by their legislatures to bring them closer to federal civil procedure.

Question: Which states have not adopted FRCP?


Answer: codified statutes enacted by the state legislature

Question: How do New York, Illinois and California maintain civil procedure laws?


Answer: court rules promulgated by the state supreme court

Question: What should New York, Illinois and California be using instead of codified statutes?


Answer: American civil procedure

Context: Generally, American civil procedure has several notable features, including extensive pretrial discovery, heavy reliance on live testimony obtained at deposition or elicited in front of a jury, and aggressive pretrial "law and motion" practice designed to result in a pretrial disposition (that is, summary judgment) or a settlement. U.S. courts pioneered the concept of the opt-out class action, by which the burden falls on class members to notify the court that they do not wish to be bound by the judgment, as opposed to opt-in class actions, where class members must join into the class. Another unique feature is the so-called American Rule under which parties generally bear their own attorneys' fees (as opposed to the English Rule of "loser pays"), though American legislators and courts have carved out numerous exceptions.

Question: What is extensive pretrial discovery a part of?


Answer: summary judgment

Question: What is a pretrial deposition?


Answer: the burden falls on class members to notify the court that they do not wish to be bound by the judgment

Question: What is an opt-out class action?


Answer: class members must join into the class

Question: What is an opt-in class action?


Answer: parties generally bear their own attorneys' fees

Question: What is the American Rule?


Answer: prosecution by the state of wrongful acts

Context: Criminal law involves the prosecution by the state of wrongful acts which are considered to be so serious that they are a breach of the sovereign's peace (and cannot be deterred or remedied by mere lawsuits between private parties). Generally, crimes can result in incarceration, but torts (see below) cannot. The majority of the crimes committed in the United States are prosecuted and punished at the state level. Federal criminal law focuses on areas specifically relevant to the federal government like evading payment of federal income tax, mail theft, or physical attacks on federal officials, as well as interstate crimes like drug trafficking and wire fraud.

Question: What is criminal law?


Answer: acts which are considered to be so serious that they are a breach of the sovereign's peace

Question: What type of wrongful act will the state prosecute?


Answer: Federal criminal law

Question: Who focuses on things such as evading payment of federal income tax, mail theft, or physical attacks on federal officials, as well as interstate crimes like drug trafficking and wire fraud?


Answer: state level

Question: Where are the majority of the U.S.'s crimes prosecuted?


Answer: crimes

Question: What can result in incarceration?


Answer: felonies and misdemeanors

Context: Some states distinguish between two levels: felonies and misdemeanors (minor crimes). Generally, most felony convictions result in lengthy prison sentences as well as subsequent probation, large fines, and orders to pay restitution directly to victims; while misdemeanors may lead to a year or less in jail and a substantial fine. To simplify the prosecution of traffic violations and other relatively minor crimes, some states have added a third level, infractions. These may result in fines and sometimes the loss of one's driver's license, but no jail time.

Question: What two levels of crime are there?


Answer: minor crimes

Question: What is a misdemeanor?


Answer: felony convictions

Question: What results in lengthy prison sentences as well as subsequent probation, large fines, and orders to pay restitution directly to victims?


Answer: a year or less in jail and a substantial fine

Question: What usually happens with misdemeanors?


Answer: infractions

Question: What is a third level of crime that some states have adopted?


Answer: obligations established by agreement (express or implied) between private parties

Context: Contract law covers obligations established by agreement (express or implied) between private parties. Generally, contract law in transactions involving the sale of goods has become highly standardized nationwide as a result of the widespread adoption of the Uniform Commercial Code. However, there is still significant diversity in the interpretation of other kinds of contracts, depending upon the extent to which a given state has codified its common law of contracts or adopted portions of the Restatement (Second) of Contracts.

Question: What is contract law?


Answer: Uniform Commercial Code

Question: What standardized contract law?


Answer: express or implied

Question: What kinds of agreements do contract law cover?


Answer: (1,200 miles) forms an uninterrupted coastline

Context: Myanmar (myan-MAR i/miɑːnˈmɑːr/ mee-ahn-MAR, /miˈɛnmɑːr/ mee-EN-mar or /maɪˈænmɑːr/ my-AN-mar (also with the stress on first syllable); Burmese pronunciation: [mjəmà]),[nb 1] officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and also known as Burma, is a sovereign state in Southeast Asia bordered by Bangladesh, India, China, Laos and Thailand. One-third of Myanmar's total perimeter of 1,930 km (1,200 miles) forms an uninterrupted coastline along the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The country's 2014 census revealed a much lower population than expected, with 51 million people recorded. Myanmar is 676,578 square kilometres (261,227 sq mi) in size. Its capital city is Naypyidaw and its largest city is Yangon (Rangoon).

Question: How much a Myanmar's boundaries are encompassed by beachfront lands?


Answer: 51 million people recorded

Question: How many people dwell in Myanmar ?


Answer: Myanmar is 676,578 square kilometres (261,227 sq mi) in size

Question: What is the land mass of Myanmar ?


Answer: largest city is Yangon (Rangoon)

Question: Is the capital city the holder of the largest amount of the population in Myanmar ?


Answer: capital city is Naypyidaw

Question: What is the name of the capital city of Myanmar?


Answer: Tibeto-Burman-speaking Pyu city-states in Upper Burma and the Mon kingdoms in Lower Burma

Context: Early civilisations in Myanmar included the Tibeto-Burman-speaking Pyu city-states in Upper Burma and the Mon kingdoms in Lower Burma. In the 9th century, the Bamar people entered the upper Irrawaddy valley and, following the establishment of the Pagan Kingdom in the 1050s, the Burmese language, culture and Theravada Buddhism slowly became dominant in the country. The Pagan Kingdom fell due to the Mongol invasions and several warring states emerged. In the 16th century, reunified by the Taungoo Dynasty, the country was for a brief period the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia. The early 19th century Konbaung Dynasty ruled over an area that included modern Myanmar and briefly controlled Manipur and Assam as well. The British conquered Myanmar after three Anglo-Burmese Wars in the 19th century and the country became a British colony. Myanmar became an independent nation in 1948, initially as a democratic nation and then, following a coup d'état in 1962, a military dictatorship.

Question: What were the names of some of the early cultures located in Myanmar?


Answer: in the 1050s, the Burmese language, culture and Theravada Buddhism slowly became dominant in the country.

Question: When did the dominant religion of Myanmar become something outside of the mainstream ?


Answer: The Pagan Kingdom fell due to the Mongol invasions and several warring states emerged

Question: What caused the downfall of the downfall of the the original kingdom in Myanmar?


Answer: Taungoo Dynasty

Question: Whose rule was Myanmar under when it was one of the most massive kingdoms in Southeast Asia ?


Answer: In the 16th century

Question: When did was Myanmar ruled by the Taungoo Dynasty ?


Answer: the military junta

Context: For most of its independent years, the country has been engrossed in rampant ethnic strife and Burma's myriad ethnic groups have been involved in one of the world's longest-running ongoing civil wars. During this time, the United Nations and several other organisations have reported consistent and systematic human rights violations in the country. In 2011, the military junta was officially dissolved following a 2010 general election, and a nominally civilian government was installed. While former military leaders still wield enormous power in the country, Burmese Military have taken steps toward relinquishing control of the government. This, along with the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners, has improved the country's human rights record and foreign relations, and has led to the easing of trade and other economic sanctions. There is, however, continuing criticism of the government's treatment of the Muslim Rohingya minority and its poor response to the religious clashes. In the landmark 2015 election, Aung San Suu Kyi's party won a majority in both houses, ending military rule.

Question: What portion of the government was eventually separated from government participation?


Answer: Aung San Suu Kyi's party won a majority in both houses, ending military rule.

Question: Has the country been able to overcome the problems of government with the previous regime?


Answer: a nominally civilian government

Question: What type of government is now established in Myanmar?


Answer: former military leaders still wield enormous power in the country

Question: Are previous leaders a hendrence to the current government?


Answer: one of the world's longest-running ongoing civil wars.

Question: What major conflict is Myanmar known for?


Answer: names are derived from the name of the majority Burmese Bamar ethnic group

Context: In English, the country is popularly known as either "Burma" or "Myanmar" i/ˈmjɑːnˌmɑːr/. Both these names are derived from the name of the majority Burmese Bamar ethnic group. Myanmar is considered to be the literary form of the name of the group, while Burma is derived from "Bamar", the colloquial form of the group's name. Depending on the register used, the pronunciation would be Bama (pronounced: [bəmà]) or Myamah (pronounced: [mjəmà]). The name Burma has been in use in English since the 18th century.

Question: Where did the name Burma originate from ?


Answer: Burma is derived from "Bamar", the colloquial form of the group's name

Question: What is the considered to be the name in slang terms for the people of Myanmar?


Answer: Depending on the register used, the pronunciation would be Bama (pronounced: [bəmà])

Question: How is the slang term for the people of Burma articulated correctly ?


Answer: The name Burma has been in use in English since the 18th century.

Question: When did the term for the people of Burma become a common place word in English?


Answer: Burma continues to be used in English by the governments of many countries, such as Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom

Context: Burma continues to be used in English by the governments of many countries, such as Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. Official United States policy retains Burma as the country's name, although the State Department's website lists the country as "Burma (Myanmar)" and Barack Obama has referred to the country by both names. The Czech Republic uses officially Myanmar, although its Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentions both Myanmar and Burma on its website. The United Nations uses Myanmar, as do the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Russia, Germany, China, India, Norway, and Japan.

Question: By which name is the country called by most English speaking countries?


Answer: Burma (Myanmar)

Question: How is Burma officially identified in the United States


Answer: United Nations uses Myanmar

Question: What is the country called in sessions of the United Nations?


Answer: Burma (Myanmar)" and Barack Obama has referred to the country by both names

Question: What does the current president of the United States call the country in official settings?


Answer: Homo erectus

Context: Archaeological evidence shows that Homo erectus lived in the region now known as Myanmar as early as 400,000 years ago. The first evidence of Homo sapiens is dated to about 11,000 BC, in a Stone Age culture called the Anyathian with discoveries of stone tools in central Myanmar. Evidence of neolithic age domestication of plants and animals and the use of polished stone tools dating to sometime between 10,000 and 6,000 BC has been discovered in the form of cave paintings near the city of Taunggyi.

Question: What extinct species of hominid that lived throughout most of the Pleistocene geological period is believed to have dwelled in Myanmar?


Answer: 400,000 years ago

Question: When was the extinct species believed to have lived in Myanmar?


Answer: Anyathian

Question: What is the name of the civilization that is believed to be one of the oldest.


Answer: neolithic age domestication of plants and animals and the use of polished stone tools dating to sometime between 10,000 and 6,000 BC has been discovered

Question: Did any other ancient cultures also leave behind evidence of existence in Myanmar?


Answer: discovered in the form of cave paintings

Question: What form was the evidence of ancient cultures discovered in ?


Answer: The Bronze Age

Context: The Bronze Age arrived circa 1500 BC when people in the region were turning copper into bronze, growing rice and domesticating poultry and pigs; they were among the first people in the world to do so. Human remains and artifacts from this era were discovered in Monywa District in the Sagaing Division. The Iron Age began around 500 BC with the emergence of iron-working settlements in an area south of present-day Mandalay. Evidence also shows the presence of rice-growing settlements of large villages and small towns that traded with their surroundings as far as China between 500 BC and 200 AD. Iron Age Burmese cultures also had influences from outside sources such as India and Thailand, as seen in their funerary practices concerning child burials. This indicates some form of communication between groups in Myanmar and other places, possibly through trade.

Question: By what name is the era in the 3rd millennium around 1500 BC known?


Answer: people in the region were turning copper into bronze, growing rice

Question: What events of significance to human development occurred during the Bronze Age ?


Answer: domesticating poultry and pigs

Question: What event evolving animals are the Myanmar also accredited with being the first to accomplish?


Answer: The Iron Age began around 500 BC

Question: When did the Age of Iron begin?


Answer: with the emergence of iron-working settlements in an area south of present-day Mandalay

Question: What events punctuate the beginning of the Iron Age?


Answer: Around the second century BC

Context: Around the second century BC the first-known city-states emerged in central Myanmar. The city-states were founded as part of the southward migration by the Tibeto-Burman-speaking Pyu city-states, the earliest inhabitants of Myanmar of whom records are extant, from present-day Yunnan. The Pyu culture was heavily influenced by trade with India, importing Buddhism as well as other cultural, architectural and political concepts which would have an enduring influence on later Burmese culture and political organisation.

Question: What period was the first known city states established in Myanmar?


Answer: from present-day Yunnan

Question: From what people have were the first records known to be existent derived from?


Answer: The Pyu culture was heavily influenced by trade with India

Question: Were any of the early civilizations influenced by each other and if so by what how did it occur?


Answer: Buddhism as well as other cultural, architectural and political concepts

Question: What Myanmar import from other countries that has been of major importance?


Answer: Kingdom of Mrauk U

Context: Pagan's collapse was followed by 250 years of political fragmentation that lasted well into the 16th century. Like the Burmans four centuries earlier, Shan migrants who arrived with the Mongol invasions stayed behind. Several competing Shan States came to dominate the entire northwestern to eastern arc surrounding the Irrawaddy valley. The valley too was beset with petty states until the late 14th century when two sizeable powers, Ava Kingdom and Hanthawaddy Kingdom, emerged. In the west, a politically fragmented Arakan was under competing influences of its stronger neighbours until the Kingdom of Mrauk U unified the Arakan coastline for the first time in 1437.

Question: What is the name of the kingdom that became dominant along the coastline of Myanmar?


Answer: 250 years

Question: How long did it take for Myanmar to recover from the collapse of it's first kingdom ?


Answer: Shan migrants who arrived with the Mongol invasions stayed behind

Question: Did the Mongol invasions of Burma leave any lasting signs?


Answer: Ava Kingdom and Hanthawaddy Kingdom

Question: Who was involved merger of the smaller states into the two largest factions of Myanmar ?


Answer: states were all multi-ethnic polities

Context: Like the Pagan Empire, Ava, Hanthawaddy and the Shan states were all multi-ethnic polities. Despite the wars, cultural synchronisation continued. This period is considered a golden age for Burmese culture. Burmese literature "grew more confident, popular, and stylistically diverse", and the second generation of Burmese law codes as well as the earliest pan-Burma chronicles emerged. Hanthawaddy monarchs introduced religious reforms that later spread to the rest of the country. Many splendid temples of Mrauk U were built during this period.

Question: Was there more than one racial class in the organized societies of the states of Myanmar?


Answer: This period is considered a golden age

Question: During what age did the culture of Myanmar grow?


Answer: Hanthawaddy monarchs

Question: Who increased the spread of religious reforms in Myanmar?


Answer: Mrauk U

Question: Who is the monarch that has some of the most impressive built in their honor in the Myanmar


Answer: a former vassal state of Ava.

Context: Political unification returned in the mid-16th century, due to the efforts of Taungoo, a former vassal state of Ava. Taungoo's young, ambitious king Tabinshwehti defeated the more powerful Hanthawaddy in the Toungoo–Hanthawaddy War (1534–41). His successor Bayinnaung went on to conquer a vast swath of mainland Southeast Asia including the Shan states, Lan Na, Manipur, Mong Mao, the Ayutthaya Kingdom, Lan Xang and southern Arakan. However, the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia unravelled soon after Bayinnaung's death in 1581, completely collapsing by 1599. Ayutthaya seized Tenasserim and Lan Na, and Portuguese mercenaries established Portuguese rule at Thanlyin (Syriam).

Question: Before attempting to obtain political unification, what title did Taungoo,hold ?


Answer: king Tabinshwehti

Question: Who was the ruling monarchy when Taungoo, was vassal?


Answer: Bayinnaung

Question: Who was the ruler of the largest kingdom in Southeast Asia ?


Answer: 1599

Question: In what year did the dynasty of Bayinnaung fully collapse ?


Answer: Portuguese mercenaries established Portuguese rule at Thanlyin (Syriam)

Question: Have any other countries ever established a foot hole in Burma?


Answer: The dynasty regrouped and defeated the Portuguese

Context: The dynasty regrouped and defeated the Portuguese in 1613 and Siam in 1614. It restored a smaller, more manageable kingdom, encompassing Lower Myanmar, Upper Myanmar, Shan states, Lan Na and upper Tenasserim. The Restored Toungoo kings created a legal and political framework whose basic features would continue well into the 19th century. The crown completely replaced the hereditary chieftainships with appointed governorships in the entire Irrawaddy valley, and greatly reduced the hereditary rights of Shan chiefs. Its trade and secular administrative reforms built a prosperous economy for more than 80 years. From the 1720s onward, the kingdom was beset with repeated Meithei raids into Upper Myanmar and a nagging rebellion in Lan Na. In 1740, the Mon of Lower Myanmar founded the Restored Hanthawaddy Kingdom. Hanthawaddy forces sacked Ava in 1752, ending the 266-year-old Toungoo Dynasty.

Question: How were the Portuguese expelled from Myanmar?


Answer: Toungoo kings created a legal and political framework whose basic features would continue well into the 19th century

Question: Did the country have lasting monarchs?


Answer: The crown completely replaced the hereditary chieftainships with appointed governorships in the entire Irrawaddy valley

Question: Did the original chieftains maintain power political power?


Answer: In 1740, the Mon of Lower Myanmar founded the Restored Hanthawaddy Kingdom

Question: In what year was one of the original Myanmar kingdoms restored?


Answer: the Chinese threat

Context: With Burma preoccupied by the Chinese threat, Ayutthaya recovered its territories by 1770, and went on to capture Lan Na by 1776. Burma and Siam went to war until 1855, but all resulted in a stalemate, exchanging Tenasserim (to Burma) and Lan Na (to Ayutthaya). Faced with a powerful China and a resurgent Ayutthaya in the east, King Bodawpaya turned west, acquiring Arakan (1785), Manipur (1814) and Assam (1817). It was the second-largest empire in Burmese history but also one with a long ill-defined border with British India.

Question: What was the event called that caused Ayutthaya to reclaim lost territories ?


Answer: 1776.

Question: In what year did Ayutthaya capture Lan Na ?


Answer: Arakan

Question: What country was Burma at war with with until 1855 ?


Answer: King Bodawpaya

Question: Who managed to eventually control the territory of Arakan


Answer: Burmese language

Context: Konbaung kings extended Restored Toungoo's administrative reforms, and achieved unprecedented levels of internal control and external expansion. For the first time in history, the Burmese language and culture came to predominate the entire Irrawaddy valley. The evolution and growth of Burmese literature and theatre continued, aided by an extremely high adult male literacy rate for the era (half of all males and 5% of females). Nonetheless, the extent and pace of reforms were uneven and ultimately proved insufficient to stem the advance of British colonialism.

Question: What language eventually came to power in the Irrawaddy valley ?


Answer: half of all males and 5% of females

Question: What was the literacy rate for the Burmese people during the big period of artistic growth?


Answer: pace of reforms were uneven and ultimately proved insufficient

Question: Did changes move along at a uniform pace for the Burmese people?


Answer: British

Question: What country was Burma a colony of ?


Answer: Konbaung kings extended Restored Toungoo's administrative reforms, and achieved unprecedented levels of internal control and external expansion

Question: What are the kings of the Konbaung monarchy famed for in their rule?


Answer: Burmese resentment was strong and was vented in violent riots that paralysed Yangon (Rangoon) on occasion all the way until the 1930s.

Context: Burmese resentment was strong and was vented in violent riots that paralysed Yangon (Rangoon) on occasion all the way until the 1930s. Some of the discontent was caused by a disrespect for Burmese culture and traditions such as the British refusal to remove shoes when they entered pagodas. Buddhist monks became the vanguards of the independence movement. U Wisara, an activist monk, died in prison after a 166-day hunger strike to protest against a rule that forbade him from wearing his Buddhist robes while imprisoned.

Question: have the Burmese people ever shown any reservations about the ruling government bodies?


Answer: Some of the discontent was caused by a disrespect for Burmese culture and traditions

Question: What were some of problems experienced with the colonialism of Burma by the British?


Answer: 166-day hunger strike

Question: How long was U Wisara on a strike were he refused subsistence ?


Answer: died in prison after a 166-day hunger strike

Question: Was U Wisara able to survive the protest?


Answer: to protest against a rule that forbade him from wearing his Buddhist robes while imprisoned.

Question: Why was U Wisara involved in a resistance movement of such extremes ?


Answer: Burma was devastated during World War II

Context: A major battleground, Burma was devastated during World War II. By March 1942, within months after they entered the war, Japanese troops had advanced on Rangoon and the British administration had collapsed. A Burmese Executive Administration headed by Ba Maw was established by the Japanese in August 1942. Wingate's British Chindits were formed into long-range penetration groups trained to operate deep behind Japanese lines. A similar American unit, Merrill's Marauders, followed the Chindits into the Burmese jungle in 1943. Beginning in late 1944, allied troops launched a series of offensives that led to the end of Japanese rule in July 1945. The battles were intense with much of Burma laid waste by the fighting. Overall, the Japanese lost some 150,000 men in Burma. Only 1,700 prisoners were taken.

Question: Was Burma effected by the world wars?


Answer: the British administration had collapsed

Question: Did the British protect Burma as its colony during WWII?


Answer: British Chindits were formed into long-range penetration groups trained to operate deep behind Japanese lines. A similar American unit, Merrill's Marauders

Question: Where groups from Burma an advantage to the Allies during WWII?


Answer: the Japanese lost some 150,000 men in Burma

Question: How many soldiers were lost by the Japanese in Burma during WWII ?


Answer: the end of Japanese rule in July 1945

Question: When did the temporary Japanese rule end in Burma?


Answer: Aung San

Context: Following World War II, Aung San negotiated the Panglong Agreement with ethnic leaders that guaranteed the independence of Myanmar as a unified state. Aung Zan Wai, Pe Khin, Bo Hmu Aung, Sir Maung Gyi, Dr. Sein Mya Maung, Myoma U Than Kywe were among the negotiators of the historical Panglong Conference negotiated with Bamar leader General Aung San and other ethnic leaders in 1947. In 1947, Aung San became Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council of Myanmar, a transitional government. But in July 1947, political rivals assassinated Aung San and several cabinet members.

Question: Who negotiated the agreement that Burma would be free from forgien rule ?


Answer: the Panglong Agreement

Question: What is the name of the agreement that guarantee Burma's freedom from foreign rule ?


Answer: Aung Zan Wai, Pe Khin, Bo Hmu Aung, Sir Maung Gyi, Dr. Sein Mya Maung, Myoma U Than Kywe

Question: What leaders were present during the negotiations made for freedom of the Burmese people?


Answer: Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council of Myanmar

Question: What position did Aung San hold in the Burmese government?


Answer: July 1947, political rivals assassinated Aung San

Question: When did and how did Aung San pass away ?


Answer: 8888 Uprising

Context: In 1988, unrest over economic mismanagement and political oppression by the government led to widespread pro-democracy demonstrations throughout the country known as the 8888 Uprising. Security forces killed thousands of demonstrators, and General Saw Maung staged a coup d'état and formed the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). In 1989, SLORC declared martial law after widespread protests. The military government finalised plans for People's Assembly elections on 31 May 1989. SLORC changed the country's official English name from the "Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma" to the "Union of Myanmar" in 1989.

Question: What are the 1988 demonstrations in Burma called?


Answer: General Saw Maung

Question: Who lead the government coup in 1988 ?


Answer: declared martial law after widespread protests.

Question: Why was marshal law declared in Burma in 1989?


Answer: Union of Myanmar

Question: What was the official name of Burma changed to by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)


Answer: The military government finalised plans for People's Assembly elections on 31 May 1989

Question: Have elections been held in Burma since the military coup in 1988 ?


Answer: an increase in the price of diesel and petrol

Context: In August 2007, an increase in the price of diesel and petrol led to Saffron Revolution led by Buddhist monks that were dealt with harshly by the government. The government cracked down on them on 26 September 2007. The crackdown was harsh, with reports of barricades at the Shwedagon Pagoda and monks killed. There were also rumours of disagreement within the Burmese armed forces, but none was confirmed. The military crackdown against unarmed protesters was widely condemned as part of the International reactions to the Saffron Revolution and led to an increase in economic sanctions against the Burmese Government.

Question: What was the cause of the insurrection in the summer of 2007 ?


Answer: Saffron Revolution

Question: What was the name of the insurgency lead by Buddhist Monks?


Answer: an increase in economic sanctions against the Burmese Government.

Question: Did the insurgency lead to any economic changes in Burma ?


Answer: The military crackdown against unarmed protesters was widely condemned as part of the International reactions

Question: How did the world respond to the reported acts of military violence during the Burmese revolution of 2007?


Answer: Cyclone Nargis

Context: In May 2008, Cyclone Nargis caused extensive damage in the densely populated, rice-farming delta of the Irrawaddy Division. It was the worst natural disaster in Burmese history with reports of an estimated 200,000 people dead or missing, and damage totalled to 10 billion US Dollars, and as many as 1 million left homeless. In the critical days following this disaster, Myanmar's isolationist government was accused of hindering United Nations recovery efforts. Humanitarian aid was requested but concerns about foreign military or intelligence presence in the country delayed the entry of United States military planes delivering medicine, food, and other supplies.

Question: What natural disaster caused detrimental effects to the Irrawaddy section of Burma in May of 2008 ?


Answer: rice

Question: What is the main crop of the delta of the Irrawaddy section of Burma?


Answer: estimated 200,000 people dead or missing

Question: How many people were reported missing or deceased due to the natural disaster of 2007 ?


Answer: 10 billion US Dollars

Question: How much was the financial cost of the damages of the 2007 natural disaster in Burma ?


Answer: Myanmar's isolationist government was accused of hindering United Nations recovery efforts

Question: Did the government of Myanmar welcome the international efforts of assistance?


Answer: the number of ongoing conflicts in Myanmar

Context: In October 2012 the number of ongoing conflicts in Myanmar included the Kachin conflict, between the Pro-Christian Kachin Independence Army and the government; a civil war between the Rohingya Muslims, and the government and non-government groups in Rakhine State; and a conflict between the Shan, Lahu and Karen minority groups, and the government in the eastern half of the country. In addition al-Qaeda signalled an intention to become involved in Myanmar. In a video released 3 September 2014 mainly addressed to India, the militant group's leader Ayman al-Zawahiri said al-Qaeda had not forgotten the Muslims of Myanmar and that the group was doing "what they can to rescue you". In response, the military raised its level of alertness while the Burmese Muslim Association issued a statement saying Muslims would not tolerate any threat to their motherland.

Question: In 2012 what was the the disturbance with the government running smoothly ? Burma?


Answer: Pro-Christian Kachin Independence Army a

Question: Were any religious groups involved in the scrimmages ?


Answer: al-Qaeda

Question: Were any terrorist groups involved in the Burmese conflicts ?


Answer: Ayman al-Zawahiri said al-Qaeda had not forgotten the Muslims of Myanmar and that the group was doing "what they can to rescue you".

Question: Does al-Qaeda believe that Muslims in Burma are in danger?


Answer: the Burmese Muslim Association issued a statement saying Muslims would not tolerate any threat to their motherland.

Question: Did Muslims in Burma give a repose to statements made by al-Qaeda?


Answer: Armed conflict between ethnic Chinese rebels and the Myanmar Armed Forces

Context: Armed conflict between ethnic Chinese rebels and the Myanmar Armed Forces have resulted in the Kokang offensive in February 2015. The conflict had forced 40,000 to 50,000 civilians to flee their homes and seek shelter on the Chinese side of the border. During the incident the government of China was accused of giving military assistance to the ethnic Chinese rebels. Burmese officials have been historically 'manipulated' and pressured by the communist Chinese government throughout Burmese modern history to create closer and binding ties with China, creating a Chinese satellite state in Southeast Asia.

Question: What country was Burma involved with in 2015


Answer: The conflict had forced 40,000 to 50,000 civilians to flee their homes and seek shelter

Question: Were there any refuges that resulted from the Burmese conflict in 2015?


Answer: China was accused of giving military assistance to the ethnic Chinese rebels.

Question: What was the government of China accused of during the Kokang offensive ?


Answer: Burmese officials have been historically 'manipulated' and pressured by the communist Chinese

Question: Is China an affect on the government in Burma ?


Answer: creating a Chinese satellite state in Southeast Asia

Question: To what benefit of China has its interest in the Burmese government brought about ?


Answer: allegations of polling station irregularities were raised

Context: The goal of the Burmese constitutional referendum of 2008, held on 10 May 2008, is the creation of a "discipline-flourishing democracy". As part of the referendum process, the name of the country was changed from the "Union of Myanmar" to the "Republic of the Union of Myanmar", and general elections were held under the new constitution in 2010. Observer accounts of the 2010 election describe the event as mostly peaceful; however, allegations of polling station irregularities were raised, and the United Nations (UN) and a number of Western countries condemned the elections as fraudulent.

Question: Where the elections of 2010 conducted fairly in Burma?


Answer: the United Nations (UN) and a number of Western countries condemned the elections as fraudulent.

Question: Were the results of the 2010 elections accepted by the United Nations?


Answer: Union of Myanmar

Question: What is the name that Burma held before 2010?


Answer: the creation of a "discipline-flourishing democracy"

Question: Why was the referendum in 2008 ?


Answer: Opinions differ whether the transition to liberal democracy is underway

Context: Opinions differ whether the transition to liberal democracy is underway. According to some reports, the military's presence continues as the label 'disciplined democracy' suggests. This label asserts that the Burmese military is allowing certain civil liberties while clandestinely institutionalising itself further into Burmese politics. Such an assertion assumes that reforms only occurred when the military was able to safeguard its own interests through the transition—here, "transition" does not refer to a transition to a liberal democracy, but transition to a quasi-military rule.

Question: Is Burma now a democratic nation?


Answer: the military's presence continues

Question: Does the military still have a government presence in Burma ?


Answer: 'disciplined democracy

Question: What type of government does Burma operate under ?


Answer: reforms only occurred when the military was able to safeguard its own interests

Question: Does the military presence interfere with the day to day running of the government ?


Answer: reforms to direct the country towards liberal democracy

Context: Since the 2010 election, the government has embarked on a series of reforms to direct the country towards liberal democracy, a mixed economy, and reconciliation, although doubts persist about the motives that underpin such reforms. The series of reforms includes the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission, the granting of general amnesties for more than 200 political prisoners, new labour laws that permit labour unions and strikes, a relaxation of press censorship, and the regulation of currency practices.

Question: In what direction is the government of Burma ultimately attempting to go?


Answer: a mixed economy

Question: What type of economy is Burma attempting to reach?


Answer: house arrest

Question: Where was Aung San Suu Kyi confined during his imprisonment in Burma ?


Answer: granting of general amnesties for more than 200 political prisoners

Question: What happened to the political prisoner being held in Burma ?


Answer: new labour laws that permit labour unions and strikes

Question: Are groups who represent workers allowed to express their opinions in protest in Burma?


Answer: approval of Myanmar's bid for the position of ASEAN chair in 2014; the visit by United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Context: The impact of the post-election reforms has been observed in numerous areas, including ASEAN's approval of Myanmar's bid for the position of ASEAN chair in 2014; the visit by United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in December 2011 for the encouragement of further progress—it was the first visit by a Secretary of State in more than fifty years (Clinton met with the Burmese president and former military commander Thein Sein, as well as opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi); and the participation of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party in the 2012 by-elections, facilitated by the government's abolition of the laws that previously barred the NLD. As of July 2013, about 100 political prisoners remain imprisoned, while conflict between the Burmese Army and local insurgent groups continues.

Question: Have the changes in Burmese law been of benefit to the country in international views ?


Answer: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Question: Who was the United States Secretary of State who visited Myanmar in 2014?


Answer: more than fifty years

Question: How long was the interval between the visits from the United States Secretary of State officials ?


Answer: National League for Democracy (NLD) party

Question: What political party does Aung San Suu Kyi belong to ?


Answer: the Freedom House organisation raised concerns

Context: In 1 April 2012 by-elections the NLD won 43 of the 45 available seats; previously an illegal organisation, the NLD had never won a Burmese election until this time. The 2012 by-elections were also the first time that international representatives were allowed to monitor the voting process in Myanmar. Following announcement of the by-elections, the Freedom House organisation raised concerns about "reports of fraud and harassment in the lead up to elections, including the March 23 deportation of Somsri Hananuntasuk, executive director of the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), a regional network of civil society organisations promoting democratization." However, uncertainties exist as some other political prisoners have not been released and clashes between Burmese troops and local insurgent groups continue.

Question: Who raised concerns of fraud in the elections held in the Burma 2012 elections ?


Answer: some other political prisoners have not been released

Question: Did all of the political prisoners obtain freedom due to the election in Burma of 2012 ?


Answer: Somsri Hananuntasuk, executive director of the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL)

Question: Who was expelled from Myanmar before the elections of 2012 and what position did they hold ?


Answer: The 2012 by-elections were also the first time that international representatives were allowed to monitor the voting process in Myanmar

Question: Are international monitors used in the elections of Burma ?


Answer: 43 of the 45 available seats

Question: Does the political party of Aung San Suu Ky hold any positions among the ruling faction ?


Answer: Burma is bordered in the northwest by the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh and the Mizoram

Context: Burma is bordered in the northwest by the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh and the Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh states of India. Its north and northeast border is with the Tibet Autonomous Region and Yunnan province for a Sino-Burman border total of 2,185 km (1,358 mi). It is bounded by Laos and Thailand to the southeast. Burma has 1,930 km (1,200 mi) of contiguous coastline along the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea to the southwest and the south, which forms one quarter of its total perimeter.

Question: What countries surround the border that is opposite the southwest border of Burma?


Answer: Andaman Sea to the southwest and the south, which forms one quarter of its total perimeter.

Question: What sea is an integral part of the Burma landscape ?


Answer: 1,200 mi

Question: How many miles of uninterrupted coastline does Burma encompass?


Answer: Bay of Bengal

Question: What is the name of the bay along the southwest coast of Burma ?


Answer: the Tibet Autonomous Region

Question: What region lays along the north border of Burma and is famed for the presence of monks ?


Answer: Much of the country lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator

Context: Much of the country lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator. It lies in the monsoon region of Asia, with its coastal regions receiving over 5,000 mm (196.9 in) of rain annually. Annual rainfall in the delta region is approximately 2,500 mm (98.4 in), while average annual rainfall in the Dry Zone in central Myanmar is less than 1,000 mm (39.4 in). The Northern regions of Myanmar are the coolest, with average temperatures of 21 °C (70 °F). Coastal and delta regions have an average maximum temperature of 32 °C (89.6 °F).

Question: Where does the majority of the Burmese country fall on the globe ?


Answer: 5,000 mm (196.9 in) of rain annually

Question: How much rain is received in the region where Burma is located ?


Answer: 1,000 mm (39.4 in

Question: What is the expected rainfall in the zone considered to be dry in Burma ?


Answer: The Northern regions of Myanmar are the coolest, with average temperatures of 21 °C (70 °F).

Question: What is the average temperature of the coldest part of Burma and where is it located ?


Answer: Coastal and delta regions have an average maximum temperature of 32 °C (89.6 °F).

Question: How warm does it get at the height of summer along the in the delta and coastal regions of Burma?


Answer: the lumber industry

Context: Typical jungle animals, particularly tigers and leopards, occur sparsely in Myanmar. In upper Myanmar, there are rhinoceros, wild buffalo, wild boars, deer, antelope, and elephants, which are also tamed or bred in captivity for use as work animals, particularly in the lumber industry. Smaller mammals are also numerous, ranging from gibbons and monkeys to flying foxes and tapirs. The abundance of birds is notable with over 800 species, including parrots, peafowl, pheasants, crows, herons, and paddybirds. Among reptile species there are crocodiles, geckos, cobras, Burmese pythons, and turtles. Hundreds of species of freshwater fish are wide-ranging, plentiful and are very important food sources. For a list of protected areas, see List of protected areas of Myanmar.

Question: What industry is supported by animal labor in Burma ?


Answer: Hundreds of species of freshwater fish

Question: What is an important protein source in the Burmese diet?


Answer: elephants, which are also tamed or bred in captivity for use as work animals

Question: What animals where domesticated in Burma for industry use ?


Answer: The abundance of birds is notable with over 800 species

Question: What is note worthy about the bird population of Burma ?


Answer: Typical jungle animals, particularly tigers and leopards, occur sparsely in Myanmar

Question: Are large jungle cats part of the animal population of Burma ?


Answer: The elections of 2010 resulted in a victory for the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party

Context: The elections of 2010 resulted in a victory for the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party. Various foreign observers questioned the fairness of the elections. One criticism of the election was that only government sanctioned political parties were allowed to contest in it and the popular National League for Democracy was declared illegal. However, immediately following the elections, the government ended the house arrest of the democracy advocate and leader of the National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, and her ability to move freely around the country is considered an important test of the military's movement toward more openness. After unexpected reforms in 2011, NLD senior leaders have decided to register as a political party and to field candidates in future by-elections.

Question: What was the name of the winning unit in the 2010 elections in Burma ?


Answer: Various foreign observers questioned the fairness of the elections.

Question: Were the elections held in an unbiased manner Burma in 2010 ?


Answer: One criticism of the election was that only government sanctioned political parties were allowed to contest in it

Question: What were some of the opinions foreign advisers stated about the Burma 2010 elections ?


Answer: the popular National League for Democracy was declared illegal

Question: What was the Burmese official decision concerning the legitimacy of National League for Democracy in 2010 ?


Answer: relations have thawed since the reforms following the 2010 elections.

Context: Though the country's foreign relations, particularly with Western nations, have been strained, relations have thawed since the reforms following the 2010 elections. After years of diplomatic isolation and economic and military sanctions, the United States relaxed curbs on foreign aid to Myanmar in November 2011 and announced the resumption of diplomatic relations on 13 January 2012 The European Union has placed sanctions on Myanmar, including an arms embargo, cessation of trade preferences, and suspension of all aid with the exception of humanitarian aid.

Question: How have international relations developed due to the recent political changes in Burma ?


Answer: the United States relaxed curbs on foreign aid to Myanmar in November 2011 and announced the resumption of diplomatic relations

Question: What did the United States do in response to the reform changes of the 2010 Burma elections ?


Answer: sanctions on Myanmar, including an arms embargo, cessation of trade preferences, and suspension of all aid with the exception of humanitarian aid.

Question: What type of activity has the European Union engaged in in response to the reforms made in Burma ?


Answer: years of diplomatic isolation and economic and military sanctions

Question: How did the United States treat Myanmar prior to the changes made in Burmese government ?


Answer: Sanctions imposed by the United States and European countries against the former military government, coupled with boycotts

Context: Sanctions imposed by the United States and European countries against the former military government, coupled with boycotts and other direct pressure on corporations by supporters of the democracy movement, have resulted in the withdrawal from the country of most US and many European companies. On 13 April 2012 British Prime Minister David Cameron called for the economic sanctions on Myanmar to be suspended in the wake of the pro-democracy party gaining 43 seats out of a possible 45 in the 2012 by-elections with the party leader, Aung San Suu Kyi becoming a member of the Burmese parliament.

Question: How are international businesses discouraged from operating in Burma?


Answer: the withdrawal from the country of most US and many European companies

Question: What was the result for internationals companies attempting to conduct business in Burma ?


Answer: British Prime Minister David Cameron

Question: Who called for the sanctions in Burma to be given reprieve ?


Answer: the Burmese parliament

Question: What did Aung San Suu Kyi become a part of in Burma ?


Answer: Asian corporations have generally remained willing to continue investing in the country and to initiate new investments

Context: Despite Western isolation, Asian corporations have generally remained willing to continue investing in the country and to initiate new investments, particularly in natural resource extraction. The country has close relations with neighbouring India and China with several Indian and Chinese companies operating in the country. Under India's Look East policy, fields of co-operation between India and Myanmar include remote sensing, oil and gas exploration, information technology, hydro power and construction of ports and buildings.

Question: How do Asian countries feel about the European attitude towards Burma ?


Answer: natural resource extraction.

Question: What is a popular business for international Asian countries in Burma ?


Answer: India and China

Question: What two countries does Burma have Superior relationships with ?


Answer: fields of co-operation between India and Myanmar include remote sensing, oil and gas exploration, information technology, hydro power and construction

Question: What is the benefit to the two countries involved in the India Look East policy ?


Answer: over the issue of human rights abuses by the ruling junta

Context: In 2008, India suspended military aid to Myanmar over the issue of human rights abuses by the ruling junta, although it has preserved extensive commercial ties, which provide the regime with much-needed revenue. The thaw in relations began on 28 November 2011, when Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich and his wife Ludmila arrived in the capital, Naypyidaw, the same day as the country received a visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who also met with pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. International relations progress indicators continued in September 2012 when Aung San Suu Kyi visited to the US followed by Myanmar's reformist president visit to the United Nations.

Question: Why did India stop supporting the military in Myanmar in 2008 ?


Answer: it has preserved extensive commercial ties

Question: Did the military sanctions imposed by India affect the business workings of it's relations in Burma ?


Answer: Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich and his wife Ludmila

Question: Who helped to improve the relations between India and Burma?


Answer: the capital, Naypyidaw

Question: What city in Burma was visited by the envoy from India


Answer: Thein Sein became the first Myanmar president to visit the White House in 47 years

Context: In May 2013, Thein Sein became the first Myanmar president to visit the White House in 47 years; the last Burmese leader to visit the White House was Ne Win in September 1966. President Barack Obama praised the former general for political and economic reforms, and the cessation of tensions between Myanmar and the United States. Political activists objected to the visit due to concerns over human rights abuses in Myanmar but Obama assured Thein Sein that Myanmar will receive US support. The two leaders discussed to release more political prisoners, the institutionalisation of political reform and rule of law, and ending ethnic conflict in Myanmar—the two governments agreed to sign a bilateral trade and investment framework agreement on 21 May 2013.

Question: Who is the first official Burmese delegate to visit the white house following the 2010 elections in Burma ?


Answer: the last Burmese leader to visit the White House was Ne Win in September 1966

Question: When was the most prior visit from a Burmese representative to the United States prior to 2010 ?


Answer: Political activists objected to the visit due to concerns over human rights abuses in Myanmar

Question: Was the visit from the Burmese delegate welcome in the United States in 2010?


Answer: leaders discussed to release more political prisoners

Question: Did the visit to the United States result in the release of political prisoners in Burma ?


Answer: to sign a bilateral trade and investment framework agreement on 21 May 2013.

Question: What agreements were made in the visit to the United States by the Burmese in the 21 century ?


Answer: Myanmar has received extensive military aid from China

Context: Myanmar has received extensive military aid from China in the past Myanmar has been a member of ASEAN since 1997. Though it gave up its turn to hold the ASEAN chair and host the ASEAN Summit in 2006, it chaired the forum and hosted the summit in 2014. In November 2008, Myanmar's political situation with neighbouring Bangladesh became tense as they began searching for natural gas in a disputed block of the Bay of Bengal. Controversy surrounding the Rohingya population also remains an issue between Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Question: What country has provided Burma with the most military aid ?


Answer: Myanmar has been a member of ASEAN since 1997

Question: How long has Burma participated in the group ASEAN ?


Answer: hosted the summit in 2014

Question: What year was Myanmar the host for the ASEAN conference?


Answer: natural gas in a disputed block of the Bay of Bengal

Question: What event caused tension between Burma and Bangladesh in 2008 ?


Answer: Tatmadaw

Context: Myanmar's armed forces are known as the Tatmadaw, which numbers 488,000. The Tatmadaw comprises the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force. The country ranked twelfth in the world for its number of active troops in service. The military is very influential in Myanmar, with all top cabinet and ministry posts usually held by military officials. Official figures for military spending are not available. Estimates vary widely because of uncertain exchange rates, but Myanmar's military forces' expenses are high. Myanmar imports most of its weapons from Russia, Ukraine, China and India.

Question: What is the name of the military in Burma ?


Answer: numbers 488,000

Question: How large is the military of Burma ?


Answer: Army, the Navy, and the Air Force

Question: Which traditional branches of the military does Burma have?


Answer: The country ranked twelfth in the world for its number of active troops in service.

Question: What ranking does Burma hold for the number of troops currently serving on active military duty ?


Answer: Myanmar imports most of its weapons from Russia, Ukraine, China and India.

Question: From where does Burma receive most of its military artillery ?


Answer: Until 2005, the United Nations General Assembly annually adopted a detailed resolution about the situation in Myanmar by consensus.

Context: Until 2005, the United Nations General Assembly annually adopted a detailed resolution about the situation in Myanmar by consensus. But in 2006 a divided United Nations General Assembly voted through a resolution that strongly called upon the government of Myanmar to end its systematic violations of human rights. In January 2007, Russia and China vetoed a draft resolution before the United Nations Security Council calling on the government of Myanmar to respect human rights and begin a democratic transition. South Africa also voted against the resolution.

Question: What did the United adopt in reference to Burma annually until 2005 ?


Answer: voted through a resolution that strongly called upon the government of Myanmar to end its systematic violations of human rights.

Question: What occurred in the United Nations general convening in 2006 ?


Answer: vetoed a draft resolution before the United Nations Security Council calling on the government of Myanmar

Question: What did China and Russia both do in 2008 ?


Answer: South Africa

Question: What other countries were in disagreement with the United Nations decision on Burma ?


Answer: military regime in Myanmar is one of the world's most repressive and abusive regimes

Context: There is consensus that the military regime in Myanmar is one of the world's most repressive and abusive regimes. In November 2012, Samantha Power, Barack Obama's Special Assistant to the President on Human Rights, wrote on the White House blog in advance of the president's visit that "Serious human rights abuses against civilians in several regions continue, including against women and children." Members of the United Nations and major international human rights organisations have issued repeated and consistent reports of widespread and systematic human rights violations in Myanmar. The United Nations General Assembly has repeatedly called on the Burmese Military Junta to respect human rights and in November 2009 the General Assembly adopted a resolution "strongly condemning the ongoing systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms" and calling on the Burmese Military Regime "to take urgent measures to put an end to violations of international human rights and humanitarian law."

Question: What is the general view of Burma ?


Answer: Barack Obama's Special Assistant to the President on Human Rights

Question: Who is Samantha Power?


Answer: "Serious human rights abuses against civilians in several regions continue, including against women and children

Question: What did Ms Powers write concerning Burma ?


Answer: Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Context: International human rights organisations including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the American Association for the Advancement of Science have repeatedly documented and condemned widespread human rights violations in Myanmar. The Freedom in the World 2011 report by Freedom House notes, "The military junta has ... suppressed nearly all basic rights; and committed human rights abuses with impunity." In July 2013, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners indicated that there were approximately 100 political prisoners being held in Burmese prisons.

Question: What are the names of some of the human right organizations that have been involved in Burmese relations.


Answer: The military junta has ... suppressed nearly all basic rights; and committed human rights abuses with impunity

Question: In 2011 what did the group Freedom House say concerning the Burma military?


Answer: In July 2013, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners indicated that there were approximately 100 political prisoners being held

Question: How many prisoners are still held in Burma on political crimes?


Answer: Child soldiers have and continue to play a major part in the Burmese Army as well as Burmese rebel movements.

Context: Child soldiers have and continue to play a major part in the Burmese Army as well as Burmese rebel movements. The Independent reported in June 2012 that "Children are being sold as conscripts into the Burmese military for as little as $40 and a bag of rice or a can of petrol." The UN's Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, who stepped down from her position a week later, met representatives of the Government of Myanmar on 5 July 2012 and stated that she hoped the government's signing of an action plan would "signal a transformation." In September 2012, the Myanmar Armed Forces released 42 child soldiers and the International Labour Organization met with representatives of the government as well as the Kachin Independence Army to secure the release of more child soldiers. According to Samantha Power, a US delegation raised the issue of child soldiers with the government in October 2012. However, she did not comment on the government's progress towards reform in this area.

Question: How are children used in the conflicts in Burma?


Answer: Children are being sold as conscripts into the Burmese military for as little as $40 and a bag of rice or a can of petrol

Question: How are children obtained for use as solders in Burma ?


Answer: the Myanmar Armed Forces released 42 child soldiers

Question: How many child solders were released from the Burmese military in 2012 ?


Answer: The Rohingya people

Context: The Rohingya people have consistently faced human rights abuses by the Burmese regime that has refused to acknowledge them as Burmese citizens (despite some of them having lived in Burma for over three generations)—the Rohingya have been denied Burmese citizenship since the enactment of a 1982 citizenship law. The law created three categories of citizenship: citizenship, associate citizenship, and naturalised citizenship. Citizenship is given to those who belong to one of the national races such as Kachin, Kayah (Karenni), Karen, Chin, Burman, Mon, Rakhine, Shan, Kaman, or Zerbadee. Associate citizenship is given to those who cannot prove their ancestors settled in Myanmar before 1823, but can prove they have one grandparent, or pre-1823 ancestor, who was a citizen of another country, as well as people who applied for citizenship in 1948 and qualified then by those laws. Naturalized citizenship is only given to those who have at least one parent with one of these types of Burmese citizenship or can provide "conclusive evidence" that their parents entered and resided in Burma prior to independence in 1948. The Burmese regime has attempted to forcibly expel Rohingya and bring in non-Rohingyas to replace them—this policy has resulted in the expulsion of approximately half of the 800,000 Rohingya from Burma, while the Rohingya people have been described as "among the world's least wanted" and "one of the world's most persecuted minorities." But the origin of ‘most persecuted minority’ statement is unclear.

Question: What section of the Burmese population is routinely discriminated against ?


Answer: 1982

Question: When was the citizenship laws placed into effect in Burma ?


Answer: Citizenship is given to those who belong to one of the national races

Question: How does one become a full citizen in Burma ?


Answer: national races such as Kachin, Kayah (Karenni), Karen, Chin, Burman, Mon, Rakhine, Shan, Kaman, or Zerbadee

Question: What races are considered for full citizenship in Burma?


Answer: Associate citizenship is given to those who cannot prove their ancestors settled in Myanmar before 1823

Question: What happens if one is not able to prove ancestral claim on full citizenship ?


Answer: the Rohingya have been denied Burmese citizenship since the enactment of a 1982 citizenship law

Question: When did the Rohingya lose citizenship rights in Burma?


Answer: Citizenship is given to those who belong to one of the national races

Question: How is the decision made on who gets full citizenship rights in Burma?


Answer: national races such as Kachin, Kayah (Karenni), Karen, Chin, Burman, Mon, Rakhine, Shan, Kaman, or Zerbadee.

Question: What races are considered to be the of the the national races in Burma ?


Answer: prove their ancestors settled in Myanmar before 1823

Question: How can one prove their race in Burma ?


Answer: expulsion of approximately half of the 800,000 Rohingya from Burma,

Question: How many of the Rohingya people have new changes in citizenship caused to become refugees ?


Answer: suggested that the Rohingya conflict may be driven by an Islamist political agenda to impose religious laws

Context: In 2007 the German professor Bassam Tibi suggested that the Rohingya conflict may be driven by an Islamist political agenda to impose religious laws, while non-religious causes have also been raised, such as a lingering resentment over the violence that occurred during the Japanese occupation of Burma in World War II—during this time period the British allied themselves with the Rohingya and fought against the puppet government of Burma (composed mostly of Bamar Japanese) that helped to establish the Tatmadaw military organisation that remains in power as of March 2013.

Question: What is believed to be one of the potential religious instigators for the stiff in Burma against a certain race ?


Answer: the Japanese

Question: Who occupied Burma during the Second World War ?


Answer: the Tatmadaw

Question: What system of militaristic management exists in Burma?


Answer: lingering resentment over the violence that occurred during the Japanese occupation

Question: What may have caused negative feeling to still linger among the different races of the Burmese people ?


Answer: British allied themselves with the Rohingya

Question: Who did the British choose to back in Burma during WWII ?


Answer: Since the democratic transition began in 2011, there has been continuous violence as 280 people have been killed and 140,000 forced to flee

Context: Since the democratic transition began in 2011, there has been continuous violence as 280 people have been killed and 140,000 forced to flee from their homes in the Rakhine state. A UN envoy reported in March 2013 that unrest had re-emerged between Myanmar's Buddhist and Muslim communities, with violence spreading to towns that are located closer to Yangon. The BBC News media outlet obtained video footage of a man with severe burns who received no assistance from passers-by or police officers even though he was lying on the ground in a public area. The footage was filmed by members of the Burmese police force in the town of Meiktila and was used as evidence that Buddhists continued to kill Muslims after the European Union sanctions were lifted on 23 April 2013.

Question: Has the violence in Burma decreased over the years as the country has tried made democratic strides ?


Answer: unrest had re-emerged between Myanmar's Buddhist and Muslim communities, with violence

Question: Are the separate religious factions in Burma able to peacefully coexist ?


Answer: BBC News media outlet obtained video footage of a man with severe burns who received no assistance from passers-by or police officers

Question: What news company discovered visual evidence of the disdain exhibited by civil employees and civilians in Burma ?


Answer: footage was filmed by members of the Burmese police force in the town of Meiktila

Question: Who recorded the visual evidence on the disdainful incident?


Answer: used as evidence that Buddhists continued to kill Muslims after the European Union sanctions were lifted on 23 April 2013.

Question: Who was the videotape used as evidence against in Burma ?


Answer: many commentators citing the killing of ten Burmese Muslims by ethnic Rakhine

Context: The immediate cause of the riots is unclear, with many commentators citing the killing of ten Burmese Muslims by ethnic Rakhine after the rape and murder of a Rakhine woman as the main cause. Whole villages have been "decimated". Over 300 houses and a number of public buildings have been razed. According to Tun Khin, the president of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK), as of 28 June 2012, 650 Rohingyas have been killed, 1,200 are missing, and more than 80,000 have been displaced. According to the Myanmar authorities, the violence, between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims, left 78 people dead, 87 injured, and thousands of homes destroyed. It displaced more than 52,000 people.

Question: What was believed to be one of the Burma reasons for the unrest in 2012 ?


Answer: It displaced more than 52,000 people

Question: How many are believed to have been uprooted by this unrest ?


Answer: Tun Khin

Question: Who is the president of the BROUK's UK division?


Answer: 1,200 are missing

Question: How many people where missing after the 2012 Burma civil unrest ?


Answer: The Burmese army and police have been accused of targeting Rohingya Muslims through mass arrests and arbitrary violence

Context: The government has responded by imposing curfews and by deploying troops in the regions. On 10 June 2012, a state of emergency was declared in Rakhine, allowing the military to participate in administration of the region. The Burmese army and police have been accused of targeting Rohingya Muslims through mass arrests and arbitrary violence. A number of monks' organisations that played a vital role in Myanmar's struggle for democracy have taken measures to block any humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya community.

Question: What have the military and law enforcement been denounced for in the matter of summer of 2012 ?


Answer: monks' organisations that played a vital role in Myanmar's struggle for democracy have taken measures to block any humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya

Question: How have the friar organizations contributed to the struggle in Burma?


Answer: On 10 June 2012, a state of emergency was declared in Rakhine, allowing the military to participate in administration of the region

Question: What happened in Rakhine in the summer of 2012 that had severe implications on the running of the location?


Answer: The government has responded by imposing curfews and by deploying troops in the regions

Question: How did the Burmese government respond to the unrest in 2012 ?


Answer: Restrictions on media censorship were significantly eased in August 2012

Context: Restrictions on media censorship were significantly eased in August 2012 following demonstrations by hundreds of protesters who wore shirts demanding that the government "Stop Killing the Press." The most significant change has come in the form that media organisations will no longer have to submit their content to a censorship board before publication. However, as explained by one editorial in the exiled press The Irrawaddy, this new "freedom" has caused some Burmese journalists to simply see the new law as an attempt to create an environment of self-censorship as journalists "are required to follow 16 guidelines towards protecting the three national causes — non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity, perpetuation of sovereignty — and "journalistic ethics" to ensure their stories are accurate and do not jeopardise national security." In July 2014 five journalists were sentenced to 10 years in jail after publishing a report saying the country was planning to build a new chemical weapons plant. Journalists described the jailings as a blow to the recently-won news media freedoms that had followed five decades of censorship and persecution.

Question: Have there been any changes to restrictions placed on the communications networks in Burma ?


Answer: The most significant change has come in the form that media organisations will no longer have to submit their content to a censorship board before publication.

Question: If communications restrictions have changed how so?


Answer: The Irrawaddy

Question: What is the name of the newspaper that was banished from Burma?


Answer: journalists "are required to follow 16 guidelines towards protecting the three national causes

Question: What is required of commentators before publishing or airing content ?


Answer: wore shirts demanding that the government "Stop Killing the Press.

Question: What did demonstrators wear during the media rally?


Answer: the Crisis Group

Context: According to the Crisis Group, since Myanmar transitioned to a new government in August 2011, the country's human rights record has been improving. Previously giving Myanmar its lowest rating of 7, the 2012 Freedom in the World report also notes improvement, giving Myanmar a 6 for improvements in civil liberties and political rights, the release of political prisoners, and a loosening of restrictions. In 2013, Myanmar improved yet again, receiving a score of five in civil liberties and a six in political freedoms

Question: What is the name of the individuals who gave relevant information on the recent events in Burma ?


Answer: the country's human rights record has been improving

Question: Have there been any advances in the human rights situation in Myanmar?


Answer: Myanmar improved yet again, receiving a score of five in civil liberties and a six in political freedom

Question: What is the current rating of for Burma from the Freedom in the World report and what caused the current standing ?


Answer: improvements in civil liberties and political rights, the release of political prisoners, and a loosening of restrictions.

Question: What caused Myanmar to receive a rating of 6?


Answer: lowest rating of 7

Question: What was the previous rating for Burma?


Answer: National Human Rights Commission

Context: The government has assembled a National Human Rights Commission that consists of 15 members from various backgrounds. Several activists in exile, including Thee Lay Thee Anyeint members, have returned to Myanmar after President Thein Sein's invitation to expatriates to return home to work for national development. In an address to the United Nations Security Council on 22 September 2011, Myanmar's Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin confirmed the government's intention to release prisoners in the near future.

Question: What did the government bring together ?


Answer: consists of 15 members from various backgrounds

Question: Once the decision was made to bring the group together who was it comprised of ?


Answer: invitation to expatriates to return home to work for national development.

Question: Has the joining brought about any changes in the region ?


Answer: President Thein Sein

Question: Who extended the offer to the activists ?


Answer: Myanmar's Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin

Question: Who addressed the United nations on Myanmar's behalf in the fall 2011 ?