Known for terrorising civilians for decades, Myanmar’s military was once seen as a liberator Burma’s first national army came out of World War II and the quest for independence. Every March 27, the Myanmar military celebrates its anniversary with a parade. | Reuters With great fanfare – but few guests – Myanmar’s armed forces recently celebrated their 76th anniversary in the nation’s capital of Naypyitaw. Only Russia, China, Thailand and a handful of other Asian countries sent representatives to attend the March 27 parade showing off Myanmar’s modern war machines – mostly imported from Russia and China over the past decade, to the tune of $2.4 billion.