Myanmar marks "Martyrs' Day" with checkposts and bans
Today is the anniversary of the assassination of the independence leader Aung San and eight of his ministers. The junta has forbidden his daughter, Aung San Suu Kyi and the democratic party from participating in the official ceremony.
Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies) Myanmar today celebrated "Martyrs' Day" amid intensified security measures and a ban on rallies for democratic leaders. On 19 July, the country recalls the assassination in 1947 of General Aung San the father of modern Burma and members of his cabinet.
Numerous sentry posts were set up in and around Yangon after the government last week accused the opposition party the National League for Democracy (NLD) and other dissidents of plotting with "terrorists" to disrupt the annual event.
As per tradition, the official ceremony was held at the Martyrs Mausoleum in the presence of the Minister of Culture and foreign and Burmese dignitaries, together with relatives of the slain leaders. However, the daughter of Aung San and NLD leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, was not there. She has been under house arrest for years. The general's family was represented by the elder brother of the Nobel Laureate, Aung San Oo.
The junta also forbade NLD members from taking part in celebrations in the capital. Yesterday the NLD said it will hold a ceremony anyhow at its headquarters in Yangon. Meanwhile, political activists led by the former student leader, Min Ko Naing led a "peaceful march" to the tomb of the nine "martyrs".
In 1947, General Aung San and eight of his ministers were murdered in an attack attributed to his political rival U Saw. Myanmar, former Burma, attained independence from Britain in 1948 and has been subject to a military regime since 1962.
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17/03/2021 13:08
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