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On August 8, 1988, millions of Burmese took to the streets around the country to demand democracy and an end to military rule. The day was a turning point for the nationwide popular movement that had started in March 1988, because the Burmese army came out to brutally suppress the demonstrations, gunning down hundreds of protesters. An estimated 3,000 people were killed nationwide during the seven months of protests. There has been no independent investigation or prosecution of the members of Burma’s security forces involved in the violence of 1988. Many of Burma’s current leaders, such as President Than Shwe and army chief General Maung Aye, held senior positions in the military at the time.

"As the world celebrates the opening of the Beijing Olympics, people should pause to remember the atrocities in Burma 20 years ago," said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "This anniversary is testament to the Burmese people’s enduring demand for freedom and to the world’s failure to end repressive military rule. And China, more than any other country, has enabled the survival of the brutal Burmese regime."

In an interview, Cho Tun, a political activist and participant of the 8-8-88 uprising, described what happened that day:

The 8th of August, 1988, was a remarkable day, which demonstrated that despite systematic attempts of destroying civil society by the BSPP, the Burmese nation spoke in one unified voice. Hundred of thousands people took part in protests across the country, calling for the restoration of democracy in Burma.

However, the rest is well known. Militia used everything to suppress opposition.
"They used guns and bludgeons, they killed thousands of people. The fight continued until the morning of the next day. We were suppressed again."

China is arming the Burmese regime[PDF].

With Chinese arms and military equipment, Burma’s regime has quadrupled the size of its forces to 450,000 men, including with approximately 70,000 child soldiers - more than any other country in the world.

The regime has carried out a scorched earth campaign in Eastern Burma, destroying and forcing the abandonment of more than 3,000 villages over the past ten years.

To put this in context a more well-known crisis, this is twice as many villages as have been destroyed in Darfur. More than 1.5 million refugees have fled to neighboring countries or are hiding in the jungle struggling to survive.

Think of the thousands of Burmese protesters massacred exactly 20 years ago. Think of Aung San Suu Kyi, the brave woman who has spent 20 years behind bars.

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