WORLDWIDE PROTEST FOR 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF 8888

(Kao-Wao: August 9, 2003)

The exiled Burmese community held protests against the Rangoon military government to mark the 15th anniversary of the nationwide uprising in Burma.

In Canada, activists held a protest in front of the Burmese embassy in Ottawa on Friday, August 8, 2003; in Toronto former student demonstrators gathered at a monastery on August 3 to commemorate the peoples’ uprising.

According to BSDO leader Min Thura Wynn, members of Burma Students’ Democratic Organization (Canada) and other speakers from different organizations shared their experiences at a monastery in remembrance of those who scarified their lives for the democracy movement.

In Edmonton, Burma Watch International organized an 8888-commemoration ceremony in the city with a presentation give by the Canadian Secretary of
State (Asia Pacific) Hon. David Kilgour.

In Bangkok, Thailand, demonstrators comprised of Burmese, Mon and Karen
refugees gathered in front of the Burmese Embassy and the UN Building and
called for tougher international action against the Burmese junta. Thailand based Overseas Mon Young Monks Union issued a statement urging the SPDC to release MNDF leaders and other political prisoners in Burma.

In USA, during a protest outside the Burmese embassy in Washington DC on
Thursday, security officials arrested three women who had unfurled a banner
denouncing Burma's authorities.

It looked like democracy was at hand on August 8, 1988, when students, Buddhist monks and civil servants from all walks of life were singing, chanting, and marching together in the streets demanding democratic reform in the country, but the army pounced on the demonstrators in a bloody coup and killed thousands in September of that year.