New Delhi - Burmese activists and international supporters across the globe on Friday held commemorations of the 20th anniversary of the popular '8.8.88' uprising, which its military rulers brutally crushed, killing at least 3000 protestors.
While in many parts of the world Burmese activists and their supporters held protests, some held commemorative functions, as well as photo exhibitions on last years September protests and impacts of Cyclone Nargis that hit Burma in early May.
Activists urged international community to escalate pressure on the Burmese junta, which ruled the country since 1962 and demanded the release of political prisoners including pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
The twentieth anniversary of the August 8, 1988 democracy protests, were observed with demonstrations by activists in several countries including Malaysia, India, Korea, Japan, Thailand and United States.
New Delhi, India
Nearly 200 Burmese nationals in New Delhi held a brief protest in commemoration of the August 8, 1988 mass uprising.
"We are upholding the spirit of '8888' and we demand democracy in our country," said, Yan Paing Soe, a youth member of the National League for Democracy – Liberated Area, the group that organized the protest.
In another event, Burmese democracy activists along with Indian supporters held conference in remembrance of the Burmese democracy struggle that largely came to be known since August 8, 1988.
Besides, a New York based Global Justice Center , in collaboration with Burmese 88 generation students, International Burmese Monks Organization (IBMO), US Campaign for Burma and supporters also held a commemorative talk in New Delhi .
Tokyo, Japan
In Tokyo, more than 1,000 Burmese nationals from several exiled political parties marched around the city for over an hour walking and held a brief demonstration in front of the Burmese embassy.
Myat Thu, an activist involved in organizing the program said, "We held a brief demonstration in front of the Burmese embassy and demanded for the release of all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and to begin dialogue and to immediately convene the peoples parliament."
Demonstrators also shouted slogans that call on Burma 's military rulers 'to stop killing and abusing the Burmese people' and urged the international community to intervene and pressure for changes in the country.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
In Malaysia's capital city of Kuala Lumpur, over 100 Burmese activists demonstrated in front of the Burmese Embassy in commemoration of the '8888' uprising.
"We marched to the Burmese Embassy and held a brief 30 minutes protest," said Ye Min Htun, an activist who involved in organizing the protest.
He said, the activists were only allowed to hold protest for half an hour as the security situation in Kuala Lumpur is unfavorable.
But the Burmese activist said, they were able to show the people of the struggle for democracy in Burma through a photo exhibition on the August 8, 1988 mass uprising.
Seoul , Korea
In Seoul, members of exiled National League for Democracy – Liberated Area led a protest in front of the Burmese Embassy and were able to give a press conference to the local media.
"We are able explain about what happens in 1988 August 8 protest and tell the people of the situation now in Burma after twenty years of the protests and we call on the people to help Burmese people to achieve democracy and justice in Burma," said Zaw Moe Aung ,spokesman of the NLD-LA in Korea.
Mae Sod, Thailand
In the Thai-Burmese border town of Mae Sod, a place where United States' first lady Laura Bush had visited on the previous day to meet with Burmese refugees, pro-democracy activists held a commemorative function of the 20th anniversary of August 8, 1988 mass demonstration in Burma.
"We need to move forward by upholding the spirit of 1988 in our struggle for freedom from the brutal military dictators," said Min Naing, foreign affairs representative of the All Burmese Students Federation Union (ABSFU).
Activists also held arts and photos exhibition on the '8888' protest and September 2007 protests at the Programme attended by over 300 activists and migrant workers.
In a separate event, in Mea Tao Clinic, prayer services were held for those people killed by the military junta since the 1988 uprising and through out the twenty years of struggle.
"We want to create more awareness among the clinic staffs and the patients on the situation of our country both of the past and the present," said Aye Lwin, an office in-charge of the clinic.
Singapore
In Singapore, with restrictions imposed by the government, Burmese people were unable to hold a demonstration but held prayer services for the people those are killed during the protests in 1988 and in 2007 September.
"The event was held at the City hall and there are many people joining us," said an activist, who did not want to be named.
