New Delhi – Amidst tight security and stepped up vigilance by the Burmese ruling junta, the country's main opposition political party – the National League for Democracy – on Saturday held a commemorative programme on Burma's Martyr's Day.
Eyewitnesses said more than 1000 members of junta-backed civil organizations – like the Swan Arr Shin and the Union Solidarity and Development Association – assisted by riot police and fire fighters, were seen taking up positions in and around the NLD head office in West Shwegondine Street in Bahan Township, Rangoon.
Similar security measures were also seen in the surrounding areas of the residence of detained Burma's pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in University Avenue, eyewitnesses said.
Despite the heightened security, nearly 400 members of the NLD as well as invited guests, including diplomats and journalists on Saturday, held a commemorative service in honor of the 61st Martyr's Day , a NLD youth member told Mizzima.
Burma's Martyr's Day is a special day in the country's history, when the architect of the country's independence Gen Aung San, father of Nobel Peace Laureate and current opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, along with nine of his comrades were assassinated on July 19, 1947.
Burma has traditionally observed this day as a day to honour Gen Aung San as well as other fallen heroes in the history of Burma's struggle for freedom. Burma's national anthems and Gen Aung San's independence speech used to be aired through the state-run radio, until the current batch of military dictators assumed power in 1988.
But the essence of Martyr's Day had been largely diminished since 1988, when the present dictators grabbed power after brutally crushing a student-led democracy uprising.
As the first part of the programme in the NLD headquarters, the attendants remained silent for a few minutes and offered their salutation to Gen Aung San and other fallen heroes of Burma.
The NLD youth member said, the programme is continuing, despite the tight security, and is now entering the second phase.
