More than 1,000 pro-democracy advocates gathered outside the home of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon on May 27 to mark the anniversary of her 1990 election. A few days earlier, Burma's military junta announced Suu Kyi's house arrest is to be extended yet again. The Asia Pacific Peoples Partnership on Burma ( APPPB) reports the demonstrators marched peacefully from her University Ave. home to central Rangoon, where they had planned to pray for democracy at Shwedagon Pagoda, the city's main pagoda. 'Read more' to find out what happened and to see an amazing collection of photos from the frontlines for democracy.
Marchers raise posters and candles in Rangoon.
APPPB photo
Outside Shwedagon, the marchers were blocked by unidentified men in bamboo hard hats who appeared to be intoxicated. Eyewitnesses say a military unit was stationed behind the unruly mob. The same tactic was employed when Aung San Suu Kyi toured northern Burma during a brief period of freedom from house arrest.
Guessing the military would move to 'restore order' if they tried to pass through the hard hats, the marcher changed their path and marched to the National League for Democracy headquarters, where they continued their gathering. Throughout the demostrations, democracy advocates openly showed their faces and carried placards denouncing military rule, a notable act of bravery in one of the world's most tightly controlled societies.
Many participants and observers arrived armed with cameras and video recorders, the bane of dictators everywhere. Their work is now being circulated around the globe by email. The captions for the photos posted below are direct translations from the original Burmese, provided by APPPB.
A thousand balloons released for her freedom.
How desperate for
freedom of
Burmese democracy leader (Daw) Aung San Suu Kyi.
88 Student Generation’s leaders.
Left to right:
Ko Ko Kyi, Min Ko Naing, Pyone Cho.
Praying for her freedom.
Holding a banner demanding for release of Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi.
Cloth poster reminds:
"the state power is
not the license to harm, detain and kill people”.
Pro-junta lackeys (wearing bamboo hats)
said to be
impaired block supporters
.
The blockage is backed up by 30 trucks.
Some chaotic moments.
All photos to be credited to APPPB.
Speech of Min Ko Naing (conquer
of king)
(The leader of 88 Student
Generation)
During the rally calling for the
release of all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi
May 27, 2007 in Rangoon, Burma
Our dearest democracy-loving people,
Today is the fourth year detention of
our people’s leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. All people know whether this detention
is fair or not.
Well, we are peacefully gathering
here for justice without arm and bow for injustice, isn’t
it?
Audiences [YES, YES,
YES]
We’ve already sacrificed a number of
lives, and given up lives on the street. Will any threat will frighten
us!
[NO, NO,
NO]
Concerned authorities should realize
this. Liars in the veil of so-called ‘people’ should understand this [referring
to military-backed militias]. Are we going to show how courageous we are to draw
attention from world citizens?
[SHOW, SHOW, SHOW]
To show our courage, will we hold
this prayer aiming at Shwedagon Pagoda, notwithstanding of whoever permit or
not?
[YES, YES,
YES]
Any authority body, any phony
organizations can threaten us and take any action the way they like. Do we
bravely and steadfastly fight?
[FIGHT, FIGHT,
FIGHT]
People know that we always use the
practice of peaceful way and non-violence method. Today, for the release of all
political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, we will prove that we will
take the oath here on the ground of Shwegonetine
Street.
[AGREE, AGREE, AGREE]
Dear respected people, since you all
agreed that our leader and political prisoners are unlawfully detained, do we
want to say that we are with them, and that we honor and respect their courage,
sacrifice and enduring?
[SAY, SAY,
SAY]
Well, follow me.
Along with Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi
[Along with Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi]
All political
prisoners
[All political
prisoners]
Let be
heard
[Let be
heard]
Let be
known
[Let be
known]
For the
People
[For the
People]
For the
country
[For the
country]
Sacrificing
[Sacrificing]
Suffering
[Suffering]
Involved in
politics
[Involved in
politics]
For the
belief
[For the
belief]
In the
prisons
[In the
prisons]
In the
houses
[In the
houses]
Unlawfully
detained
[Unlawfully
detained]
For these
heroes
[For these
heroes]
We entire
people
[We entire
people]
Bow
[Bow]
Honor
[Honor]
For your
sacrifices
[For your
sacrifices]
We will
follow
[We will
follow]
The way you
do
[The way you
do]
We are also to
sacrifice
[We are also to
sacrifice]
Ready
Ready
Dear
respected
[Dear
respected]
Comrades and
revolutionaries
[Comrades and
revolutionaries]
In our
country
[In our
country]
To have
Democracy
[To have
Democracy]
To obtain Human
Rights
[To obtain Human
Rights]
In the
world
[In the
world]
Will become
respected
[Worthy and
respected]
People and
country
[People and
country]
Only can stand
out
[Only can stand
out]
Until getting
Democracy
[Until getting
Democracy]
We all
[We all]
Without giving
up
[Without giving
up]
Without lessening our
effort
[Without lessening our
effort]
Continuously
[Continuously]
Toward a great
victory
[Toward a great
victory]
Going to struggle for
[Going to struggle
for]
We, the
people
[We, the
people]
For all political
prisoners
[For all political
prisoners]
Here at the premise of Shwedagone
Pagoda
[Here at the premise of Shwedagone
Pagoda]
Strongly
[Strongly]
Take the
Oath
[Take the
Oath]
(Unofficial translation by
Canadian Friends of Burma
(CFOB) based on Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) radio broadcast on May
27, 2007)
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