Spirited ceremony marks crackdown on students
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The spirit of the student activists killed during a crackdown at Yangon University 52 years ago continues to inspire those fighting for democracy, student leaders said a commemoration to mark the crackdown yesterday.
“Their bones are still the nightmares of dictators,” said Kyaw Ko Ko, a central committee member of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions.
“Those who did wrong will always be afraid of the truth,” he said.
“They will always fear the crimes they committed, however wealthy they’ve become. I just want to say to the people that we students never failed to take over the duties of former 7 July generation, from the 1988 uprising until now,” he said.
The ceremony drew members of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, as well as representatives of civil society groups.
It was held at the site of the former Student Union building, which was subsequently demolished by the junta. Participants chanted, “student rights, our rights!” during the ceremony.
“Our forerunner student [activists] shed their blood here 52 years ago. But their bones will never decay as they fought determination,” said Kyaw Ko Ko.
Former student leaders laid a wreath for the deceased, who died under the military of former general Ne Win. Hundreds of protesting students were shot dead that day.
The All Burma Federation of Student Unions grew out of the Rangoon University Students’ Union, which was founded in 1931. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other prominent pro-democracy leaders came to prominence through student groups, which spearheaded both Myanmar’s struggle for democracy as well as its independence from Britain.
In 1951, the Rangoon University Students’ Union changed its name to the All Burma Federation of Student Unions to gain wider representation across the country. It was active in educational reform, campaigning for democracy and pushing for the right to education.
Following the military takeover and brutal crackdown, it was forced underground. It re-emerged during the 1988 student protests and pro-democracy uprising under a new generation of leaders, some of whom were killed, tortured and imprisonment.
While the iconic student union building still lies in rubble, the All Burma Federation of Student Unions remains an iconic symbol of Myanmar’s aspirations. It remains a thorn in the side of those in power, however.
The quasi-civilian government has been hesitant to allow students freedom to participate openly in political activities. Some who attempted to commemorate the occasion at other universities faced bureaucratic challenges.
“Our students cannot forget July 7. We want to show that our spirit and tradition are still active even though the army destroyed the student union building,” student leader De Nyein Linn said.
“We want the new generation of students to know about it. The student history will prevail. Today, I come here to let the new generation know this history.”
