BAC: From Washington DC to Rangoon

[burma-action@xxxxxxxx]

August 8, 1988
BAC: From Washington DC to Rangoon

It was August 8, 1996. Everybody could have seen the transparent
honesty on their faces. They are young and courageous. Everyone in the
vicinities of Burmese Embassy in Washington DC could have felt the
vibration of
their movements.  They are Burmese students from the Washington DC
Metropolitan Area, gathering in front of the Embassy to stage a protest
in
commemoration of 8.8.88, which is, until these days, the greatest mass
revolt against the military rule in the modern Burmese history. 

Student demonstrators chanted pro-democracy slogans. Their voices echoed
throughout the area.  Actually, It was an exciting day. I was once again
with die-hard Burmese student revolutionaries, who are temporarily
residing in the United States and waiting for their final victory over
the military dictators. They are still very active for their cause "the
Struggle for Democracy and Human Rights in Burma". They are still
marching toward their destiny against the tide. They are unswervingly
dauntlessly performing their historical duties.

They belong to Burma Action Committee (BAC), which was established to
strengthen and widen their activities in the fight against Burma's
State Law and Order Restoration Council that came to power in September
1988,
after cracking down on pro-democracy movements. Thousands of innocent
people including Buddhist monks and students were reportedly gunned
down by the government soldiers. It was eight years ago. People from the
villages in the valleys and mountains of northern Burma to the
archipelagoes in southern Burma joined hand-in-hand to revolt against
the decades-long authoritarian rule and restore democracy and human
rights in Burma.

Almost all of those students were in the van of the "1988 Revolution".
Many of their fellow students and friends lost their lives in the
Struggle. They left their homes and schools after the military seized
power in September 1988. They went through bitter experiences
and embraced painful hardships in the jungles of Burma, most of the time
on the
Thai-Burma border. And then they came to this Land of Freedom with the
hope that they might be able to change the momentum of their
revolution.

They want to go home when Slorc dies. They want to rebuild their
country from ruin. They are very much hopeful for their final victory.
They
believe that they are the new political generation of Burma in the 21st
century. They will definitely become the architects of future Burma as
they said in their statement at the Eighth Anniversary of 8.8.88.

1. 8.8.88 is 8 year-old still young as a lad or damsel.
2. 8.8.88 completely buried the so-called Burmese Way to Socialism under 
the rule of military dictators.
3. 8.8.88 is the national awakening to look forward to building new and
prosperous nation.
4. The arm of 8.8.88 is capable of crushing any form of dictatorship.
5. The voice of 8.8.88 is the mandate of people and can create the future
of Burma.
6. The destination od 8.8.88 is full of force and bravery.
7. 8.8.88 gave birth to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, a noble peace laureate and
the leader of the struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma.
8. 8.8.88 belongs to the students, the children of the people of Burma.

Burma Action Committee