In 1988 Uprising 8888 pushed the country to the brink of revolution. In response, General Saw Maung staged a coup. He founded the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). In 1989, martial law was declared after large protests. The National Assembly election plan was completed May 31, 1989. In 1990, the first free elections were held in 30 years. National League for Democracy, the party of Aung San Suu Kyi, won 392 out of 485 seats, but the result of the election was canceled by SLORC and they refused to hand over power. SLORC renamed Burma to Myanmar in 1989. Led by Than Shwe since 1992, the military government has conducted ceasefire with ethnic guerrilla groups.
In 1992, SLORC unveiled plans to establish a new constitution through the National Convention, which began 9 January 1993. In 1997, the State Law and Order Restoration Council renamed to State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). June 23rd, 1997, Burma was admitted into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The National Convention continues to convene and adjourn. Many major political parties, especially the National League for Democracy, were deported and little progress has been completed. March 27th, 2006, the military council has moved the country's capital from Yangon to a site near Pyinmana, officially named it Naypyidaw, which means the land of kings.