Generations of struggle

"21st anniversary of the military coup in Burma: 18 September

Generations of struggle

Thoughts from an anti-junta activist who marched the streets of Rangoon in 1988.

By Aye Min

Today, 18 September, marks the 21st anniversary of the bloody military coup in Burma. I was a young medical student then, and along with millions of people took to the street to fight for freedom and democracy in military-ruled Burma. I vividly remember a scene near the US embassy in downtown Rangoon on 19 September 1988, one day after the army declared a military coup. There was barbed wire on the street with a sign saying “Will be shot beyond this point”. Thousands of people were chanting slogans and peacock flags, the symbol of the student movement, were everywhere. We saw soldiers on rooftops with guns ready. We pushed the “Will be shot” sign aside and kept on marching. I heard a volley of gunfire when we reached the intersection near the US embassy. First, I thought the soldiers were just shooting in the air to scare us away. But when people around me started to fall to the ground, I realised they were shooting at us. I ran as fast as I could for a block. When I looked back, there were people lying on the street, a lot of them writhing in pain. Some were not moving at all. Some people in white coats and red-cross arm bands tried to retrieve the injured people. Then there was another volley of fire, some clearly aimed at the rescue personnel. After a while, the injured people completely stopped moving. It was a scene I cannot forget."

Full article can be viewed at the following link.

http://www.himalmag.com/21st-anniversary-of-the-military-coup-in-Burma-18-September_fnw15.html