8888 Uprising remembered
Students, politicians and activists joined together today in Yangon to commemorate the 8888 Uprising.
Today 26 years ago, August 8, 1988 marked the start of protests by students in Yangon that would soon spread through the country. The demonstrations were aimed at the then ruling Burma Socialist Programme Party regime of the one-party state, headed by General Ne Win. The protests ended in September the same year after a military coup by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC).
The ceremony was held at Damma Piya Buddhist Monastery in Thingangyun Township. While the remembrance ceremony took place in the morning, in the afternoon the organising committee discussed the annual report.
To Derek Mitchell, US Ambassador to Myanmar, it was a tragic day in the modern history of this country, a day of bloodshed and sacrifice for those who marched for change. He recalled the ceremony last year when members of the current government joined those who marched, and families who lost their loved ones that day, in a remarkable ceremony dedicated to healing, to honouring, and to remembering.
“Even as the tragedy of this day should never be forgotten, so should it also serve as a reminder of the dangers of division, and the important work that remains here to realise the goal of building a peaceful democracy dedicated to human rights, equal justice and dignity for all,” Mitchell said in a statement.
Last year ceremony was held at Yangon with the participation of ethnic leaders, leaders of ethnic armed groups, diplomats and President Office Minister Aung Min and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
According to Ant Bwe Kyaw, Information In-charge of the ceremony, this year only Suu Kyi and political parties and civic organisations were invited. Government officials, ethnic armed groups and diplomats were not invited, though they could attend the open ceremony on their will.
The organising committee comprised 35 people from civic organisations including leaders from 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, a pro-democracy group that takes its name from the 8888 Uprising. They support the formation of a democratic federal state and the amendments to the 2008 Constitution.
