- Title: MYANMAR: Myanmar marks 25th anniversary of student crackdown
- Date: 8th August 2013
- Summary: YANGON, MYANMAR (AUGUST 8, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF MYANMAR CONVENTION CENTRE SIGN IN ENGLISH, READING "1988 SILVER JUBILEE" PEOPLE AT THE VENUE PEOPLE WALKING PEOPLE TAKING PICTURES PEOPLE SEATED AT THE MYANMAR CONVENTION CENTRE PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER, AUNG SAN SUU KYI ARRIVING PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURES PEOPLE IN THE CONVENTION HALL SUU KYI SITTING WITH FORMER STUDENTS AND LEADERS OF THE UPRISING SUU KYI AND FORMER STUDENTS' LEADER MIN KO NAING TALKING MEDIA FILMING SUU KYI WALKING ON STAGE SUU KYI ADDRESSING THE COMMEMORATION (SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) AUNG SAN SUU KYI, NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY LEADER, SAYING: "In this 1988 memorial, we all meet here in unity to show good sign and well wishes for our country. But this is not enough -- by doing this only once in a while. We have to keep building up our unity." PEOPLE CLAPPING MEDIA FILMING PEOPLE SEATED A MOTHER WHO LOST HER SON DURING THE UPRISING SEATED SUU KYI LEAVING (SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) KYAW THURA, MEMBER OF NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FORCE PARTY, SAYING: "We can't build up national reconciliation and our country can't become a developed country if we always consider them (former military in the government) as enemy. We are willing to forgive and being tolerant." PEOPLE GATHERING TO PAY RESPECT TO THE VICTIMS OF CRACKDOWN VARIOUS OF STUDENTS HOLDING FLOWERS PEOPLE WALKING FLAGS PEOPLE WALKING VARIOUS OF WOMAN PUTTING MEMORIAL STICKER ON HER SHIRT PEOPLE PAYING RESPECT NEAR PAGODA (SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) THIN THIN WIN, WHO LOST HER FAMILY MEMBER DURING THE UPRISING, SAYING: "Their sacrifices have not gone waste. We have reached a situation where we can speak out like this now. But the struggle is not finished yet." WOMAN WHO LOST FAMILY MEMBER DURING THE UPRISING CRYING FLOWER ON CAR ROOF PEOPLE GATHERING NEAR SULE PAGODA
- Embargoed: 23rd August 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Myanmar
- Country: Myanmar
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAA4WNTG6IIP1KY22AIEW75H3PU
- Story Text: Myanmar's pro-democracy leader and head of the National League for Democracy (NLD) Party Aung San Suu Kyi attended a ceremony in Yangon on Thursday (August 8) to commemorate the 25th anniversary of a bloody crackdown.
The military authorities had killed at least 3,000 people and arrested thousands more, holding some for years as political prisoners.
On Thursday, thousands came out to Myanmar Convention Centre in Yangon to remember the university students, monks and young children who died on the day.
Some were part of the hundreds of thousands of protesters in a political demonstration demanding political, economic and social reforms.
Suu Kyi urged people to work towards building a united country.
"In this 1988 memorial, we all meet here in unity to show good sign and well wishes for our country. But this is not enough by doing this once in a while. We have to keep building up our unity," Suu Kyi said in her address.
One member of the National Democratic Force party, which took part in the 1988 uprising, said the country must forgive and move on.
"We can't build up national reconciliation and our country can't become a developed country if we always consider former military in the government as enemy. We are willing to forgive and being tolerant," said Kyaw Thura.
Thursday was the last of a three-day event being held for the second year inside the former police state where military had prohibited all events to promote democracy.
One woman who lost a family member in the crackdown said the victims' sacrifices was not in vain.
"Their sacrifices have not gone waste. We have reached a situation where we can speak out like this now. But the struggle is not finished yet," said Thin Thin Win.
Human rights groups have asked President Thein Sein for an investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the deaths.
Thein Sein took office in March 2011 and, at the head of a quasi-civilian government, has opened up Myanmar with a series of political and economic reforms, after half a century of military rule. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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