Strong turnout across country for Martyrs Day

Myanmar saw a strong turnout across the country to mark the Martyrs Day, resuming the commemoration of nine independence heroes for the first time in three decades.

Thousands of people paid their respect to the national hero General (Bogyoke) Aung San and his eight colleagues at the Martyrs Mausoleum in Yangon, marking the 67th Martyr Day.

In order pay tribute, the crowds went to Bogyoke Museum, Aung San statue and the Ministers Building (formerly the Secretariat) where the martyrs were killed six months before the country regained independence from the British colonial rule which lasted a century.

At 8.00 am, Vice President Dr Sai Mauk Kham, Union Parliament Speaker Thura Shwe Mann, Upper House Speaker Khin Aung Myint, and Union Chief Justice Tun Tun Oo paid tribute to the fallen heroes at the Martyrs Mausoleum. And the martyrs’ surviving family members like Aung San’s children, Aung San Oo and Aung San Suu Kyi, paid their respect.

Afterwards, thousands of people proceeded in groups of procession to the mausoleum in the afternoon to pay homage to their heroes. During the procession, the people sang the national anthem, Zartiman (National Spirit) and Kabar Ma Kyay Buu songs in unison to express their sadness for Aung San and the other martyrs.

Participants in the procession included members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) from various townships, students from various universities, students from A Mae Eain (Mother’s House) Charity School, ethnic people in tradition dresses from ethnic organisations, and those from the Martyr Bow Association and other civic organisations, which had campaigned for public involvement in the Martyrs Day.

In her speech, NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi condemned violence as a means to resolve conflict.

 “If I am thinking of the Martyrs Day politically, it is simple. The Martyr Day points out there were individuals and organisations resorting to violence in the past. There are still those at the present. And there will be those in the future. But violence is incapable of resolving problem. We should learn the lesson of the tragic event. We gained independence not because the martyrs were assassinated but because the surviving political figures continued to fight. We should thank the martyrs. We are to continue to carry on the responsibility of the martyrs,” she added.

She called for the continuing push for free and fair democracy to thrive in the Union and for strengthening the political system.

To Nyi Soe from Sanchaung Township, the remembrance was bigger than many years in the past.

“We do not see any more hindrances like before. In the past, we could not pay tribute on the Martyrs Day as we did not even dare to talk about it. The number of people coming to pay respect today increased in comparison to those from last year. The motorists have honked their horns in a gesture of respect. I was extremely moved when I heard the sounds of honking and siren wailing. It is very difficult for another man like Bogyoke [Aung San] to be born in Myanmar. If he was not assassinated, the people in Myanmar would not be facing difficulties like nowadays. The public remembers the martyrs,” said Nyi Soe from Sanchaung Township.

A food offering ceremony to monks dedicated to the martyrs was held at the Ministers Building, the scene of the killing, for the first time under the present government.

Hundreds of people visited the building while it was opened from 6 am to noon on Saturday.

Similarly, visitors milled around the Bogyoke Museum and the Bogyoke bronze statue.

At 10:37 am, many motorists stopped their vehicles to sound horns paying tribute to Bogyoke Aung San and the martyrs. The government instructed fire engines to sound the sirens.

“At first, I did not dare to honk because of the no-honking order. But, I could not hold myself after a few people started honking. I do not care if they take my license. Other car drivers also honked the horns to pay respect to the martyrs,” said Min Maung, a taxi driver.

Fire engines from various fire departments in Yangon Region turned on long siren in compliance with the government instruction. Drivers of buses no. 48, 124, 39, and BM bus lines joined in to pay their respect.

“Each fire department has been instructed to sound long siren to mark the Martyrs Day. That is why we took a fire truck out front and have it wailed the siren for one minute,” said Myint Thein, deputy chief of Yangon Region Fire Service Department, located near the Sule Pagoda.

Civic organisations, student unions at various universities, and NLD members led the move to sound the siren.

The sounding of horns and sirens was a gesture to observe the time of the killing at 10.37 am happened 67 years ago.

NLD’s Zarni from Tarmwe Township said, “We sounded the siren and bowed at the same time because we wanted to honour the Martyrs Day.”

Moreover, pedestrians on several main roads stopped to pay respect at 10:37 a.m.

Near Myaynigone bus-stop, over 40 civic organizations cooperated with university student unions and some young ethnic people gave memorial speeches, released black air balloons and observe one-minute silence to mark the event before travelling in procession to the mausoleum.

The authorities beefed up the security at the ceremonial sites, such as the museum and the mausoleum, following the spread of rumours.

Participants were banned from bringing handbags, mobile phones and cameras into the ceremonial grounds. They were also not allowed to lay wreaths.

In Mandalay, Myanmar Student Association and others gathered and commemorated in front of Bogyoke Statue. Then, they bowed to Bogyoke, other martyrs, the “Fighting Peacock” flag and the people who were killed while fighting against the dictatorship, read the formal messages, and recited the poems.

Over 500 students from Masoeyein monastery school had marched around town holding banners and wreaths before they went back into the monastery and to mark the day with activities like poem reading, drawing, writing essay and making speeches.

In Pyinmana, more than 500 residents and NLD supporters marched to the Bogyoke Statue in the town, laid wreaths, sang the national anthem, sounded the siren and observed the silence for 15 seconds at 10:37 am.

Big cities like Monywa, Magway, Myeik, Myawady, Hinthada, Dawei and Taunggu and other towns organised ceremonies for the Martyrs Day.