A review: the memory of 8888 Uprising
around the world
DVB ( August 11,2003)
Burmese activists from South Korea, Japan, UK, US, Bangladesh,
India, Malaysia, Holland and Thailand protested against the
military junta in the memory of 8888 Uprising which happened
15 years ago.
DVB’s correspondents had gathered the following information.
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
By Ko Htin Aung
In South Korea, protesters shouted slogans, mimed and re-acted
the massacre outside the military representative in Seoul.
Ko Yan Naing Tun of NLD-Liberated Area, Korea, said “We
burnt the flag that represents the military government which
is mainly to show that we want no military government and
we recognise no military flag.”
One Korean protester who joined the demonstrator also said,
“The form of demonstration here is the same as those
15 years ago. The protestors were threatened by the police.
Whatever it is, I am praying for Burma to become democratic
as soon as possible. The people of Burma are tired of waiting
for this.”
TOKYO, JAPAN
By Ko Htin Aung
Ko Than Khe, the chairman of ABSDF who was visiting Japan
also gave a speech of the protest.
“The struggles of students and the people have been
always going hand in hand. When we talk about the struggle
of the people, I want to say what is the populace and why
there had been the general uprising.”
“The general uprising arises from general grievances.
Are they of economical, political, social, educational, health?
The general uprising happened because of these factors and
difficulties.”
“The word ‘general’ points to people of
all classes; students, monks, specialists, teachers, pupils,
soldiers are all facing difficulties. We have to be proud
of the fact that they are in the frontline for the fight for
democracy.”
In addition, Ko Toe Naing, the vice-chairman of Burmese League
for Democracy (BLD) and a Japanese human rights activist also
gave speeches at the rally.
BANGKOK, THAILAND
By Aung Lwin Oo
About 30 demonstrators gathered in front of the UN office
at 10am and staged peaceful demonstration in the memory of
the 8888 uprising for 88 minutes.
The demonstration was organised by Committee for Coordination
for Democracy in Burma.
The spokesman explained the reason behind the protest, “We
are wearing convict uniforms and shackles…in order to
portray how political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi are facing in Burmese prisons, in their fight for democracy.
At noon, Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB)
held a memorial ceremony which was attended by Daw San San,
MP for Seikkan Township who recently fled to Thailand and
an official from Thai National Human Rights Commission and
discussed democracy issues in Burma.
THAI-BURMA BORDER
By Khaing Thazin
Students and Youth of Burma Congress (SYBC) also held a ceremony
at an undisclosed location on the Thai-Burma border.
“It was attended by several Burmese and ethnic national
students. They saluted to the fallen student martyrs and heroes
of 8888 uprising and Dipeyin incident (30 May). Ko Tun Aung
Kyaw, a student who participated in the uprising and a member
of NLD – Liberated Area urged all ethnic nationals and
people of Burma to maintain the spirit of 8888 uprising in
the fight for democracy,” Khaing Thazin reported.
Similarly, the ABSDF also held a commemorating ceremony at
its jungle base on the Thai-Burma border.
|
