The commemorative ceremonies of the 31st Anniversary of 1988 student-led uprising, a watershed movement in Myanmar history, were celebrated all parts of the country on August 8.
Yangon commemorates historic Four Eight pro-democracy movement
The 31st Anniversary of 8888 Pro-democracy Movement was commemorated on the red square in front of Maha Bandoola Park at 8.08 am on August 8 and another similar event was held in Maha Bandoola Park at half past nine on the same day.
At the commemoration ceremony the supporters saluted the State’s flag, paid tribute to General Aung San and fallen martyrs and remained eight seconds’ silence to pay tribute to fallen monks, students and people in the different democracy protests occurred across the country as a commemoration.
Opening the commemoration ceremony with a song marking 8888 Uprising by song writer Naing Myanmar, U Min Ko Naing, a 88 generation student leader, made an opening address and U Mya Aye, another 88 generation veteran, read out a statement showing attitude toward the 8888 Uprising. Then, the commemoration ceremony kept a record of the messages sent by different organizations to the commemorative occasion and that Ko Ko Gyi made the concluding speech.
The commemorative ceremony took place in Maha Bandoola Park for the first time, but the 2018 event was held in the campus of Yangon University.
The event alongside a wishing ceremony was held under the title of the commemorative ceremony of the 31st Anniversary of 8888 Uprising on the red square in front of Maha Bandoola Park at 8.08 am on August 8.
The people who sacrificed for pro-democracy protests against military dictator General Ne Win’s administration were from the fields of different races and religions in addition to the students, the monks and the people. This event is a wishing ceremony to commemorate all those sacrificed for historic watershed pro-democracy movement in Myanmar history. Our commemorative ceremony is intended neither to take strike action nor to stage a protest, and now is the time for us to commemorate and wish for all of those involved in the pro-democracy uprising, said Bo Daung, a leading organizer of the 8888 Uprising commemorative ceremony.
The similar commemorative ceremonies were also held in Mandalay, Toungoo, Monywa, Myeik, Loikaw, Pathein, Taunggyi, Myitkyina, Kyaukto, Mawlamyine, Dawei, and Myawady.
Translated and Edited by Win Htut
