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NEWS - U.S. Doesn't Recognize Burma



Subject: NEWS - U.S. Doesn't Recognize Burma's Name Change as Myanmar

U.S. Doesn't Recognize Burma's Name Change as Myanmar

  In US Government documentation, in the U.S. Congress and other areas
of the U.S. Government, Burma is the named still in use.  The new name
dictated by the military is not recognized accept at the so-called
embassy of Myanmar.

--------------------------------

THE NATION - November 26, 1999

Media chided for calling Burma names

THE first subject Burmese Foreign Minister U Win Aung broached after
agreeing to talk to a few Thai reporters yesterday was the long-standing
complaint about the media's reference to his country as ''Burma''
instead of
''Myanmar''.

Win Aung said the persistent use of the name ''Burma'' by two English
language dailies in Thailand, The Nation and Bangkok Post created
confusion
among the younger generation.

The soft-spoken minister, who succeeded U Ohn Gyaw a year ago, politely
explained that the name Burma, which was changed in 1989, no longer
exists
as a geographical reference.

''The name 'Myanmar' has been adopted by all internationally; you will
find
'Myanmar' in international maps and the world atlas,'' he said, during a
two-hour transit stop in Bangkok.

Win Aung said Myanmar is the original name of his country, going back to
the
6th century AD when it had no kingdoms. A group of people who inhabited
the
land used to call themselves ''Myanmar''.

Unlike other Burmese leaders who also used to complain about the media's
use
of ''Burma'', Aung Win tried to explain the meaning of ''Myanmar''.

'''Myan' means fast, while 'Mar' means strong. 'Burma' means nothing,''
he
said.

He added that the same goes for the name of the country's capital.
''Yangon
was a town and the name means 'end of hostilities'. 'Rangoon' means
nothing,'' he said.

Win Aung said he understood that this may be the policy of the media,
but
said he would like his request to be noted.