July 8, 2016

Remembering students who bled for liberty

Today (July 7) marks the 54th anniversary of the 1962 Yangon University student massacre. Students protested as General Ne Win took control after the March 2 coup. The dictator abolished the university supervisory council, saying students were politicised and lecturers corrupt. Those living in dorms were put under heavy restrictions and they peacefully protested from July 3 at the student union.

Riot police arrested the leaders and the security forces blocked off the campus and killed many students. The next day, they flattened the student union.

Thakin Kotaw Mhine spoke at the opening ceremony of the Yarkyaw student protest monument for the more than 100 students who were killed. “They can only destroy the building. They cannot stop the union spirit which exists in your mind,” Thakin Kotaw Mhine said. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)

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