[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
NEWS - Remembering the martyrs of
- Subject: NEWS - Remembering the martyrs of
- From: Rangoonp@xxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 09 Aug 1999 18:30:00
Subject: NEWS - Remembering the martyrs of 8888
Remembering the martyrs of 8888
Eleven years after the Aug 8, 1988, uprising in Burma,
Moe Aye discusses what the democracy movement has
achieved and where it has failed.
Last year on June 24, rumours were afoot in Rangoon that
the ghost of a person killed during the 1988
pro-democracy uprising was terrorising an apartment
block. It was here that student protesters were gunned
down by the riot police.
The rumours had led many people to brave heavy rain to
gather outside the apartment block in the hope of getting
news about their relatives who had died during the
uprising.
It is now 11 years since the popular uprising. Although it
resulted in the downfall of the then ruling party, those
responsible for the shooting of innocent people remain
untouchable. They enjoy comfortable lives, protected by
the ruling military regime.
Worse, Gen Tin Hla, who led and commanded the
notorious military division No 22 that systematically
mowed down protesters, has become the minister
responsible for the military. Dictator Ne Win, who vowed
that the army would not shoot over the demonstrators'
heads, and Sein Lwin, who was known as the ''Butcher of
Rangoon'', can still be seen playing golf or travel abroad
for medical treatment.
Many people were killed during the uprising, and many
disappeared. The military regime claims, however, that
only 15 people died. While people around the world called
the 1988 incident a ''nationwide popular uprising'', the
regime refers to it as ''nationwide anarchy'' created by
communists and neo-colonialists.
Moe Thee Zun, a former prominent student who led the
8888 uprising, said: ''No only did the military junta refuse
to accept the May 1990 election result, it is reluctant to
even recognise the popular uprising. There are many
families whose loved ones were killed, and they do not
even know where they are buried.''
A women whose son was killed at midnight on that fateful
day, said: ''I always wonder whether the soul of my son is
still on the streets, and I always pray that he may some day
reach heaven. Although they [the military] can forget about
it, I will never forget my son. Every Aug 8, I walk along the
street in front of the City Hall where my son was killed. The
worst thing is that although I know my son was killed there,
I never saw his body.''
There are many parents with similar stories.
But had the 8888 movement completely destroyed the
system during the uprising -- as happened in Romania --
or had the military joined the demonstrators -- as in the
Philippines -- it would have fulfilled the people's desire. So
far it is only a distant dream.
The uprising did not establish a democratic country, which
was one of its prime objectives. However, it did pave the
way for the people of Burma to connect with the outside
world. The uprising also led to the May 1990 multi-party
elections and to the emergence of the first Burmese Nobel
peace laureate. But in achieving these, many people had
paid with their lives. Many are still in the jungles, and have
died there. Many political prisoners are still in prison, and
some, too, have died there.
The question remains as to why Burma cannot achieve
even a semi-democracy after these 11 years. Is it
because the military regime is too clever at cheating the
world and in oppressing its people? Or the lack of unity of
the opposition? Perhaps the lack of international support
or Asean's constructive engagement policy? Maybe it is
the strong support for the regime by Japan and China, or
that of Unocal and Total?
The answer may be all of the above. One exiled student,
who refused to be named said: ''Someone may argue that
11 years is too short a time to change the political system.
But during these 11 years, many changes have happened
around the world.''
He may be right that there have been many changes
around the world, but the feelings of those whose loved
ones were killed in the 8888 uprising will never change.
They are still suffering.
Moe Aye is a journalist with the Democratic Voice of
Burma radio station.