We will never forget 8-8-88
Today is August 8th and I wanted to write a post about the injustice that happened to Burmese people on August 8th, 1988 (8-8-88). I was looking for my own picture to post for this one but I am unable to relate any of the pictures I have taken with the bloody event that occurred on this day, 18 years ago. So, I instead, post some pictures that I saw on the net regarding 8-8-88.
From Burmatoday.net:
Excerpt from Burmawatch.org:
Soldiers pointed their automatic rifles in the crowds. Then, suddenly, the two warning pistol shots came and within seconds the automatic rifle shots took the center stage and scores of people, young and old fell to their death instantly. The streets near the City Hall turned chaotic with people screaming, running and taking cover in random directions. More truckloads of soldiers were sent to Shwegondine Road where the whole columns of demonstrators were gunned down. The casualty was estimated over 2000. The shooting continued until 3:00 am the next day. No one knew how many demonstrators were killed in total.
May all those who sacrificed their lives that day rest in peace. May all our dreams to free Burma from the military government be realised one day soon. May the next generations of Burmese People keep fighting and never forget about the atrocities the generations before them have suffered. May we all live in peace one day.
I think the Burmese people may never be free from the military dictatorship in this lifetime. We should wise up and realise that hopes and dreams do not always come true if the Burmese continue to be a fragmented people. Truth is that many Burmese still live in extreme poverty with no hopes of change whereas a selected elite live out their *dreams* amidst the oppression of their own people by being indifferent.
To change and take charge is never easy but perhaps the elite should take the lead by bringing about dialogue between the government and opposition through their influence. It is precisely their indifference that the Burmese people may never be free.
Dear Girl Next Door,
I agree with you - the Burmese People may NEVER be free. However, if one believes that something will never happen, then they give up hope, they get confortable with the idea and then they give up.
Life will always be a struggle, so we cannot give up, no matter what we do. If what we are hoping for is particularly difficult and hard to get, I think we each can do little things to bring about change. I try to often blog about the horrid things going on in Burma, to remind me, my friends, and also people who have never known this. My way of doing the small things and alot of political activists doing these small things - will they just be a drop in the lake? Probably but alot of drops can fill the lake or dry it, whichever way it goes.
And yes, I know that the elites of Burma should be doing something about the situation. However, perhaps also, the only way they got to be at the elite level and are able to live in a crazy world that is immune to the poverty and repression in Burma, is by agreeting with everything the military says.
However, like you, I would like to invoke the elitein Burma - to dare - to dare to change the way Burma is.
But do you think they will? Because I personally don't know anyone of them but - when I have been in contact with them (either in Burma or Singapore) - the reaction from them is sadly this: "thank god for U Ne Win and also thank god for the military govt. Without them, I wouldn't be doing well". that kind of selfish mentality, my dear, is what ruins us all.
" Nothing is impossible ,
There's Nothing still impossible "
One Day...., We'll.....,
Angel.Detector
:) yes, hopefully, one day we will...