Each ethnic group have their own state in the whole Union of Burma.

He overthrew the serene Buddhist scholar-statesman, U Nu, who was the first premier of the independent Union of Burma.

That tells you a lot about the hierarchy, said Soe Aung of the Bangkok-based National Council for the Union of Burma.

They are really worried about it, said Maung Maung, Thailand-based secretary general of the exiled opposition National Council of the Union of Burma.

One of the few reminders of the company's past is its airline code, UB, a throwback to the country's former name, Union of Burma.