The Irrawaddy Magazine |
| Martyrs’ Day Openly Commemorated by Thousands Nationwide Posted: 19 Jul 2016 06:50 AM PDT  Martyrs' Day Commemoration at Rangoon's Secretariat. (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Burma Army Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing's attendance at the annual commemoration of Martyrs' Day in Rangoon on Tuesday generated hope for restoring relationships in the war-torn country, said representatives from the country's ruling party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). "It's a good sign for national reconciliation," said Nyan Win, one of the party's central executive committee members.  Army chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and parliament speakers pay respect to Gen Aung San and his eight colleagues at the Martyrs' Mausoleum in Rangoon. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy) Min Aung Hlaing was the first army chief to join the annual Martyrs' Day ceremony since after the student-led uprisings of 1988. Proceedings were held at the Martyrs' Mausoleum to honor independence hero Gen Aung San and his eight colleagues, all of whom were assassinated 69 years ago on July 19. The senior-general's presence at the event coincides with efforts by NLD party head and national de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi to coax Burma's powerful military to cooperate within a renewed peace process; the Burmese army has been engaged in conflict with ethnic and other non-state armed groups since shortly after the country's independence from Britain in 1948.  State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also the daughter of Gen Aung San, pays respect to the fallen national heroes. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy) Aside from his appearance at the mausoleum, the army chief also visited Suu Kyi's residence on Tuesday to join a Buddhist merit-making ceremony for the martyrs, reportedly becoming the first-ever army chief to attend an event hosted by Suu Kyi, who is the late Aung San's daughter. Also in attendance were former parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann, NLD patron Tin Oo, and the country's vice president Myint Swe, and Cabinet members.  State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also the daughter of Gen Aung San, pays respect to the fallen national heroes. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy) Tin Oo described the army chief's appearance at Suu Kyi's residence as "strange," yet said it signified "a possible good sign for Burmese politics." Some saw Min Aung Hlaing's attendance at the Martyrs' Day ceremony as a sign that top leaders within the Burmese military are shifting away from the tendency of their predecessors to understate and even ignore Aung San's role in history. Even though he founded the army in which they serve, military leaders have been known to downplay the importance of Martyrs' Day, but with an Aung San Suu Kyi-led government now in power, it appears this practice has come to an end.  Members of the Rangoon Students Union pay respect to Aung San and his fallen colleagues at Rangoon's Secretariat on July 19, Martyrs' Day. (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy) The Secretariat: A Piece of History For the first time in several years, downtown Rangoon's Secretariat building—the site of Aung San and his colleagues' assassination—hosted an official commemorative ceremony as part of Tuesday's proceedings. Rangoon Mayor Maung Maung Soe and executive members of the city's development committee bowed in silence to honor the nine fallen men. "Gen Aung San and the martyrs sacrificed many things for the sake of this country without taking anything back," said Than Myint Aung, one of the members of the Yangon City Development Committee's executive board and the co-founder of the civil society group Free Funeral Service Society (FFSS). "We all are now benefiting from what they have done, and the public and our future generations need to be aware of that," she added.  Visitors are seen at the Martyrs' Mausoleum in Rangoon on July 19, Martyrs Day. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy) On Tuesday, thousands of people crowded the Secretariat to mark the mournful occasion. Hnin Oo Wai, a 28-year-old mother of two, was among them. She told The Irrawaddy that she brought her children—aged eight and five—to explain the significance of the day and to teach them about the martyrs, whose work and memory she felt had been neglected for decades. "My kids have known who Gen Aung San is and who Amay [mother] Suu is since they learned how to speak," Hnin Oo Wai said. "But this building is one of the pieces of historical evidence which can prove that Gen Aung San is our independence hero," she added. As the clock approached 10:37 a.m. on Tuesday, the moment when the martyrs were gunned down, the morning's sunny weather disappeared and the sky cracked open to release a flood of rain. Under the downpour, visitors bowed in silence in the Secretariat's courtyard. The activities of the city were halted for one minute as sirens blared and vehicles honked their horns to acknowledge the anniversary of the tragedy.  Visitors seen at Martyrs' Mausoleum in Rangoon on July 19, Martyrs' Day. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy) Official Commemorations Held Nationwide A separate state-level Martyrs' Day ceremony was held at the Martyrs' Mausoleum in Rangoon's Bahan Township. Joining the commemoration were State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, vice president Myint Swe, speakers of the Parliament, Cabinet members, and surviving family members of Aung San's eight assassinated colleagues.  Visitors are seen at the Martyrs' Mausoleum in Rangoon on July 19, Martyrs' Day. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy) Thousands of visitors gathered at the mausoleum to pay their respects at the location where the martyrs are interred. Authorities demanded that the crowds queue systematically in order to enter the site, while civil society groups and members of the Red Cross Society stood by in case of an emergency.  Visitors are seen at Rangoon's Bogyoke Aung San statue on July 19, Martyrs' Day. (Photo: Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy) Events were also held throughout Rangoon, at Bogyoke Aung San Museum and Bogyoke Park, where thousands more visitors showed up at the venues to participate in the proceedings. Martyrs' Day was commemorated in Burma's capital of Naypyidaw and in other cities across the country's 14 states and divisions.  Mandalay’s chief minister Zaw Myint Maung is seen at the Martyrs' Day commemoration in Mandalay. (Photo: Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy) In Mandalay, an official ceremony was led by Chief Minister Zaw Myint Maung and other military and government officials, including representatives from the Chinese and Indian consular offices. "This ceremony is not only to show our respect to the late martyrs, but to tell our [younger] generations about the spirit of the martyrs, and to take examples from those who worked hard for the good of the country without taking any profit or personal benefits," the Chief Minister told reporters before the ceremony. On the streets of Mandalay, people carrying national flags at half-mast, as well as wreaths and flower arrangements, headed toward the commemorative grounds to honor Aung San and his fallen colleagues. "It was a touching scene to see that we can now commemorate our late leaders more freely than before. We need to keep in mind that only commemorating them today is not enough to show how much we love them," said Hsu Ngat, well-known local author in Mandalay. President Htin Kyaw, who was not present at the ceremony in Rangoon's mausoleum, made offerings to monks in Naypyidaw, along with the first lady Su Su Lwin and other government senior figures, partaking in the Buddhist practice of sharing merit with those who have passed away. (Reporting by Zarni Mann in Mandalay and Tin Htet Paing and Tun Tun in Rangoon) The post Martyrs' Day Openly Commemorated by Thousands Nationwide appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week (July 19) Posted: 18 Jul 2016 09:59 PM PDT
The inaugural Monsoon Poetry Festival features readings and performances by 26 poets and performance artists from all over Burma plus a number of poetry chapbooks. Maung Sangkha, a poet who was imprisoned for defamation against the former president, organized the festival. The admission fee is 3,000 kyats. Where: Yangon Diocesan Office [Anglican Church], near Pegu Club bus stop, between the Russian Embassy & Sein Gay Har Shopping Mall When: Saturday, July 22, 5pm to 9pm
The 9th job fair organized the weekly job advertising medium Opportunity Journal will be held at Tatmadaw Hall in conjunction with talks from scholars and HR consultants about entrepreneurship and management. Where: Tatmadaw Hall, U Wisara Road, Tel: 09-777277978, 09-73121754 When: Friday, July 22 to Sunday, July 24, 9am to 5pm
The second annual Myanmar Youth Micro Film Contest will be held at Myanmar Plaza. Shows run between 1pm and 7pm. Where: Myanmar Plaza, Kabar Aye Pagoda Road When: Saturday, July 23, 1pm to 7pm
These bi-monthly trivia nights are held on the first and third Wednesday of every month. With changing categories that include historical places, pop culture, geography and more, there is sure to be a topic for everyone. Test your skills against Rangoon's most nerdy residents as you and your team compete for trivia glory and a 30,000 kyats prize. Call to secure your seats. Where: Father’s Office, 291 Bo Aung Kyaw Street, Botahtaung Tsp., Tel: 09-450218080 When: Wednesday July 20, 7:30pm to 10pm
A group exhibition showcases more than 70 paintings by approximately 20 artists, with prices for work ranging between US$100 and $1,000. Where: Lokanat Gallery, 62 Pansodan Street, 1st Floor, Kyauktada Tsp., Tel. 095-1382-269 When: Thursday, July 21 to Monday, July 25
In commemoration of the 69th Martyrs' Day anniversary, three artists stage an exhibition entitled 'Unforgotten,' featuring 27 paintings and an installation. All paintings are priced at $150. Where: Cloud 31 Art Gallery, No.49/51, First floor, 31st street, between Merchant Street and Mahabandoola Street When: Tuesday, July 19 to Thursday, July 21
Artist Ohn Khine Zin will display 20 of his works at his third solo show at Cloud 31 Gallery. Prices range from $150 to $500. Where: Cloud 31 Art Gallery, No.49/51, First floor, 31st Street between Merchant Street and Mahabandoola Street. When: Saturday, July 23 to Wednesday, July 27
A group exhibition, featuring 40 artists and more than 200 paintings, will be held at Golden Valley Gallery. Where: Golden Valley Art Center, No. 54/D, Golden Valley, Bahan Tsp., Tel: 01-513621 When: Saturday, July 23 to Saturday, July 30
A group showcase of more than 18 artists will be held at Bogyoke Market, featuring over 50 paintings priced between $300 and $2,000. Twenty percent of the revenue raised will be donated to See Sar Yeik Home for Aged and Ailing Persons. Where: Myanmar Artists and Artisans Association, Bogyoke Market When: Thursday, July 21 to Sunday, July 24
In recognition of Martyrs' Day on July 19, a dramatic performance troop, led by Po Chit and other artists, will stage a drama titled 'I am Aung San' at the National Museum. Ticket prices range from 5,000 to 20,000 kyats with a 50 percent discount for students. Where: National Theater, Myoma Kyaung Street When: Monday, July 18 and Tuesday, July 19, 7:30pm
The post Ten Things to Do in Rangoon This Week (July 19) appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
The Irrawaddy picks 10 interesting events happening in Rangoon this week.
Monsoon Poetry Festival 
Job Fair
Micro Film Contest Promotion Show
Trivia Night at Father’s Office
'Scion' Exhibition
Cloud 31 Gallery Show
'Story of the Memo' Showcase
'Rain' Exhibition in Golden Valley
Artists and Artisans Exhibition
Dramatic Performance Troop| You are subscribed to email updates from The Irrawaddy. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States | |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.