20th Phone Maw E

20th Anniversary of Burma Human Rights Day

Don't forget bloody March 13! Don't forget the Phone Maw Day!

March 13 The day of Phone Maw’ Death

Editorial

The Responsibility of Youth and Students Today to Fight Against Military Dictatorship

In March, 1988, Ko Phone Maw and Ko Soe Naing who were students at the Rangoon Institute of Technology, were brutally killed on their campus by the BSPP military regime. This event was followed by the Red Bridge Students Affair – the former name of the bridge was White Bridge, but as many university students were killed there by the military, students changed it to Red Bridge (meaning Bloody Bridge). Both bloody affairs led to the “Four Eights Affair” - the pro-democracy peoples’ uprising of 8/8/88. Although the dictatorship has always tried to suppress these revolutions, it was never able to destroy the spirit of the students and their Student’s Union. This has been proved as successive generations of students have handed over the spirit to the next generation. Since under colonial rule, Burmese students have been at the forefront of the struggle for independence. They love freedom and justice and they are ready to give their right hand for their truth, and to protest against the unjust rule for our people. This is the Burmese student Spirit. The Burmese military regime have blindly ignored the wishes of the people since the 1990 general election result, and have convened a sham national convention to draft a constitution. Since September, 2007, the SPDC regime have arbitrarily arrested student leaders and Buddhist monks, and recently they announced 1/2008, 2/2008 and 3/2008, and are trying to gain legitimacy through them. It is unimaginable for the future of our country, our people and our students if the SPDC’s sham constitution can be made to appear legal through a referendum. Therefore it is our people’s and our 

students’ unavoidable national responsibility to ensure a NO vote at the referendum. Students should follow the way of former student generations and organize the people to vote NO at the upcoming referendum. In accordance with the spirit of the Burmese student union, the new generation of students should not put aside their historic responsibility to stand at the forefront of our people and turn down the SPDC’s unilateral constitution.

Go to the Ballot Booth and vote "No". We would like to request that the international community and student bodies recognize Burma Human Rights Day, condemn the Burmese military regime’s brutality and demand a stop to human rights violations in Burma. They should demand that the SPDC regime guarantee to give a free and fair referendum for the draft constitution. ALL BURMA FEDERATION OF STUDENT UNIONS FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Tanslation and Editing: Myint Zaw

Design: Kyaw Win (Mr. Balance)

Published by All Burma Federation of Student Unions - Foreign Affairs Committee The Union Publishing, P.O Box (102), Mae Ping Post Office, Chiang Mai (50301) Thailand e-mail: [email protected] ©2008 Union Publishing

Vol. 3, No. 1, May 13 2008.





History

Burma Human Rights Day

Myint Zaw

Students are in a position to speak for the people because they are educated and can be considered to be a driving force for modernization in the context of developing countries. As Phillip (1967) states: in developing areas, university and sometimes even secondary school students are among the few “modern” and politically conscious elements in their societies, and have never lost their radical nationalist inclination. In the case of Burmese student activism, Burmese students have been at the vanguard of the struggle for independence, and the first nationalists emerged from Rangoon University. Historically, students are considered a politically conscious element in Burmese society and are respected by the people. When students have been killed by those in authority, it has generally been followed by mass demonstrations which could lead to revolution or social change. On 13 March, 1988 Ko Phone maw, a fifth-year student at Rangoon Institute of Technology was killed by government riot police. This could be considered the event which sparked off the historic 1988 pro-democracy uprising. During this uprising, many political leaders remembered Ko Phone Maw’s death, and planned to commemorate the day as Burma Human Rights day. Aung Myo Min, a human rights activist who was a close friend of Ko Phone Maw, said the day deserved to be named as Human Rights day because the BSPP military-backed government committed many human rights violations over 26 years. People had acquiesced in their oppression because they lacked enough awareness to fight the BSPP government for their rights. However, when people heard Ko Phone Maw had been killed by the BSPP, people got a shock and came to realize the brutality of the government. This increased awareness of the lack of democracy 

and determined people to fight against for their rights and the event led to the “Four Eights Affair”, which tried to restore democracy, human rights, peace, and justice to Burma. Aung Myo Min also said March 13 is one of the greatest events for the Burmese democracy movement, and is named as a human rights day, but it should not be only related to one student, Ko Phone Maw, who was killed by the government. There were many people who were killed or imprisoned for long-term over human rights, so we should hold Human Rights Day for all those fighting and making sacrifices for democracy and human rights in Burma, both now and in the past. The first Burma Human Rights Day was held in the compound of the Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT) on the 13th of March, 1989. Many political leaders joined it, including Aung San Suu Kyi, U Nu , U Tin Oo, and U Khin Maung Myint from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), U Tha Ban, U Thu Wai, etc. Ko Tate, was one of the members of the organizing committee for Ko Phone Maw’s day. The committee was formed of 13 people including Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Ko Aung Pwint (RIT), Saw Win Shein (RIT) and other activists. Ko Tate recalled his experience. He said he is not quite sure whose initiative it was to hold the day. Some people said it was inspired by Aung San Suu Kyi, and some said it was motivated by U Nu. During the ceremony, no politician or any student activists declared the day to be Burma Human he saw many placards which mentioned Rights Day - however, he saw many “Burma Human Rights Day”. For this placards which reason it can still be considered . . . mentioned “Burma Human Rights Day”. For this reason it can still be considered the first celebration of Burma Human Rights Day. On that day, many students who planned to join it were detained for a while at the Thamyaing Junction. When some students arrived at RIT and prepared for the commemoration, the RIT complex was enclosed by military trucks which seemed intended to intimidate the people who were coming to join the ceremony. However, the crowd got bigger and the grounds filled with people. All the participants agreed that the 13th of March, 1988 was the most 

important day of the “Four Eights Affair”. Although students also resented the government’s irresponsible action of demonetization in 1987, if Ko Phone Maw had not been killed, the 1988 pro-democracy uprising is very unlikely to have happened. Anyhow, the first Burmese Human Rights Day ended successfully. So far, it is the first and last Burmese Human Rights Day to be held in Burma. Student activists tried to hold a second anniversary of Burmese Human Rights Day, and formed an organizing committee of 13 people including Mar Gi, Kyaw Kyaw Soe, and Mg Mg Kyaw and other students. SLORC took pre-emptive action and arrested many students on the 12th of March, 1990, including Ko Bo Kyi, Toe Kyaw Hlaing , Ko Mya Aye and other students. They were imprisoned for three years, and other students were also arrested. In Burma, students can’t publicly hold Burmese Human Rights Day, but every 13th of March students put a black piece cloth on their shirt as a symbol of sorrowful memory of Ko Phone Maw’s death. They also distribute leaflets, so as not to forget him as a martyr, and to remind themselves of the fight for human rights, democracy, peace and justice. Burma Human Rights Day is not only observed for the memory of Ko Phone Maw, but also to draw attention to all forms of human rights violation in Burma. It should inspire the fight for human rights regardless of sex, gender, race, status or background, so that our people are treated with human dignity in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Page (4) Photo: Phone Maw’s Photo was hanging at the 1st Annuversary in 1989. Photo (left): People were gathering in the compound. There are posters at the school building pillers. (source- video footage)





Sketch

The Portrait of Phone Maw

Interview with Aung Myo Min

On the 13th of March, 1988, Ko Phone Maw who was a fifth-year student at the Rangoon Institute of Technology majoring in Chemical Engineering, was killed by riot police at Kyogyone township, in the school campus. This is considered to be the one of the major factors contributing to the occurrence of the 1988 pro-democracy uprising. Since 1989, Burmese opposition groups have named the 13th of March as Burma Human Rights Day and celebrate it both inside and outside Burma. We searched for biographical material about Ko Phone Maw, and conducted an interview with one of his closest friends, Aung Myo Min, who is now a director of Human Rights Education in Burma (HREIB). “Ko Phone Maw was descended from Shan people - some of his family’s relatives lived in Shan State. He was studying at Rangoon, he lived at Hlaing Township with his mother and elder sisters. He was the youngest son of his family. He said his sisters loved him too much and treated him like a child. Although he was old enough to go out and stay with his friends overnight, his sisters didn’t like it. Sometimes he didn’t go along with his sisters. Sometimes he joked, ‘My sisters treat me as if I was a girl’. He was not a hostel student, but he spent most of his time at the hostel with us. Ko Phone Maw had a pale complexion, he was neither tall nor short, his eyebrows were thick, his lips as red as Shan girls’ lips. He was a goodhearted guy, he liked teamwork, and he was loved by his friends. They called him ‘Phone Phone’ rather than his real name. He was a member of Lanzin Youth, and of Myanmar Red Cross society.” Aung Myo Min recalled Ko Phone Maw’s altruistic spirit: “He was very altruistic, he liked to be so. When we were studying at Regional College, Hlaing campus, we were members of the Burma Red Cross Society. He was a senior member. After he passed second year at Regional College, he was studying at RIT but there was no Red Cross Society in RIT, so he was still involved in Hlaing Campus’s Red Cross Society. He taught 

junior students and he was a good trainer of basic military parade drill. He was respected by many students. Only clever students are eligible to study at RIT, so some students were proud to be an RIT student. He was never proud of it. He treated us all equally, regardless of him being a senior student, or of our different subjects and schools.” Aung Myo Min also recalled more about Ko Phone Maw’s remarkable character. He said that they were very close because there were not so many members of the Red Cross Society. Sometimes they stayed at camp, particularly on World Red Cross Society Day, which is on the 8th of May. “When we stayed together at camp, sometimes we talked the whole night. Though he was older than me, he was fond of entertainment like us, and sometimes he played the guitar. However, he had self-respect and cared about dignity, and he cared about the Red Cross Society uniform. When he wore the uniform, he acted like a gentleman. He warned us not to act like lay people when we wore the uniform. I often remember it.” He added that Ko Phone Maw was very smart. “Every year one of our members was given an award as a distinguished member. He was nominated for it, but he missed it that year - it was awarded to a girl. At that time we were not too much interested in politics. As we were members of the Red Cross Society, we were automatically made members of Lanzin Youth, but it didn’t mean we believed in the BSPP or it’s ideology. In fact, we didn’t care about it; we just wanted to be involved in doing some social work. Frankly, we - Ko Phone Maw and I - were not interested in politics at all. However, sometimes we had to deal with poor people, particularly when we went to a place where there was a fire. We noticed many people were poor, and after we got back from there to school we talked about the world not being fair. We were studying at the campus, wearing new shirts and driving a state-of-the-art car, we were isolating ourselves and acting like an elite, but not too far away from us, there were many very poor people. However, we never thought it was a result of the political system and didn’t blame BSPP mismanagement.” Aung Myo Min said that when he heard that Ko Phone was killed, he and all of Ko Phone Maw’s friends got a shock. “Honestly, at that time, I was not yet aware of politics, but after he was killed we joined the demon

stration in Rangoon University. In fact, I was drawn into politics because we lost our respectable and peaceful friend. He was arbitrarily killed by the military. However, I have since become deeply involved in politics over time. I am doing politics not only for him, but also for human rights and social justice. Let me say frankly - in a nutshell - that I was involved in the 1988 pro-democracy uprising is because of him.

The Portrait of Soe Naing

Interview with Ko Min Zaw Ko Soe Naing was born in Bassein. He passed the matriculation exam in Bassein State High school. His father was U Kyaw Yi, who served part-time as an Irrawaddy Division BSPP council member. Ko Soe Naing had a pale complexion, long hair, and was quite short. In 1988, he was studying at RIT as a fifth-year student, majoring in Mining Engineering. As far as I know, he was not interested in politics or social activities. He was very quiet and somewhat unsociable. At first, I didn’t know how he was shot on the 13th of March, 1988. I learned that afterwards. He was injured in the large intestine and had to undergo four operations. He died on the 5th of May, 1988. Ko Phone Maw died on the spot and was cremated on the 15th of March, 1988.



Testimony

The Night When Ko Phone Maw was Killed

Interview with Ko Sein Han

“My name is Sein Han. In 1988, I was studying at the Rangoon Institute of Technology. When Ko Phone Maw died, I was at the RIT compound. In fact, there was a clash between students and lay people on the 12th of March, but we didn’t care about that because we were used to it happening. On the 13th of March, I went to a picnic. There was a minor accident, my hand was injured, and I was hospitalized. That evening, one of my friends came and told to me there was a quarrel between students and ordinary people, and they had started a fire, so I left the hospital without informing the doctors. There was no bus, so I went to the school by foot. When I arrived at the school, seya U Thein Tun Aung asked me where I had come from. When I told him I had been hospitalized, he was worried and asked me if anyone had died during the accident. I said no. He said that was good, but that at the school some students had been killed. At that time, students and ordinary people were fighting - throwing stones at each side, and chasing each other. It looked like a small riot. I told my friends to pick up some bricks for self defense, and we sat near a water fountain. Then fire engines suddenly emerged, throwing water at the students to disperse us. We noticed that they planned to disperse only us, not the ordinary people, so we threw rocks at the fire engines, and they withdrew immediately. everything was quite, later we heard After that everything was quiet. the riot police wanted to charge into Later we heard the riot police wanted the school and shoot us, so . . . to charge into the school and shoot us, so we tried to escape. I went to the halls, but some people ran into the main building. Their target was the main building. I think some students got injured. They used tear-gas, We didn’t know what it was. We felt suffocated and we couldn’t breathe well. We went downstairs. Our teacher said we should wet our clothes and hold them over our noses, 10

after that we felt better. At that time, there was no more shooting. Later I heard some students had been shot. One of my friends, Myat Aung, was shot in both legs. He was not an RIT student, he had just called in to see us. I saw Ko Soe Naing. He had fallen to the ground and was injured in the chest. We didn’t see Ko Phone Maw’s corpse, I don’t know where it was. Then we tried to send our friends to the hospital. Ko Soe Naing’s situation was not serious. Our teacher tried to help us to take them to hospital with his car. One of my friends went along with them. However, the authorities would not allow them to leave the school. We got angry. Our rector came and tried to calm down us and he said he would arrange it. I didn’t know who he contacted, but later the authorities allowed us to send Ko Soe Naing and Ko Myat Aung to the Rangoon General Hospital. Later, we were chatting and discussed what we should do. At that time, one of my former room-mates, I forget his name, suggested uniting to organize a committee authorities would not allow them to and demand compensation from the leave the school. We got angry. Our government. At rector came and tried to calm down us that time, we didn’t know too much about politics, we just loved justice and freedom. He seemed clever at political affairs. He led the discussion, urging us to form the committee and we did. As far as I remember, we demanded five conditions: the government had to declare they had managed things badly; apologize for it; give compensation for those who were killed or injured; allow an official funeral service for Ko Phone Maw and for us to build a mausoleum; and they had to allow us to establish a student union. We didn’t raise any political matters. This friend tried to contact U Maung Maung from the BBC (Burmese service) using the phone at the registry office, but the phone was cut off. Then we continued to discuss what we should do over the next days. We decided to continue our struggle by peaceful and non-violent means. Then we left to go back to our hostel. Before we went back, we made wreaths for the death. There was a bloodstain, I am not sure if it was Ko Phone Maw’s or Ko 11

Soe Naing’s. We decided to make star-shaped block, and we collected bullets and shirts with blood on them, then we saluted them. The next morning, we went round the school, to the female hostel, and then round the school again holding the wreaths. In a meantime, our teacher requested us not to go out from the campus. We said we wouldn’t. We went round the school quietly without chanting or speaking. When we entered the main hall, we saluted the star-shaped block mausoleum. We got back to where we belonged and decided we would do it again the next day. After that, I took a risk and went back my hostel, although I was scared of being arrested outside the campus. There were some riot police outside the campus holding police truncheons and shields, and it looked like they were ready to attack potential demonstrators. They blocked the road. When I got back to the hostel, some senior students came and talked with me. They said they were hiding in their hall, and that they hadn’t gone to school on the night of Ko Phone Maw’s killing. They suggested that I should go away from there. I complained, asking them what I had done wrong. I told them we had peacefully shown our wishes without using any violent means, and we planned to do it again the next day. However, they explained the potential dangers to me if I dared to do this: I might be killed, arrested, have to go underground or at least be dismissed from the school. When I said I was not afraid to die, be arrested, have to go underground or be dismissed from the school they suggested to me that I went away from there as soon as possible. Our hostel hall tutor also suggested that I should go away as soon as possible. So we went back to my native town. Ko Soe Naing and Myat Aung handA few days latcuffed to police. Then our friends were er, my friend who went to Rangoon moved to a criminal ward . . . General Hospital along with Ko Soe Naing and Myat Aung returned from Rangoon. He told us what he saw at the hospital. On the morning of March the 14th, he went out to a tea shop. Then returned to the hospital where he saw many police, and Ko Soe Naing and Myat Aung handcuffed to police. Then our friends were moved to a criminal ward in the hospital and he became afraid and returned to school. Later, we heard that Ko Soe Naing was dead. 12

I went to school when it resumed. There I heard that Myat Aung had been released and that he was allowed to continue studying. Our Burmese opposition have declared the 13th of March to be Burma Human Rights Day. I think we should hold a ceremony every year. We should not forget this day. I would like to tell our new generation, that the SPDC is trying to hide the truth. For instance, they changed the name of RIT into Yangon Technology University. This was done to attempt to conceal history; our responsibility is to reveal the true history. We should hold a Burma Human Rights Day ceremony every year. We should salute those who have died struggling for democracy. Our new student generation inside Burma should know the truth of what happened on the 13th of March, 1988.

13

One 88-Generation student recounted what happened during 1988 uprising

Ko Min Zaw

I am Min Zaw, in 1988 I was studying at RIT majoring in mechanical engineering as a fourth year student, I lived at Hostel “C”. On March 13, while we sat at a tea shop in front of our school, we were discussing how should we response to the quarrel which was occurred last night and some students were beaten ordinary people. We separated two groups, the first group which included 10 students went to the tea shop where students were beaten last night, the second group followed the first group after fifteen minutes, I was belonged to second one. When I arrived there, students were throwing stone to the teashop. When Students heard about it, more students marched into the ward from the school. Students asked the ward’s authority to handover the person who beat the student yesterday in a mean while the ward was black out. When they were talking, one ordinary person suddenly popped up and cracking with a knife to a student, so students withdrew from the ward, the ordinary people chased the student with knife and stick. “On the first night, through words of mouth among students, we heard about a student being hit. Some of us formed small groups and went to the place where the student was hit. We were waiting and contemplating how we should take action for our student. Our main demand was to release the person who hit our student on the very first day. Just as we left the East Jo-Gone Ward, someone set fire to the cooperative enterprise in that area. We did not know who did it. I was already on the main road of Insein when that happened. Some students also attempted to set fire to Burmese Paramedical Institute (BPI) but were unsuccessful as they could not enter the compound. Afterwards, one fire engine came to extinguish the fire at the coopera14

tive enterprise. As soon as it entered the road in front of our school, one student threw a stone at it. Its front glass was shattered and it retreated immediately from the area. Later, more fire engines came into the school compound and used fire hose to break up the students’ crowd. However, the students made fun of them and some students threw stones at the fire engines. The other side also retaliated by throwing back stones. Soon after, we heard the sound of gun shots. At that time, I was in front of our university. Upon seeing the uniformed soldiers with guns coming into the school, I ran back towards the main building of my school. They seemed to be carrying both guns and tear gas. It was my first time experiencing how it is like to be attacked with tear gas. My eyes were sore and tears rapidly streamed down my face. It was a terrible feeling. I also saw Ko Phone Maw lying unconscious after being hit by a bullet at the stomach area. There was so much blood. His lips had even turned blue from losing so much blood. Apart from him, I also saw my friend, Ko Myint Oo, being dragged away by other students after he was shot at. My friend and I went towards the area near the school canteen to look for a doctor but all the houses there lying unconscious after being hit by a had their lights bullet at the stomach area. There was turned off. Feeling frustrated, we so much blood. His lips had even turned looked for whatever weapon that we could find and only managed to get a small cooking-knife. While holding it, we felt our tears on our faces. Whether it was because of the tear gas or the anger that we felt at our students being killed, we could not differentiate. One thing for sure is that, that day will always be memorable for us. It has been 20 years since that day. During that time, there was no students’ union, no coalition group, and no political party. As such, it was not surprising that an uprising started by students, would have a certain level of violence and unpredictability. It would have been impossible for the events to unfold in a supposedly sequential order. At that time, there were no student leaders and all of us were simply students. If you look at the case of Ko Phone Maw, he was just an ordinary student, not a student leader. However, he was turned into a hero and that significant turn of event eventually 15

became an example of courage for future democracy uprisings. On the night of 14th, at around 8 PM, many students gathered along the road connecting the main building and hostels, and chose 3 suicide-leaders. I can’t recall all the names though I vaguely remember a name like Nay Myo Aung, whom I think was from Mandalay. On the next day, we went around the school compound, telling everyone that our students had been killed and urged them to participate in the protest. Some of the student delivered political speeches. I remember this guy by the name of Ko Than Dote. He was full of guts. Before being part of this 1988 uprising, I had no idea about politic. After I passed 10th standard, I even tried to enter military academy but failed to pass the entrance exam as I was underweight. My parents were both teachers and did not have any political liaison. When I was in university, I even attended University Corp Training and knew how to use the gun. Currently, as you know, I am only a student-rebel. (Interview with Ko Min Zaw/ Translated by Gyittu) (Photo: http://www.monywa.org/exrit/YIT/page_01.htm)

16

13 March day is the Symbol of 8888, But ...

Ko Myo Win

My name is Myo Win. In 1988 I was studying at RIT as a final year student, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. On the evening of March the 13th, 1988, I was chatting with my friends at a tea shop. One of them told us that students were gathering to go back to the ward to ask the ward authorities to take action against some people who had beaten up a student. I went back to my hostel because I heard that my friends were looking for me, but I didn’t see anyone at the hostel. I watched TV alone. Then one of my friends came and told me that some students were surrounded and being attacked in the ward, so I went out with him to where the riot was occurring. It was about 8 o’clock. At that time, there were not too many students there. We organized ourselves as well as we could. When we took to the street, we saw some students who had escaped. A car which belonged to one of our school staff was driving out from the ward. In it were some students who had been injured in the riot. A student shouted from the car that some other students were surrounded at the ward, and we should go and help them. When we heard this, we reacted without thinking, picked up bricks and sticks, and went to the ward. When we arrived at the riot, students and members of the public were throwing stones at each other. Some students got injured. We send those who got injured to Insein hospital. We friends came and told me that some saw many injured students were surrounded and being students. We left attacked in the ward, them at the hospital and went back to the school. By then, there was already a roadblock, and there were no buses. When we met with soldiers with barricades, they questioned us, but we gave our explanations and were allowed to go back to the school. When we got back to the RIT complex, we saw the riot police, fire fighters and ward council members positioned on the Insein Road; and soldiers positioned at Thamaing junction and Insein BOC bus stop. High-ranking 17

officials from the Ministry of Education also arrived. In the meantime, the riot police tried to disperse the crowd using fire hoses, but they targeted only the students rather than the public so we got angry. They could not disperse the crowd. They used tear-gas, while the riot police fired guns at the school complex. They climbed into the school complex, and occupied the school. At that time, I was standing at near a water fountain. Ko Phone Maw was near the grass, facing the riot police. He was shot, and died on the spot. As I remember, some students got injured. They were Soe Naing, (who died on the 5th of May, 1988), and Myint Oo. That is all I remember of the night when Ko Phone Maw was killed. After the shooting and tear-gas had stopped, we went back to our hostel in the car which took Ko Soe Naing to the hospital. I had planned to go along with my friends to the hospital but in the end I didn’t. That was lucky for me, because one of our teachers, and some of our friends who went to take Ko Soe Naing to the hospital, got arrested. We built a mausoleum where Ko Phone Maw’s blood had stained the ground overnight. We didn’t sleep, but made a pamphlet, and discussed justice and revealing the truth. Military friends came and told me that some personnel were students were surrounded and being still positioned opattacked in the ward, posite the grass. All the gates were blocked. I am not sure if we formed a committee or not. Some witnesses told us about their recent experiences. The next day, on March the 14th, we held a demonstration. We walked around the campus as our teachers would not allow us to go out. The military personnel had withdrawn from the complex, but the roads were still blocked. We discussed how to respond to the government action. The Burmese Broadcasting Service announced that Phone Maw had died during a clash between the students and members of the public. The BBC (Burmese service) also made the same announcement. This made us angry, and we demanded that our rector reveal the true story. He replied to us that though he knew the truth, he could not do anything. We decided we would do it ourselves. 18

We gave speeches; - I can’t remember who gave the speeches - we decided that we would never give up this cause; we chose leaders; if our leaders were to die, some of our followers would replace them. Our registry signed a statement that said Phone Maw was shot dead. We copied the letter and distributed it to other university campuses. We formed a Phone Maw funeral service committee. I was one of the committee members. On March the 15th, the roads were reopened. Some students from other universities came to RIT. We collected money for Phone Maw’s tomb. We got a lot of money. At midday on the 15th of March, soldiers took up position again in front of the school and surrounded us. Some students tried to escape. We discussed what we should do as the military prepared to invade the school. We decided we would probably be arrested when they came in. At 3pm, the authorities used a loud speaker to tell us not to fight back. We were surrounded and our teachers knew that the military would soon enter the complex. Some teachers tried to help us to escape. They asked a member of the public to show us the way. We followed him, and were able to manage to escape. I think students launched the demonstration for many reasons. The killing of Ko Phone Maw was an immediate cause, but even before he was killed, there had been some political activity on the campus. In 1987, a student had quarreled killing of Ko Phone Maw is an with staff from the government savimmediate cause, but even beofre he ings bank when he went to withdraw was killed, there had been some . . . money. He was one of our friends. He was just given a warning by the school authorities, but a rumor got up that had been dismissed from the university. Some students planned to demand that he be allowed to remain, but we informed the students that it wasn’t true, that he hadn’t been kicked out of the university. We were also worried that the time was not yet right to take up political activity on the campus. One student was well aware that the BSPP wasn’t managing the country well. Even Ne Win himself confessed that his socialist economy was not working, and that it might be necessary to change things. After the BSPP 19

demonetization, this student organized a committee to ask the government for compensation. He encouraged us to form a committee. We asked the school authorities for compensation, and to postpone the examinations, but the education authority refused our demands. As a result, we started a demonstration, and marched to Thamaing Township. The Thamaing junction was blocked, so we went back to school. The next day, the school closed. The school re-opened in December and we took the exam. At that time, when some students were trying to form student unions, we got letters from Rangoon University and Mandalay University which stated that they already formed student unions. I got a letter. We planned activities to start to organize the students on National Day, but we were not successful. We tried again on the night of the last exam. We turned off the lights and shouted by way of demonstration. Another reason was that the Lanzin Youth leadership training used to be held at Rangoon University, but the authorities planned to hold it at RIT, and decorate the hostels, roads, and parkland etc. Waiters were forced to take a medical check, and those who passed were able to serve in the Lanzin Youth. We got angry because we assumed it was an insult to us, so we broke all the new windows on the last night of the examinations. The Ko Phone Maw affair followed former affairs. When many people talk about the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, they only concentrate on the clash between the public and students on March the 13th. In fact, there were many reasons for the occurrence of the “Four Eights Affair”. However, I honestly didn’t know too much about politics at that time. I became involved in politics because of some of my friends. (Interview with Ko Min Zaw/ Translated by Gyittu)

20

Matyrs

Some famous Freedom Fighters who were killed by the authority

Bo Aung Kyaw (December 22, 1938/ 1:30 p.m/ Judson College)

During the third university boycott, on December the 20th, 1938, students gathered since early morning at the RUSU building. There were 26 buses in front of the building, many people didn’t know yet that the ABSU leaders planned to defy act 144. At 8.15, Ko Hla Shwe gave a speech to the students and said, “Your facial expression are very patriotic and nationalistic, I believe that you are ready to give your right arm for our cause. You seem don’t care if you are killed or jailed. I believe your zeal. Today we will defy the government’s unjust law. Don’t bring a needle - we won’t use even a needle as a weapon.” The students were very excited and shouted “Let’s go now”. There were 8,000 students. They marched downtown. In fact, the students didn’t know where they were going; it was still a secret. Only EC members knew the plan. When the students were at the Government Secretariat building and encircling it, the students realized their leaders’ plan. The students stood around the office so that no one could enter or leave. The British forces didn’t know how to handle it, and they looked ludicrous. Students were shouting “We shall overcome”, and “We are the masters of our country” etc. When the Police Commissioner gave an order to the police to disperse the crowd, the police dragged them and kicked them with their boots. Some students were injured and some were angry, but student leaders warned that they should be patient and not fight back in any way, warning them not to turn to violence. At 10 am, the police encircled the students. At 11 o’clock, deputy commissioner U Po Sa came and the police withdrew within half an hour. Many people came and provided food and water etc for the students. Later, the 21

students decided to return Rangoon University, and departed from the office. However, they came across the police on the way to the University, and the police wouldn’t allow the students to go forward. There was tension between the students and the police. The students tried to pass by the police, but were beaten with batons. Members of the public who were watching and supporting the students were also beaten by the police. The police ruthlessly rained blows on the students. Many students fell to the ground. Some tried to run away from there and escape, but they were chased and beaten to death by police. Many people and students were injured, including Ko Aung Kyaw. His head was smashed by a police truncheon. Later he was died of his injuries. After he died, he was called “Bo Aung Kyaw”. He was the first student to be killed by the police in Burmese history.

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Herry Tan (March, 22 1956/ 16 years old/ Saint Paul School)

In 1956, 7th-grade students were taking government examinations. After they had taken four courses, they realized that the exam questions had been ‘leaked’. One of the questions was published in “Burma Khit”, a Burmese newspaper, but the government didn’t take any action. On March the 22nd, the authorities made a surprise announcement that the exam results were disallowed on the grounds that a question had been published in the newspaper. When students heard about it, some students were crying. They had studied for a whole year, and now it was to be abolished. They decided to call a strike and marched to the office of the Education Commissioner, then to the Burma Khit newspaper’s office which was already protected by police. Later, both Pasi Mya Maung, who was a judge from the Eastern district of Rangoon, and ABFSU leaders arrived there. ABFSU leaders negotiated with the authorities asking them not to use force to disperse the students, who were only 12 to 13 years old. They said they would take care of the students. The judge agreed. However, he suddenly ordered the police to shoot students. ABFSU leaders requested them not to do it, but they did. One student, Herry Tan (16 years old) , was killed in the shooting. It was the first time a Burmese parliamentary government had killed a student. Student unions such as ABFSU and RUSU demanded the establishment of a committee to investigate the event. On March the 23rd, 1956, the government established a committee to investigate the event. To lessen students’ resentment, the U Nu government let all 7th-grade students pass the exam. The event is popularly known as “Herry Tan” event in Burmese history.

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Salai Tin Maung Oo (June 26, 1976)

“Comrades! They are killing me without letting the people know.” “I shall never kneel down under your military boots” The historic testimonial words of Tin Maung Oo, a student leader of Rangoon University’s demonstration (1974-75). January the 3rd, 1974: Salai Tin Maung Oo gave an impressive and moving speech about the importance of unity, especially during critical times. After that he was unanimously appointed General Secretary of the CLCC, Chin Literature and Cultural Committee. June the 6th, 1974: The Socialist Constitution’s Article 9 led six months later to the provocation of general worker’s strikes to challenge the constitution. The Burmese Army responded with gunfire on June the 6th and 7th, killing workers and students. When the former Secretary General of the United Nations, U Thant died in New York, his remains were flown back to Rangoon to be buried there according to his last wishes. Salai Tin Maung Oo, led a people’s demonstration movement, out of respect for U Thant. December the 5th, 1974: Hundreds of students marched towards Kyaikasan stadium to pay their last respects to U Thant. Among the mourners were Buddhist monks. Ko Kyi Win, Salai Tin Maung Oo, and other student leaders announced that U Thant’s funeral procession was to be taken over by the students and honoured with a mausoleum and an official state funeral. After the U Thant affair, he went to underground. He established an underground student union, underwent military training in the liberated area of the Parliamentary Democracy Party, and then returned to Rangoon where he was arrested, and sentenced to death. He was hanged on June the26th, 1976 at the infamous Insein prison. He is the only student to be hanged by the government in Burmese political history. (Source: www.chinforum.org/PUBS/TMOEng.pdf) 24

Win Maw Oo (September 19, 1988/ 16 yrs old/ S.H.S 2, Latha)

Win Maw Oo was a high-school student who was shot dead by Burmese soldiers during the 1988 student protests. She was one of the hundreds of protestors killed in Rangoon after the military coup of the 18th of September, 1988. “I got a phone call from the hospital. She was still conscious at the time,” Win Maw Oo’s father, Win Kyu, recounted how he learnt of his daughter’s fate. “She gave them the names of her father and mother, and home address and telephone number. At the hospital, after the operations, she was put in the intensive-care room. She was unconscious. I had to go to retrieve her body from a doctor. I asked the cause of her death. The doctor told me it was due to shrapnel wounds. Only then was I able to retrieve her body. I was told to bury her within 24 hours. I also had to sign a pledge saying that she was not involved in [political] activities. Her younger sisters and brothers weren’t able to see her when we buried her. At the funeral, there were only 25 people at most. We had to do it behind locked doors.” “I still miss my daughter every day,” says Win Maw Oo’s mother, Khin Htay Htay Win. “Today, I want to cry the way my daughter cried. They said that they shot in the air, but they aimed straight at her. That’s why she died straight away. In my heart, I know my daughter did it for her country; she gave up her life for the country.” (Source: http://hamarashakespeare.com/personalities.html) (Photo: dvb.no, Burma’s Revolution of the Spirit)

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Thet Paing Soe (September 27, 2007/ 16 yrs/ NLD Youth)

Maung Thet Paing Soe (aka) Ka-Lar-Ma-Gyi, participated in the Saffron revolution, led by the monks. On the 10th day of Saffron revolution, Thet Paing Soe carried a T-shirt that said “Free Aung San Su Kyi” and walked among the front row of marching protestors. When they reached in front of Tar Mway High School No. (3), the soldiers from Battalion 66 used violence to break up the crowd. As a result, Thet Paing Soe was hit by a bullet at left temple area and died on the spot. The soldiers kicked his dead body into the drain after taking his money and bag. Thet Paing Soe was from Daw Pone Township and was the youngest son of U Myint Win and Daw Aye Pyone. He was only 15 years old and 4 months at the time of death. He was a student at Daw Pone High School No. (1) and had to quit school due to family’s financial difficulties. He was also an active member of NLD Youth wing in Daw Pone Township. (Source: Aryone Thit Newsletter/ Jan 4, 2008/ Pg.9)

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Ko Ko Win (October 24, 2007/ 21 yrs)

After 1962, there have been numerous democracy movements in Burma and the military regime has used brutal methods to suppress all the uprisings. As a result, many lives have been sacrificed. During the recent September uprising, also popularly known as the Saffron Revolution, many ordinary people turned into heroes. Among them was Ko Ko Win, 21 years old, the eldest son of U Htay U and Daw Win Win Myint from South Oakkalapa Township, Rangoon. Ko Ko Win was actively involved in the Saffron Revolution alongside the monks. On the 27th of September, 2007, he was brutally beaten by the police (lone-htane) at the foot of the Shwe Da Gone Pagoda and received serious injuries to the head, shoulders and chest. Though he was given medical treatment at a nearby clinic from the 30th of September to the 14th of October, his condition did not improve. He was then sent to Thin Gan Kyun Hospital for treatment, but eventually died from his head injuries on the 3rd of November, 2007. When will Burma obtain its freedom? Until then, it seems inevitable that more lives will have to be lost. (Source: Aryone Thit Newsletter/ Jan 4, 2008/ Pg.9)

The ribbon is a symbol of sorrow. It was used at the first anniversary of the 7th of July affair. On July the 7th, 1962, the historic Student Union building was demolished with dynamite by the Ne Win military regime. As a result, many students died and it became popularly known as the 7th of July affair. Similarly, in 1988, during the “Four Eights Affair”, many students who were campaigning for democracy, human rights, freedom, peace and justice were killed by the authorities. We have also used the ribbon as a symbol of sorrow for those who were killed by the authorities in the 1988 pro-democracy uprising.

Please show your solidarity with Black Ribbon!