In the past half century, Burma went from being the richest to being the poorest country in Southeast Asia. Economists say the country has a “resource curse”—the rulers profit from the rich natural resources but don’t share the wealth. (The average per capita income is $435 US.) Of all children under the age of five, one in three suffers from malnutrition in the country that was once the rice bowl of Asia. The military junta reigns supreme, using force, fear, and ubiquitous informers to control every aspect of life. Citizens are led to believe that every move they make is being watched and every...