Burmese Remember 8888 Uprising

  • 14 years ago
Dozens of former student activists, politicians and monks attend a Buddhist tribute ceremony for their late comrades who lost their lives in Burma's historic 8888 uprising.

The Buddhist prayer commemoration is held quietly in a monastery on the outskirts of Rangoon on Sunday.

The uprising is known as 8888 because on August 8, 1988, hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated against the Junta regime across the country, calling for democracy in Burma.

The uprising ended on September 18 after a military coup (pron coo) by the State Law and Order Restoration Council, which allegedly ordered a violent crackdown on the protest.

[Than Nyein, Chairman, National Democratic Force]:
"The 8888 Uprising is just the day when people openly expressed their needs for democracy. I think those people are our inspiration to carry on the task of struggling relentlessly for democracy."

The National Democratic Force is registered to contest the general election due around the end of this year.

Recommended