Burma: pro-democracy celebrates 1988 uprising
Demonstration against the coup, on the anniversary of a 1988 uprising, in Mandalay, Myanmar, August 8, 2021. Image by Reuters from video on social media.
via REUTERS - OBTAINED BY REUTERS
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Direction Burma where the opponents of the military coup of last February demonstrated this Sunday, August 8.
They celebrated the pro-democracy uprising of 1988 that made leader Aung San Suu Kyi, now in prison, famous.
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At least six protests have taken place across the country - showing that opponents are not being discouraged despite the bloody crackdown that followed the military coup 6 months ago. They organized flash mobs, these short demonstrations in Rangoon and Mandalay, the second largest city in the country. The banners read: Pay off the old blood debt from 1988 to 2021. A reference to the uprising over 30 years ago that turned Aung San Suu Kyi into a democratic icon, but was violently suppressed by the military junta of the time.
This Sunday, the protesters received explicit support from the United States and the United Kingdom.
“
We supported the people of Burma in 1988 and we support them today,
” the British Ambassador to Burma said in a video posted on Twitter.
Today we remember the 33rd anniversary of the # 8888uprising in #Myanmar - a nationwide pro-democracy movement, which began 🇲🇲 transition from military rule to democracy.
Hear from our ambassador, @PeteVowles here.
pic.twitter.com/bzzCZVHH1I
- UK in Myanmar 🇬🇧 (@ukinmyanmar) August 8, 2021
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for his part has promised to support all Burmese who demand respect for human rights and freedom.
As for the military regime, it has reinforced security measures for this anniversary.
Two men were arrested, authorities said.
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Burma
Aung San Suu Kyi