Burmese observes 8888 Uprising Day in Delhi

New Delhi, August 8, 2013: Burmese people held a rally at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, to mark  the 25th anniversary of the 8888 Uprising.

Despite the rain, they stood firm, refusing to take shelter. Completely drenched, they continued their protest with determination.

Chanting slogans such as “We Want Democracy,” “We Need Human Rights,” “Abolish the 2008 Constitution,” and “Down with Tyranny,” the protesters demanded that the Burmese government listen to their voices.

August 8 is a significant day for the Burmese people, commemorating the 1988 nationwide uprising against the military dictatorship led by General Ne Win. Thousands of peaceful protesters were brutally killed, and the day is now remembered as “8888” or the “People’s Uprising in Burma.”

Dr. Tint Swe, a former Myanmar MP now in exile in India, stated that many demands from the democratic uprising remain unmet. He criticized the current government for failing to provide genuine democracy and human rights, urging continued efforts in the fight for freedom.

The protesters called for justice, demanding that those responsible for the killings in 1988 be held accountable. They also urged the government to scrap the 2008 Constitution and draft a new one that reflects democratic principles and the people’s will.

They further urged the government to initiate a genuine peace process and establish a Federal Union that guarantees ethnic nationalities the right to self-determination.

~ BRUCE K. THANGKHAL
Special Correspondent for The Mizoram Post, Manipur Chronicle, Zogam Today

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