Burma Marks Anniversary of 8888 Uprising

By Naw Noreen / Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) | August 8, 2016

The 28th anniversary of the 8888 uprising was commemorated across Burma on Monday.

In Rangoon, activists gathered in front of City Hall at 8:08am for a multi-faith vigil to remember those who were gunned down in the streets by security forces on 8 August 1988.

Another major event marking the day in Rangoon was organised by activist group the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society at the Dhammapiya Monastery in Thingangyun Township. The event was joined by the National League for Democracy’s patron Tin Oo and the 88 Generation’s leader Min Ko Naing.

The ruling National League for Democracy in Rangoon’s Sanchaung township also held an event marking the day, handing out donations to family members of the protesters who died in the uprising, said the 88 Generation’s Ko Jimmy, who joined the event.

“The National League for Democracy in Sanchaung chipped in what they could to provide financial assistance to the families of the protesters who died in 88. It is a very nice thing to do — I guess they will do the same thing in other townships as well,” said Ko Jimmy.

Meanwhile, university students from Mandalay and Yadanarbon universities in Mandalay also marked the day by donating rice to Buddhist monks at the corner of 33rd and 84th streets.

An event commemorating the day also took place in Pegu Division’s Kanyutkwin Township.