"Burma1, which gained its independence from Britain on 4 January 1948, has a population of 45 million people with a high degree of ethnic diversity. While at least 50 percent of the total population is ethnic Burman, the remainder belongs to dozens of ethnic groups.2 While more than 85 percent of the population, mainly Burmans, practice Buddhism, the rest of the population practice other religions, such as Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Animism..."