The Peacock’s Children records the struggle for independence, democracy and human rights in Burma from the fall of the monarchy and the British occupation, up to present times. For the initial period of the study, the author draws on valuable material concerning the British colonial period and its response to nationalist and student protests, drawn mainly from the archives of the British Library-Indian and Oriental Collection, London. Post-colonial material is complemented by the author’s own extensive travel and personal interviews in Burma, Thailand and Australia.