Outrage: Burma's Struggle for Democracy

by Bertil Lintner

In 1988 Burma (now Myanmar) exploded. People rose up against their government in a massive and nationwide expression of outrage at the regime’s ruinous economic policies and repressive politics. The protests were suppressed by violence on a scale even more brutal than the Chinese suppression of the demonstrations in and around Tiananmen Square the following year. Outrage is the result of many visits to Burma and its border areas, interviews with eyewitnesses and survivors of the massacres that took place in Rangoon and elsewhere in 1988. Even now, several decades later, it remains the fullest published account of these terrible events. The significance of Lintner’s book might be best gauged by the official response to the first edition, which was published in June 1989: “…a pot-pourri of maliciously selected misrepresentations, misinterpretations, fabrications, and rumour-sourced disinformation…by past master of malice, foreign journalist Bertil Lintner.” (Working People’s Daily, 1989).

Genres: History

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Johnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review of the 1988 Uprising in Burma (Myanmar) was a helpful read especially considering the current political situation. I found the writing style of the book to be a bit hard to follow sometimes. Maybe this is due to the focus on names and dates which often are hard for me to remember. It also at times jumped around in time which would leave me confused. However, despite the faults, it was still a good read and I found myself learning more about this country that I love as I read. I found the timeline at the end of the book to be especially helpful, and I think it would have been helpful to have a summarized timeline at the beginning to give context for the bigger themes throughout the book.

[Reza Amiri Praramadhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most detailed account sorrounding the downfall of General Ne Win, the Four Eights Uprising, and the subsequent SLORC takeover I could get my hands on. It is more surprising that all of this writing could be done, knowing that Myanmar at the time was a closed, mysterious country. What fascinates me is the fact that, despite the military being called as 'the most politically inept in all of Southeast Asia,' they managed to hold on to power for longer than any other militaries, such as in Indonesia or Philippines (discounting Thailand, whose military has an on-and-off relation with democracy).

[phrajao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bertil Lintner was my hero in the 1990s. He was one of the few westerners trying to keep Burma's plight in the news, writing at least a small blurb about the country in every issue of the Far Eastern Economic Reviw. I spent quite a bit of time on the Thai/Burmese border in 1992 and all of the Burmese immigration (army) officers knew he was (literally) enemy number one. "Outrage" is one of the few books out there giving a well-written, objective account of the events surrounding Burma's version of Tienneman square. Highly recommended.

[Khun Minn Ohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good account of the events that happened around the 88 uprising in Burma. The characteristics of Burmese politics in history is also well portrayed.
Lintner undoubtedly understands the "Burmese" way.
A must-read if you are Burmese and if you are into politics, or if a Burmese just want to know what he or she is living under.

[Tshiung Han See · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lintner's is often accused of defending the British, but this book is still a rare and important record of the events that lead up to the 1988 uprising.

[Daniellamenezes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading it more than 20 years later makes you think that history has been repeating itself. The only thing left is the hope that things are different this time around.

[Linn Htet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, it's good to know something about the history of my country from this well-informed book.:):)