Until the world crumbles, Myanmar!

Military juntas - god love 'em. They're a bit out of fashion nowadays, but you still see them around - a bit like moustaches.

Probably one of the more retro outfits is the military collective that has been "running" Burma (they call it Myanmar) since they took over in a coup in '62. Actually, there's been more coups since, there was one in '88 as well, in response to a crisis brought upon by pro-democracy demonstrations. They tend to get by through a mixture of drug money (opium), forced labour and the odd massacre.

Probably The Best Democracy Activist in the World (she won the Nobel Peace Prize in '91), Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest in Burma since 2003, and the rulers have just decided, in their infinite wisdom, to keep her there for the foreseeable future.

They also face a variety of rebel forces seeking national self-determination for the various ethnic groups in Burma, most notably the Kayin (or Karen) on the border with Thailand. The junta tends to send the thugs to murder, rape and capture slaves, now and again. The Karen have organised themselves a 6,000 strong national liberation army (the KNLA) to defend themselves from such assaults and fight for a separate state.

The current leader is a rather short, pug nosed General called Than Shwe. He rarely leaves the country, probably fearing that he'll be overthrown by one of the other nutcases in the Junta. These people, the only people they hate and distrust more than the people they oppress is each other.