19th Anniversary of the 8888 Pro-Democracy Uprising Day Held in Finland

_ by Thant Zin Htun

The 19^th Anniversary of the 8888 Pro-Democracy Uprising Day was held in Ranta Toivala, Kuopio , Finland on 5 August 2007. A bout 230 people from Burma – including Karen, Karenni, Shan, Pa-O, Pa Down, Rohinja and Burman – living in the different parts of Finland participated in the 8888 commemoration ceremony.

It is the biggest 8888 uprising ceremony ever held in Finland . Especially youths were seen actively participating in the event. Most of them were born just before and after the 8888 uprising. It is a clear indication that the struggle for democracy for Burma remains strong nationally and internationally and is vigorously running from generation to generation until its full achievement despite the fact that it has been 19 years since the start of the uprising in 1988.  

People from Burma arrive in Finland under the different situations, but they are now standing together in front of the historic fighting peacock flag, shouting the slogans – “Down with the military dictatorship. We want democracy” – by throwing their fists into the air. The mood of the large crowd who gathered to honour and pay tribute to the fallen democracy heroes during the 8888 uprising is overwhelmed by the 8888 spirit that holds all the nationalities of Burma together to achieve and strive for the common cause for democracy.