20th Anniversary

of
Burma Human Rights Day

March 13
Don't forget
bloody The day of
March 13! Phone Maw’
Don't forget Death
the Phone
Maw Day!
 Editorial
The Responsibility of
Youth and Students Today
to Fight Against Military Dictatorship
In March, 1988, Ko Phone Maw and Ko Soe Naing who were stu-
dents at the Rangoon Institute of Technology, were brutally killed on
their campus by the BSPP military regime. This event was followed by
the Red Bridge Students Affair – the former name of the bridge was
White Bridge, but as many university students were killed there by the
military, students changed it to Red Bridge (meaning Bloody Bridge).
Both bloody affairs led to the “Four Eights Affair” - the pro-democra-
cy peoples’ uprising of 8/8/88. Although the dictatorship has always
tried to suppress these revolutions, it was never able to destroy the
spirit of the students and their Student’s Union. This has been proved
as successive generations of students have handed over the spirit to
the next generation.

Since under colonial rule, Burmese students have been at the forefront
of the struggle for independence. They love freedom and justice and
they are ready to give their right hand for their truth, and to protest
against the unjust rule for our people. This is the Burmese student
Spirit.

The Burmese military regime have blindly ignored the wishes of the
people since the 1990 general election result, and have convened a
sham national convention to draft a constitution.

Since September, 2007, the SPDC regime have arbitrarily arrested

student leaders and Buddhist monks, and recently they announced
1/2008, 2/2008 and 3/2008, and are trying to gain legitimacy through
them. It is unimaginable for the future of our country, our people
and our students if the SPDC’s sham constitution can be made to ap-
pear legal through a referendum. Therefore it is our people’s and our


 students’ unavoidable national responsibility to ensure a NO vote at
the referendum. Students should follow the way of former student
generations and organize the people to vote NO at the upcoming ref-
erendum.

In accordance with the spirit of the Burmese student union, the new
generation of students should not put aside their historic responsibil-
ity to stand at the forefront of our people and turn down the SPDC’s
unilateral constitution.

Go to the Ballot Booth and vote "No".

We would like to request that the international community and student

bodies recognize Burma Human Rights Day, condemn the Burmese
military regime’s brutality and demand a stop to human rights viola-
tions in Burma. They should demand that the SPDC regime guarantee
to give a free and fair referendum for the draft constitution.

ALL BURMA FEDERATION OF STUDENT UNIONS

FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Tanslation and Editing: Myint Zaw Design: Kyaw Win (Mr. Balance)

Published by
All Burma Federation of Student Unions - Foreign Affairs Committee
The Union Publishing, P.O Box (102), Mae Ping Post Office, Chiang Mai (50301) Thailand
e-mail: bakatha@loxinfo.co.th

©2008 Union Publishing Vol. 3, No. 1, May 13 2008.


 History
Burma Human Rights Day
Myint Zaw

Students are in a position to speak for the people be-

cause they are educated and can be considered to be a driving force for
modernization in the context of developing countries. As Phillip (1967)
states: in developing areas, university and sometimes even secondary
school students are among the few “modern” and politically conscious
elements in their societies, and have
never lost their radical nationalist in-
clination.
In the case of Burmese student ac-
tivism, Burmese students have been
at the vanguard of the struggle for in-
dependence, and the first nationalists
emerged from Rangoon University.
Historically, students are considered a
politically conscious element in Bur-
mese society and are respected by the
people. When students have been killed by those in authority, it has gen-
erally been followed by mass demonstrations which could lead to revolu-
tion or social change.
On 13 March, 1988 Ko Phone maw, a fifth-year student at Rangoon
Institute of Technology was killed by government riot police. This could
be considered the event which sparked off the historic 1988 pro-democ-
racy uprising. During this uprising, many political leaders remembered
Ko Phone Maw’s death, and planned to commemorate the day as Burma
Human Rights day.
Aung Myo Min, a human rights activist who was a close friend of Ko
Phone Maw, said the day deserved to be named as Human Rights day
because the BSPP military-backed government committed many human
rights violations over 26 years. People had acquiesced in their oppression
because they lacked enough awareness to fight the BSPP government
for their rights. However, when people heard Ko Phone Maw had been
killed by the BSPP, people got a shock and came to realize the brutality
of the government. This increased awareness of the lack of democracy

and determined people to fight against for their rights and the event led to
the “Four Eights Affair”, which tried to restore democracy, human rights,
peace, and justice to Burma. Aung Myo Min also said March 13 is one of
the greatest events for the Burmese democracy movement, and is named
as a human rights day, but it should not be only related to one student,
Ko Phone Maw, who was killed by the government. There were many
people who were killed or imprisoned for long-term over human rights,
so we should hold Human Rights Day for all those fighting and making
sacrifices for democracy and human rights in Burma, both now and in the
past. The first Burma Human Rights Day was held in the compound of
the Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT) on the 13th of March, 1989.
Many political leaders joined it, including Aung San Suu Kyi, U Nu , U
Tin Oo, and U Khin Maung Myint from the People’s Progressive Party
(PPP), U Tha Ban, U Thu Wai, etc.
Ko Tate, was one of the members of the organizing committee for Ko
Phone Maw’s day. The committee was formed of 13 people including Min
Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Ko Aung Pwint (RIT), Saw Win Shein (RIT) and
other activists. Ko Tate recalled his experience. He said he is not quite sure
whose initiative it was to hold the day. Some people said it was inspired
by Aung San Suu Kyi, and some said it was motivated by U Nu. During
the ceremony, no politician or any student activists declared the day to
be Burma Human
he saw many placards which mentioned Rights Day - how-
“Burma Human Rights Day”. For this ever, he saw many
placards which
reason it can still be considered . . . mentioned “Bur-
ma Human Rights
Day”. For this reason it can still be considered the first celebration of
Burma Human Rights Day.
On that day, many students who planned to join it were detained for
a while at the Thamyaing Junction. When some students arrived at RIT
and prepared for the commemoration, the RIT complex was enclosed
by military trucks which seemed intended to intimidate the people who
were coming to join the ceremony. However, the crowd got bigger and
the grounds filled with people.
All the participants agreed that the 13th of March, 1988 was the most

important day of the “Four Eights Affair”. Although students also re-
sented the government’s irresponsible action of demonetization in 1987,
if Ko Phone Maw had not been killed, the 1988 pro-democracy uprising
is very unlikely to have happened. Anyhow, the first Burmese Human
Rights Day ended successfully.
So far, it is the first and last Burmese Human Rights Day to be held
in Burma. Student activists tried to hold a second anniversary of Bur-
mese Human Rights Day, and formed an organizing committee of 13
people including Mar Gi, Kyaw Kyaw Soe, and Mg Mg Kyaw and other
students. SLORC took pre-emptive action and arrested many students on
the 12th of March, 1990, including Ko Bo Kyi, Toe Kyaw Hlaing , Ko
Mya Aye and other students. They were imprisoned for three years, and
other students were also arrested.
In Burma, students can’t publicly hold Burmese Human Rights Day,
but every 13th of March students put a black piece cloth on their shirt
as a symbol of sorrowful memory of Ko Phone Maw’s death. They also
distribute leaflets, so as not to forget him as a martyr, and to remind them-
selves of the fight for human rights, democracy, peace and justice. Burma
Human Rights Day is not only observed for the memory of Ko Phone
Maw, but also to draw attention to all forms of human rights violation in
Burma. It should inspire the fight for human rights regardless of sex, gen-
der, race, status or background, so that our people are treated with human
dignity in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Page (4) Photo: Phone Maw’s

Photo was hanging at the 1st An-
nuversary in 1989.
Photo (left): People were gather-
ing in the compound. There are
posters at the school building pill-
ers.
(source- video footage)


 Sketch
The Portrait of Phone Maw
Interview with Aung Myo Min

On the 13th of March, 1988, Ko Phone Maw who was a

fifth-year student at the Rangoon Institute of Technol-
ogy majoring in Chemical Engineering, was killed by
riot police at Kyogyone township, in the school cam-
pus. This is considered to be the one of the major
factors contributing to the occurrence of the 1988
pro-democracy uprising. Since 1989, Burmese op-
position groups have named the 13th of March as
Burma Human Rights Day and celebrate it both in-
side and outside Burma.
We searched for biographical material about Ko
Phone Maw, and conducted an interview with one of his
closest friends, Aung Myo Min, who is now a director of Human Rights
Education in Burma (HREIB).
“Ko Phone Maw was descended from Shan people - some of his family’s
relatives lived in Shan State. He was studying at Rangoon, he lived at Hlaing
Township with his mother and elder sisters. He was the youngest son of his
family. He said his sisters loved him too much and treated him like a child.
Although he was old enough to go out and stay with his friends overnight,
his sisters didn’t like it. Sometimes he didn’t go along with his sisters. Some-
times he joked, ‘My sisters treat me as if I was a girl’. He was not a hostel
student, but he spent most of his time at the hostel with us.
Ko Phone Maw had a pale complexion, he was neither tall nor short,
his eyebrows were thick, his lips as red as Shan girls’ lips. He was a good-
hearted guy, he liked teamwork, and he was loved by his friends. They called
him ‘Phone Phone’ rather than his real name. He was a member of Lanzin
Youth, and of Myanmar Red Cross society.” Aung Myo Min recalled Ko
Phone Maw’s altruistic spirit:
“He was very altruistic, he liked to be so. When we were studying at Re-
gional College, Hlaing campus, we were members of the Burma Red Cross
Society. He was a senior member. After he passed second year at Regional
College, he was studying at RIT but there was no Red Cross Society in RIT,
so he was still involved in Hlaing Campus’s Red Cross Society. He taught

junior students and he was a good trainer of basic military parade drill. He
was respected by many students.
Only clever students are eligible to study at RIT, so some students were
proud to be an RIT student. He was never proud of it. He treated us all
equally, regardless of him being a senior student, or of our different sub-
jects and schools.”
Aung Myo Min also recalled more about Ko Phone Maw’s remarkable
character. He said that they were very close because there were not so many
members of the Red Cross Society. Sometimes they stayed at camp, particu-
larly on World Red Cross Society Day, which is on the 8th of May.
“When we stayed together at camp, sometimes we talked the whole
night. Though he was older than me, he was fond of entertainment like us,
and sometimes he played the guitar. However, he had self-respect and cared
about dignity, and he cared about the Red Cross Society uniform. When he
wore the uniform, he acted like a gentleman. He warned us not to act like
lay people when we wore the uniform. I often remember it.”
He added that Ko Phone Maw was very smart. “Every year one of our
members was given an award as a distinguished member. He was nominated
for it, but he missed it that year - it was awarded to a girl.
At that time we were not too much interested in politics. As we were
members of the Red Cross Society, we were automatically made members
of Lanzin Youth, but it didn’t mean we believed in the BSPP or it’s ideol-
ogy. In fact, we didn’t care about it; we just wanted to be involved in doing
some social work. Frankly, we - Ko Phone Maw and I - were not interested
in politics at all.
However, sometimes we had to deal with poor people, particularly when
we went to a place where there was a fire. We noticed many people were
poor, and after we got back from there to school we talked about the world
not being fair. We were studying at the campus, wearing new shirts and driv-
ing a state-of-the-art car, we were isolating ourselves and acting like an elite,
but not too far away from us, there were many very poor people. However,
we never thought it was a result of the political system and didn’t blame
BSPP mismanagement.”
Aung Myo Min said that when he heard that Ko Phone was killed, he
and all of Ko Phone Maw’s friends got a shock. “Honestly, at that time, I
was not yet aware of politics, but after he was killed we joined the demon-

stration in Rangoon University. In fact, I was drawn into politics because
we lost our respectable and peaceful friend. He was arbitrarily killed by
the military. However, I have since become deeply involved in politics over
time. I am doing politics not only for him, but also for human rights and
social justice. Let me say frankly - in a nutshell - that I was involved in the
1988 pro-democracy uprising is because of him.

The Portrait of Soe Naing

Interview with Ko Min Zaw
Ko Soe Naing was born in Bassein. He passed the matriculation exam in
Bassein State High school. His father was U Kyaw Yi, who served part-time
as an Irrawaddy Division BSPP council member. Ko Soe Naing had a pale
complexion, long hair, and was quite short.
In 1988, he was studying at RIT as a fifth-year student, majoring in Min-
ing Engineering. As far as I know, he was not interested in politics or social
activities. He was very quiet and somewhat unsociable.
At first, I didn’t know how he was shot on the 13th of March, 1988.
I learned that afterwards. He was injured in the large intestine and had to
undergo four operations. He died on the 5th of May, 1988.
Ko Phone Maw died on the spot and was cremated on the 15th of
March, 1988.


 Testimony The Night When Ko Phone Maw
was Killed
Interview with Ko Sein Han

“My name is Sein Han. In 1988, I was studying at the Rangoon Institute
of Technology. When Ko Phone Maw died, I was at the RIT compound.
In fact, there was a clash between students and lay people on the 12th of
March, but we didn’t care about that because we were used to it happening.
On the 13th of March, I went to a picnic. There was a minor acci-
dent, my hand was injured, and I was hospitalized. That evening, one of
my friends came and told to me there was a quarrel between students and
ordinary people, and they had started a fire, so I left the hospital without
informing the doctors.
There was no bus, so I went to the school by foot. When I arrived at the
school, seya U Thein Tun Aung asked me where I had come from. When
I told him I had been hospitalized, he was worried and asked me if anyone
had died during the accident. I said no. He said that was good, but that at
the school some students had been killed.
At that time, students and ordinary people were fighting - throwing
stones at each side, and chasing each other. It looked like a small riot. I told
my friends to pick up some bricks for self defense, and we sat near a water
fountain. Then fire engines suddenly emerged, throwing water at the stu-
dents to disperse us. We noticed that they planned to disperse only us, not
the ordinary people, so we threw rocks at the fire engines, and they with-
drew immediately.
everything was quite, later we heard After that ev-
erything was quiet.
the riot police wanted to charge into Later we heard the
the school and shoot us, so . . . riot police wanted
to charge into the
school and shoot us, so we tried to escape. I went to the halls, but some
people ran into the main building. Their target was the main building. I
think some students got injured. They used tear-gas, We didn’t know what
it was. We felt suffocated and we couldn’t breathe well. We went downstairs.
Our teacher said we should wet our clothes and hold them over our noses,
10
after that we felt better. At that time, there was no more shooting.
Later I heard some students had been shot. One of my friends, Myat
Aung, was shot in both legs. He was not an RIT student, he had just called
in to see us. I saw Ko Soe Naing. He had fallen to the ground and was
injured in the chest. We didn’t see Ko Phone Maw’s corpse, I don’t know
where it was.
Then we tried to send our friends to the hospital. Ko Soe Naing’s situ-
ation was not serious. Our teacher tried to help us to take them to hospital
with his car. One of my friends went along with them. However, the au-
thorities would not allow them to leave the school. We got angry. Our rector
came and tried to calm down us and he said he would arrange it. I didn’t
know who he contacted, but later the authorities allowed us to send Ko Soe
Naing and Ko Myat Aung to the Rangoon General Hospital.
Later, we were chatting and discussed what we should do. At that time,
one of my former room-mates, I forget his name, suggested uniting to or-
ganize a committee
authorities would not allow them to and demand com-
pensation from the
leave the school. We got angry. Our government. At
rector came and tried to calm down us that time, we didn’t
know too much
about politics, we just loved justice and freedom. He seemed clever at politi-
cal affairs. He led the discussion, urging us to form the committee and we
did.
As far as I remember, we demanded five conditions: the government
had to declare they had managed things badly; apologize for it; give com-
pensation for those who were killed or injured; allow an official funeral ser-
vice for Ko Phone Maw and for us to build a mausoleum; and they had to
allow us to establish a student union. We didn’t raise any political matters.
This friend tried to contact U Maung Maung from the BBC (Burmese
service) using the phone at the registry office, but the phone was cut off.
Then we continued to discuss what we should do over the next days. We
decided to continue our struggle by peaceful and non-violent means. Then
we left to go back to our hostel. Before we went back, we made wreaths
for the death.
There was a bloodstain, I am not sure if it was Ko Phone Maw’s or Ko
11
Soe Naing’s. We decided to make star-shaped block, and we collected bullets
and shirts with blood on them, then we saluted them.
The next morning, we went round the school, to the female hostel,
and then round the school again holding the wreaths. In a meantime, our
teacher requested us not to go out from the campus. We said we wouldn’t.
We went round the school quietly without chanting or speaking. When we
entered the main hall, we saluted the star-shaped block mausoleum. We got
back to where we belonged and decided we would do it again the next day.
After that, I took a risk and went back my hostel, although I was scared of
being arrested outside the campus. There were some riot police outside the
campus holding police truncheons and shields, and it looked like they were
ready to attack potential demonstrators. They blocked the road.
When I got back to the hostel, some senior students came and talked
with me. They said they were hiding in their hall, and that they hadn’t gone
to school on the night of Ko Phone Maw’s killing. They suggested that I
should go away from there.
I complained, asking them what I had done wrong. I told them we had
peacefully shown our wishes without using any violent means, and we planned
to do it again the next day. However, they explained the potential dangers to
me if I dared to do this: I might be killed, arrested, have to go underground
or at least be dismissed from the school. When I said I was not afraid to
die, be arrested, have to go underground or be dismissed from the school
they suggested to me that I went away from there as soon as possible. Our
hostel hall tutor also suggested that I should go away as soon as possible.
So we went back to
Ko Soe Naing and Myat Aung hand- my native town.
A few days lat-
cuffed to police. Then our friends were er, my friend who
moved to a criminal ward . . . went to Rangoon
General Hospital
along with Ko Soe Naing and Myat Aung returned from Rangoon. He told
us what he saw at the hospital. On the morning of March the 14th, he went
out to a tea shop. Then returned to the hospital where he saw many police,
and Ko Soe Naing and Myat Aung handcuffed to police. Then our friends
were moved to a criminal ward in the hospital and he became afraid and
returned to school. Later, we heard that Ko Soe Naing was dead.
12
 I went to school when it resumed. There I heard that Myat Aung
had been released and that he was allowed to continue studying.
Our Burmese opposition have declared the 13th of March to be Bur-
ma Human Rights Day. I think we should hold a ceremony every year. We
should not forget this day.
I would like to tell our new generation, that the SPDC is trying to hide
the truth. For instance, they changed the name of RIT into Yangon Tech-
nology University. This was done to attempt to conceal history; our respon-
sibility is to reveal the true history. We should hold a Burma Human Rights
Day ceremony every year. We should salute those who have died struggling
for democracy. Our new student generation inside Burma should know the
truth of what happened on the 13th of March, 1988.

13
One 88-Generation student recounted what
happened during 1988 uprising
Ko Min Zaw

I am Min Zaw, in 1988 I was

studying at RIT majoring in me-
chanical engineering as a fourth
year student, I lived at Hostel “C”.
On March 13, while we sat at a tea
shop in front of our school, we
were discussing how should we
response to the quarrel which was
occurred last night and some stu-
dents were beaten ordinary people.
We separated two groups, the first group which included 10 students went
to the tea shop where students were beaten last night, the second group fol-
lowed the first group after fifteen minutes, I was belonged to second one.
When I arrived there, students were throwing stone to the teashop. When
Students heard about it, more students marched into the ward from the
school. Students asked the ward’s authority to handover the person who
beat the student yesterday in a mean while the ward was black out. When
they were talking, one ordinary person suddenly popped up and cracking
with a knife to a student, so students withdrew from the ward, the ordinary
people chased the student with knife and stick.
“On the first night, through words of mouth among students, we heard
about a student being hit. Some of us formed small groups and went to the
place where the student was hit. We were waiting and contemplating how
we should take action for our student. Our main demand was to release the
person who hit our student on the very first day.
Just as we left the East Jo-Gone Ward, someone set fire to the coopera-
tive enterprise in that area. We did not know who did it. I was already on
the main road of Insein when that happened. Some students also attempted
to set fire to Burmese Paramedical Institute (BPI) but were unsuccessful as
they could not enter the compound.
Afterwards, one fire engine came to extinguish the fire at the coopera-
14
tive enterprise. As soon as it entered the road in front of our school, one
student threw a stone at it. Its front glass was shattered and it retreated im-
mediately from the area.
Later, more fire engines came into the school compound and used fire
hose to break up the students’ crowd. However, the students made fun of
them and some students threw stones at the fire engines. The other side also
retaliated by throwing back stones.
Soon after, we heard the sound of gun shots. At that time, I was in front
of our university. Upon seeing the uniformed soldiers with guns coming
into the school, I ran back towards the main building of my school. They
seemed to be carrying both guns and tear gas. It was my first time experi-
encing how it is like to be attacked with tear gas. My eyes were sore and tears
rapidly streamed down my face. It was a terrible feeling.
I also saw Ko Phone Maw lying unconscious after being hit by a bullet at
the stomach area. There was so much blood. His lips had even turned blue
from losing so much blood. Apart from him, I also saw my friend, Ko Myint
Oo, being dragged away by other students after he was shot at. My friend
and I went towards the area near the school canteen to look for a doctor but
lying unconscious after being hit by a all the houses there
had their lights
bullet at the stomach area. There was turned off. Feel-
ing frustrated, we
so much blood. His lips had even turned looked for whatev-
er weapon that we
could find and only managed to get a small cooking-knife. While holding it,
we felt our tears on our faces. Whether it was because of the tear gas or the
anger that we felt at our students being killed, we could not differentiate.
One thing for sure is that, that day will always be memorable for us.
It has been 20 years since that day. During that time, there was no stu-
dents’ union, no coalition group, and no political party. As such, it was not
surprising that an uprising started by students, would have a certain level of
violence and unpredictability. It would have been impossible for the events
to unfold in a supposedly sequential order. At that time, there were no stu-
dent leaders and all of us were simply students. If you look at the case of
Ko Phone Maw, he was just an ordinary student, not a student leader. How-
ever, he was turned into a hero and that significant turn of event eventually
15
became an example of courage for future democracy uprisings.
On the night of 14th, at around 8 PM, many students gathered along
the road connecting the main building and hostels, and chose 3 suicide-lead-
ers. I can’t recall all the names though I vaguely remember a name like Nay
Myo Aung, whom I think was from Mandalay.
On the next day, we went around the school compound, telling every-
one that our students had been killed and urged them to participate in the
protest. Some of the student delivered political speeches. I remember this
guy by the name of Ko Than Dote. He was full of guts.
Before being part of this 1988 uprising, I had no idea about politic.
After I passed 10th standard, I even tried to enter military academy but
failed to pass the entrance exam as I was underweight. My parents were
both teachers and did not have any political liaison.
When I was in university, I even attended University Corp Training
and knew how to use the gun.
Currently, as you know, I am only a student-rebel.
(Interview with Ko Min Zaw/ Translated by Gyittu)
(Photo: http://www.monywa.org/exrit/YIT/page_01.htm)

16
13 March day is the Symbol of 8888, But ...
Ko Myo Win

My name is Myo Win. In 1988 I was studying at RIT as a final year stu-
dent, majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
On the evening of March the 13th, 1988, I was chatting with my
friends at a tea shop. One of them told us that students were gathering to
go back to the ward to ask the ward authorities to take action against some
people who had beaten up a student.
I went back to my hostel because I heard that my friends were looking
for me, but I didn’t see anyone at the hostel. I watched TV alone. Then one
of my friends came and told me that some students were surrounded and
being attacked in the ward, so I went out with him to where the riot was
occurring. It was about 8 o’clock.
At that time, there were not too many students there. We organized
ourselves as well as we could. When we took to the street, we saw some
students who had escaped. A car which belonged to one of our school staff
was driving out from the ward. In it were some students who had been in-
jured in the riot. A student shouted from the car that some other students
were surrounded at the ward, and we should go and help them. When we
heard this, we reacted without thinking, picked up bricks and sticks, and
went to the ward.
When we arrived at the riot, students and members of the public were
throwing stones at each other. Some students got injured. We send those
who got injured to
friends came and told me that some Insein hospital. We
saw many injured
students were surrounded and being
students. We left
attacked in the ward, them at the hospi-
tal and went back
to the school. By then, there was already a roadblock, and there were no
buses. When we met with soldiers with barricades, they questioned us, but
we gave our explanations and were allowed to go back to the school.
When we got back to the RIT complex, we saw the riot police, fire fight-
ers and ward council members positioned on the Insein Road; and soldiers
positioned at Thamaing junction and Insein BOC bus stop. High-ranking
17
officials from the Ministry of Education also arrived. In the meantime, the
riot police tried to disperse the crowd using fire hoses, but they targeted
only the students rather than the public so we got angry.
They could not disperse the crowd. They used tear-gas, while the riot
police fired guns at the school complex. They climbed into the school com-
plex, and occupied the school.
At that time, I was standing at near a water fountain. Ko Phone Maw
was near the grass, facing the riot police. He was shot, and died on the spot.
As I remember, some students got injured. They were Soe Naing, (who died
on the 5th of May, 1988), and Myint Oo. That is all I remember of the night
when Ko Phone Maw was killed.
After the shooting and tear-gas had stopped, we went back to our hostel
in the car which took Ko Soe Naing to the hospital. I had planned to go
along with my friends to the hospital but in the end I didn’t. That was lucky
for me, because one of our teachers, and some of our friends who went to
take Ko Soe Naing to the hospital, got arrested.
We built a mausoleum where Ko Phone Maw’s blood had stained the
ground overnight. We didn’t sleep, but made a pamphlet, and discussed jus-
tice and revealing
friends came and told me that some the truth. Military
personnel were
students were surrounded and being
still positioned op-
attacked in the ward, posite the grass.
All the gates were
blocked. I am not sure if we formed a committee or not. Some witnesses
told us about their recent experiences.
The next day, on March the 14th, we held a demonstration. We walked
around the campus as our teachers would not allow us to go out. The mili-
tary personnel had withdrawn from the complex, but the roads were still
blocked. We discussed how to respond to the government action.
The Burmese Broadcasting Service announced that Phone Maw had
died during a clash between the students and members of the public. The
BBC (Burmese service) also made the same announcement. This made us
angry, and we demanded that our rector reveal the true story. He replied to
us that though he knew the truth, he could not do anything. We decided we
would do it ourselves.
18
 We gave speeches; - I can’t remember who gave the speeches - we de-
cided that we would never give up this cause; we chose leaders; if our lead-
ers were to die, some of our followers would replace them. Our registry
signed a statement that said Phone Maw was shot dead. We copied the letter
and distributed it to other university campuses. We formed a Phone Maw
funeral service committee. I was one of the committee members. On March
the 15th, the roads were reopened. Some students from other universities
came to RIT. We collected money for Phone Maw’s tomb. We got a lot of
money.
At midday on the 15th of March, soldiers took up position again in
front of the school and surrounded us. Some students tried to escape. We
discussed what we should do as the military prepared to invade the school.
We decided we would probably be arrested when they came in.
At 3pm, the authorities used a loud speaker to tell us not to fight back.
We were surrounded and our teachers knew that the military would soon
enter the complex. Some teachers tried to help us to escape. They asked a
member of the public to show us the way. We followed him, and were able
to manage to escape.
I think students launched the demonstration for many reasons. The kill-
ing of Ko Phone Maw was an immediate cause, but even before he was
killed, there had been some political activity on the campus. In 1987, a stu-
dent had quarreled
killing of Ko Phone Maw is an with staff from the
immediate cause, but even beofre he government sav-
ings bank when he
was killed, there had been some . . . went to withdraw
money. He was one
of our friends. He was just given a warning by the school authorities, but a
rumor got up that had been dismissed from the university. Some students
planned to demand that he be allowed to remain, but we informed the stu-
dents that it wasn’t true, that he hadn’t been kicked out of the university. We
were also worried that the time was not yet right to take up political activity
on the campus.
One student was well aware that the BSPP wasn’t managing the country
well. Even Ne Win himself confessed that his socialist economy was not
working, and that it might be necessary to change things. After the BSPP
19
demonetization, this student organized a committee to ask the government
for compensation. He encouraged us to form a committee. We asked the
school authorities for compensation, and to postpone the examinations, but
the education authority refused our demands. As a result, we started a dem-
onstration, and marched to Thamaing Township. The Thamaing junction
was blocked, so we went back to school. The next day, the school closed.
The school re-opened in December and we took the exam. At that time,
when some students were trying to form student unions, we got letters from
Rangoon University and Mandalay University which stated that they already
formed student unions. I got a letter. We planned activities to start to or-
ganize the students on National Day, but we were not successful. We tried
again on the night of the last exam. We turned off the lights and shouted
by way of demonstration.
Another reason was that the Lanzin Youth leadership training used to
be held at Rangoon University, but the authorities planned to hold it at RIT,
and decorate the hostels, roads, and parkland etc. Waiters were forced to
take a medical check, and those who passed were able to serve in the Lanzin
Youth. We got angry because we assumed it was an insult to us, so we broke
all the new windows on the last night of the examinations.
The Ko Phone Maw affair followed former affairs. When many
people talk about the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, they only concentrate
on the clash between the public and students on March the 13th. In fact,
there were many reasons for the occurrence of the “Four Eights Affair”.
However, I honestly didn’t know too much about politics at that time. I
became involved in politics because of some of my friends.
(Interview with Ko Min Zaw/ Translated by Gyittu)

20
 Matyrs Some famous Freedom Fighters who
were killed by the authority

Bo Aung Kyaw
(December 22, 1938/ 1:30 p.m/ Judson College)
During the third university boycott, on De-
cember the 20th, 1938, students gathered since
early morning at the RUSU building. There were
26 buses in front of the building, many people
didn’t know yet that the ABSU leaders planned
to defy act 144. At 8.15, Ko Hla Shwe gave a
speech to the students and said, “Your facial
expression are very patriotic and nationalistic, I
believe that you are ready to give your right arm
for our cause. You seem don’t care if you are
killed or jailed. I believe your zeal. Today we will
defy the government’s unjust law. Don’t bring
a needle - we won’t use even a needle as a weapon.” The students were
very excited and shouted “Let’s go now”. There were 8,000 students. They
marched downtown. In fact, the students didn’t know where they were go-
ing; it was still a secret. Only EC members knew the plan. When the stu-
dents were at the Government Secretariat building and encircling it, the
students realized their leaders’ plan. The students stood around the office
so that no one could enter or leave.
The British forces didn’t know how to handle it, and they looked ludi-
crous. Students were shouting “We shall overcome”, and “We are the mas-
ters of our country” etc. When the Police Commissioner gave an order to
the police to disperse the crowd, the police dragged them and kicked them
with their boots. Some students were injured and some were angry, but stu-
dent leaders warned that they should be patient and not fight back in any
way, warning them not to turn to violence.
At 10 am, the police encircled the students. At 11 o’clock, deputy com-
missioner U Po Sa came and the police withdrew within half an hour. Many
people came and provided food and water etc for the students. Later, the
21
students decided to return Rangoon University, and departed from the of-
fice. However, they came across the police on the way to the University, and
the police wouldn’t allow the students to go forward. There was tension be-
tween the students and the police. The students tried to pass by the police,
but were beaten with batons. Members of the public who were watching
and supporting the students were also beaten by the police. The police ruth-
lessly rained blows on the students. Many students fell to the ground. Some
tried to run away from there and escape, but they were chased and beaten to
death by police. Many people and students were injured, including Ko Aung
Kyaw. His head was smashed by a police truncheon. Later he was died of
his injuries. After he died, he was called “Bo Aung Kyaw”. He was the first
student to be killed by the police in Burmese history.

22
Herry Tan
(March, 22 1956/ 16 years old/ Saint Paul School)
In 1956, 7th-grade students were taking government examinations. Af-
ter they had taken four courses, they realized that the exam questions had
been ‘leaked’. One of the questions was published in “Burma Khit”, a Bur-
mese newspaper, but the government didn’t take any action. On March the
22nd, the authorities made a surprise announcement that the exam results
were disallowed on the grounds that a question had been published in the
newspaper. When students heard about it, some students were crying. They
had studied for a whole year, and now it was to be abolished. They decided
to call a strike and marched to the office of the Education Commissioner,
then to the Burma Khit newspaper’s office which was already protected
by police. Later, both Pasi Mya Maung, who was a judge from the Eastern
district of Rangoon, and ABFSU leaders arrived there. ABFSU leaders ne-
gotiated with the authorities asking them not to use force to disperse the
students, who were only 12 to 13 years old. They said they would take care
of the students. The judge agreed. However, he suddenly ordered the police
to shoot students. ABFSU leaders requested them not to do it, but they did.
One student, Herry Tan (16 years old) , was killed in the shooting. It was
the first time a Burmese parliamentary government had killed a student.
Student unions such as ABFSU and RUSU demanded the establishment of
a committee to investigate the event. On March the 23rd, 1956, the govern-
ment established a committee to investigate the event. To lessen students’
resentment, the U Nu government let all 7th-grade students pass the exam.
The event is popularly known as “Herry Tan” event in Burmese history.

23
Salai Tin Maung Oo
(June 26, 1976)
“Comrades! They are killing me without let-
ting the people know.” “I shall never kneel
down under your military boots”
The historic testimonial words of Tin Maung
Oo, a student leader of Rangoon University’s
demonstration (1974-75).
January the 3rd, 1974: Salai Tin Maung Oo
gave an impressive and moving speech about the
importance of unity, especially during critical
times. After that he was unanimously appointed
General Secretary of the CLCC, Chin Literature
and Cultural Committee.
June the 6th, 1974: The Socialist Constitution’s Article 9 led six months
later to the provocation of general worker’s strikes to challenge the consti-
tution. The Burmese Army responded with gunfire on June the 6th and 7th,
killing workers and students.
When the former Secretary General of the United Nations, U Thant
died in New York, his remains were flown back to Rangoon to be buried
there according to his last wishes. Salai Tin Maung Oo, led a people’s dem-
onstration movement, out of respect for U Thant.
December the 5th, 1974: Hundreds of students marched towards Kyai-
kasan stadium to pay their last respects to U Thant. Among the mourners
were Buddhist monks. Ko Kyi Win, Salai Tin Maung Oo, and other student
leaders announced that U Thant’s funeral procession was to be taken over
by the students and honoured with a mausoleum and an official state fu-
neral.
After the U Thant affair, he went to underground. He established an
underground student union, underwent military training in the liberated
area of the Parliamentary Democracy Party, and then returned to Rangoon
where he was arrested, and sentenced to death. He was hanged on June
the26th, 1976 at the infamous Insein prison. He is the only student to be
hanged by the government in Burmese political history.
(Source: www.chinforum.org/PUBS/TMOEng.pdf)

24
Win Maw Oo
(September 19, 1988/ 16 yrs old/ S.H.S 2, Latha)

Win Maw Oo was a high-school student who was shot dead by Burmese
soldiers during the 1988 student protests. She was one of the hundreds of
protestors killed in Rangoon after the military coup of the 18th of Septem-
ber, 1988. “I got a phone call from the hospital. She was still conscious at
the time,” Win Maw Oo’s father, Win Kyu, recounted how he learnt of his
daughter’s fate. “She gave them the names of her father and mother, and
home address and telephone number. At the hospital, after the operations,
she was put in the intensive-care room. She was unconscious. I had to go to
retrieve her body from a doctor. I asked the cause of her death. The doctor
told me it was due to shrapnel wounds. Only then was I able to retrieve her
body. I was told to bury her within 24 hours. I also had to sign a pledge say-
ing that she was not involved in [political] activities. Her younger sisters and
brothers weren’t able to see her when we buried her. At the funeral, there
were only 25 people at most. We had to do it behind locked doors.”
“I still miss my daughter every day,” says Win Maw Oo’s mother, Khin
Htay Htay Win. “Today, I want to cry the way my daughter cried. They said
that they shot in the air, but they aimed straight at her. That’s why she died
straight away. In my heart, I know my daughter did it for her country; she
gave up her life for the country.”
(Source: http://hamarashakespeare.com/personalities.html)
(Photo: dvb.no, Burma’s Revolution of the Spirit)

25
Thet Paing Soe
(September 27, 2007/ 16 yrs/ NLD Youth)

Maung Thet Paing Soe (aka) Ka-Lar-Ma-Gyi, participated in the Saffron

revolution, led by the monks. On the 10th day of Saffron revolution, Thet
Paing Soe carried a T-shirt that said “Free Aung San Su Kyi” and walked
among the front row of marching protestors. When they reached in front
of Tar Mway High School No. (3), the soldiers from Battalion 66 used vio-
lence to break up the crowd. As a result, Thet Paing Soe was hit by a bullet
at left temple area and died on the spot. The soldiers kicked his dead body
into the drain after taking his money and bag.
Thet Paing Soe was from Daw Pone Township and was the youngest
son of U Myint Win and Daw Aye Pyone. He was only 15 years old and 4
months at the time of death. He was a student at Daw Pone High School
No. (1) and had to quit school due to family’s financial difficulties. He was
also an active member of NLD Youth wing in Daw Pone Township.
(Source: Aryone Thit Newsletter/ Jan 4, 2008/ Pg.9)

26
Ko Ko Win
(October 24, 2007/ 21 yrs)
After 1962, there have been numerous de-
mocracy movements in Burma and the military
regime has used brutal methods to suppress all
the uprisings. As a result, many lives have been
sacrificed.
During the recent September uprising,
also popularly known as the Saffron Revolu-
tion, many ordinary people turned into heroes.
Among them was Ko Ko Win, 21 years old,
the eldest son of U Htay U and Daw Win Win
Myint from South Oakkalapa Township, Ran-
goon. Ko Ko Win was actively involved in the
Saffron Revolution alongside the monks. On the 27th of September, 2007,
he was brutally beaten by the police (lone-htane) at the foot of the Shwe
Da Gone Pagoda and received serious injuries to the head, shoulders and
chest.
Though he was given medical treatment at a nearby clinic from the 30th
of September to the 14th of October, his condition did not improve. He
was then sent to Thin Gan Kyun Hospital for treatment, but eventually died
from his head injuries on the 3rd of November, 2007.
When will Burma obtain its freedom? Until then, it seems inevitable that
more lives will have to be lost.
(Source: Aryone Thit Newsletter/ Jan 4, 2008/ Pg.9)
 The ribbon is a symbol of
sorrow. It was used at the first
anniversary of the 7th of July
affair. On July the 7th, 1962,
the historic Student Union
building was demolished
with dynamite by the Ne Win
military regime. As a result, many students
died and it became popularly known as the
7th of July affair. Similarly, in 1988,
during the “Four Eights Affair”, many
students who were campaigning for
democracy, human rights, freedom, peace
and justice were killed by the authorities.
We have also used the ribbon as a symbol
of sorrow for those who were killed by the
authorities in the 1988 pro-democracy
uprising.

Please show your

solidarity with Black
Ribbon!