Why is Burma/Myanmar not a Commonwealth nation?

Burma was the third country in history to opt for complete independence after the USA and Republic of Ireland. read more

Why Burma is not a Commonwealth member is a long story, but the most important and most defining reason is WW2. In WW2 the Japanese empire conquered Burma from Britain. Now this is a story we Burmese love to tell forigeners. read more

On the other hand, Burma (1948) and Israel (1948) did not join the Commonwealth, as they chose to become republics. read more

Some news outlets refuse to change and still use Burma. NPR,"chooses to split the difference, using Myanmar on first reference, along with a reminder that the country is also known as Burma." There's more to the story, of course. And politics play a role in why some nations still use Burma, not Myanmar, when referring to the country. read more