Thirty-five years ago, on August 8, 1988, millions of people in Myanmar demonstrated for an end to years of isolation, lack of democracy, and economic hardship under military rule



The 8888 uprising was started by students in Yangon (Rangoon) on 8 August 1988. Student protests spread throughout the country. Hundreds of thousands of monks, children, university students, housewives, doctors and common people protested against the government. The uprising ended on 18 September after a bloody military coup by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). Thousands of deaths have been attributed to the military during this uprising. while authorities in Burma put the figure at around 350 people killed.

During the crisis, Aung San Suu Kyi emerged as a national icon


1st row: Protesters gathering at Sule Pagoda in central Rangoon.
2nd row: Protesters rallying in Mandalay; Aung San Suu Kyi addresses half a million protesters in central Rangoon.
3rd row: Soldiers preparing to open fire on protesters; Dr Saw Lwin and Dr Win Zaw carrying a critically wounded school girl (Win Maw Oo).[1]




Remembering the 1988 Burma Uprising