Martyrs’ Day: a wake-up call for reconciliation in Myanmar

For the first time, it was held under a National League for Democracy-backed government. After several decades of absence, it was also the first time the commander-in-chief attended.

And, for the first time since 1988, this Martyrs’ Day people heard the sound of sirens and stood still at 10:37am, when the martyrs were assassinated in 1947. For two minutes, people of all faiths, races and ideologies united under one siren call.

But most importantly, this year’s Martyrs’ Day was a wake-up call for national reconciliation in Myanmar. (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)