The State of Myanmar's Civil Society under Military Government (1988-2011)

The military government ruled in Myanmar between 1988 and 2011. According to the State Law and Order Restoration Council Order 1/91, neither civil servants nor their family members are permitted to join political parties, labour associations, unions or other organizations not approved by the government. Civil society generally refers to all organized groups, small and large, which act independently of the government. This includes the private media, business and legal associations, religious, cultural and social welfare organizations, student groups and political parties. Although the term "civil society" was introduced in Myanmar only in the mid- 1990s, community-based and religious organizations have been active in the country decades. There are six types of civil society. This paper argues that Civil Society was weak in Myanmar under the military government because the military government repressed the civil society organizations by issuing formal laws, regulations, like 6/88, 1/9 by restricting media as well as by hindering the activities of some CSOs which were thought to be anti-government with informal measures