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A predominantly Buddhist country on the northeastern shores of the Indian Ocean, Burma is mountainous in the north and east, while the fertile Irrawaddy basin occupies most of the country. Rocked by ethnic conflict ever since gaining independence from the UK in 1948, Burma has been ruled by repressive military regimes since 1962. The National League for Democracy (NLD) gained a majority in free elections in 1990, but has been prevented from taking power by the military. Rich in natural resources, which include fisheries and teak forests, Burma remains a mostly agricultural economy.