Myanmar remembers 1988 pro-democracy uprising

(Vatican Radio) The anniversary the first pro-democracy uprisings in Myanmar, also known as Burma, are being celebrated openly for the first time in Rangoon (Yangon) since the movement began 25 years ago.
On August 8, 1988, tens of thousands of students and other protestors took part in a mass demonstration against the dictatorship. Thousands died in the military crackdown which followed, with hundreds more injured. That same military dictatorship remained in power with a regime rife with severe human rights violations until 2011, at which time a new government was established.
Since taking office, Myanmar’s current president Thein Sein has implemented a series of reforms, most notably that of releasing a number of political prisoners.
Despite these reforms, however, Burma Campaign UK’s executive director Anna Roberts told Ann Schneible that the country has a long way to go on the road toward democracy.
This anniversary, she said, is “a time to remember those who have sacrificed so much and struggled for democracy in Burma. But also to remember that that struggle is on-going. The human rights abuses that have happened in Burma are not just in the past, but they are still going on today.”
“We have reports that the Burmese army committing very serious human rights abuses that could be classified as war crimes, crimes against humanity, such as rape against Ethnic women in the Rakhine State.”
Roberts expressed concern that President Thein Sein does not acknowledge either past or current human rights violations.
“We need to see those human rights abuses addressed,” she said. “We need to see acknowledgement that they’re happening. And we need to see those perpetrators brought to justice. “
Listen to Ann Schneible’s interview with Anna Roberts: