Advocate DatabaseReference

Key Individuals & Organizations

A reference guide to the key individuals, organizations, and movements relevant to Myanmar's democracy struggle and political history.

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1988: A national pro-democracy movement by the people of Myanmar against the military government in August 1988; helped terminate the one-party policy.
969 Movement: A Buddhist extremist nationalist movement that attacks other religions in Myanmar, especially Muslim minorities, opposed to Islam's expansion in Burma; supports the Myanmar Military.

A

All Burma Federation of Student Unions: An organization founded by Aung San at Rangoon University; advocates for academic freedoms, student rights, and democracy throughout the country.
Arakan Army (AA): An ethnic, armed organization based in Rakhine State; the military wing of the United League of Arakan, founded in 2009; fights against the Myanmar Military, which is regarded as a terrorist organization by the people of Myanmar, in the Kachin conflict.
Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA): A Rohingya insurgent group active in northern Rakhine state; formed in 2013, originally called Harakah al-Yaqin.
Asian Conference of Religions for Peace (ACRP): A non-governmental organization affiliated with the United Nations; chapter of the World Conference on Religion and Peace; provides religious Asian people with a manifestation of their fellowship and concern for peace and disarmament issues.
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP): A non-profit human rights organization based in Thailand; advocates and lobbies for the release of remaining political prisoners and for the improvement of their lives after release; keeps record of those detained and/or killed by Myanmar's military.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations: A political and economic union of 10 member states in Southeast Asia; promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates integration between its members and other Asian countries in order to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development; promotes regional peace and stability based on the principles of the United Nations.
Aung San Suu Kyi: A Burmese democratic political leader, diplomat, who stayed under house arrest for nearly two decades; 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate; campaigned to restore democracy; led the National League for Democracy to victory in 2015 national election; served as State Counselor and Minister of Foreign Affairs in Myanmar from 2016 to 2021; currently imprisoned by Myanmar's military for the 4th time.
Aung San: A Burmese politician, independence activist, independence hero, and revolutionary; founder of the Myanmar Armed Forces; the Father of the Nation of modern-day Myanmar; assassinated while fighting to end British rule of Burma.

B

Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP): The only legal party after the first military coup in 1962; dissolved in 1988; the precursor to the National Unity Party; dedicated to leading the "Burmese Way to Socialism."

C

Civil Disobedience Movement/Campaign for Civil Disobedience: A large movement launched by healthcare workers and civil servants in opposition to Myanmar's military.
Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH): An exiled, Burmese legislative body representing members of parliament ousted during the coup.

G

GenZ Burma: A youth movement involved in campaigns against the military junta.

J

Junta: A military or political group that rules a country after taking power by force.

M

Min Aung Hlaing: A current military commander-in-chief; has been internationally condemned for his role in military attacks on ethnic minorities.
Ministry of Communications, Posts, and Telegraphs: The military government's bureaucratic ministry; has been instrumental in restricting freedom of speech and press.
Myint Swe: The Vice president who was appointed by the Military representatives in Parliament before the coup; proclaimed a year-long state of emergency and declared power had been transferred to Min Aung Hlaing.
Myo Yan Naung Thein: A Burmese pro-democracy advocate and internationally renowned human rights activist; former chief research officer and Secretary of the National League for Democracy's Central Committee for Research and Strategy Studies; former political prisoner.

N

National League for Democracy (NLD): A liberal democratic political party in Myanmar; became the ruling party after a landslide victory in the 2015 general election; overthrown in a military coup in February 2021.
National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC): A broad-based, inclusive platform attempting to unite different forces around a federal democracy objective; includes many NLD members, CDM groups, general strike councils, ethnic political parties, and civil society organizations.
National Unity Government of Myanmar (NUG): An exiled Myanmar government; recognized by the European Parliament as the legitimate government of Myanmar; includes representatives of the National League for Democracy, ethnic minority groups, and various minor parties; formed the People's Defense Force.

P

People's Defense Force (PDF): A pro-democracy, armed wing of the National Unity Government; formed in response to the military coup in May 2021; designated by the junta as a terrorist organization; comprised of local militias that have attacked military convoys and assassinated officials in defense of their communities.

R

Rohingya: A stateless Indo-Aryan ethnic group who predominantly follow Islam; reside in northernmost part of Rakhine State; one of the most persecuted minority groups in the world; victims of a genocide committed by the Myanmar Military, who are regarded as a terrorist organization by the people of Myanmar.

S

Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M): An independent group of international experts and activists; promotes human rights, peace, democracy, justice, and accountability in Myanmar.
Spring Revolution: Supports ongoing protests in Myanmar in response to military coup d'etat.

T

Tatmadaw: Myanmar's military; comprised of the Myanmar Army, the Myanmar Navy, and the Myanmar Air Force; which is regarded as a terrorist organization by the people of Myanmar.

U

Union Solidarity and Development Association: A state-sponsored mass organization that served as an electoral vehicle for Burmese generals to enter civilian politics; established in 1993, transitioned into the Union Solidarity and Development Party in 2010.
Union Solidarity and Development Party: The military's proxy party; won 33 out of 476 seats in 2020 election; evolved from the Union Solidarity and Development Association.
United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC): A global organization dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights around the world.
United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ): The judicial organ of the United Nations; AKA the World Court; imposed provisional measures to prevent genocidal acts against the Rohingya in 2020.