NO EASY ROAD: A Burmese Political Prisoner’s Story – Part 2

Report by Paul Pickrem

Wednesday, 30 June 2010 18:57 - Last Updated Saturday, 03 July 2010 06:58

Photo by Paul Pickrem

Graphic Design by Garrett Kostin By August 8, 1988, Thiha Yarzar, the twenty-three year old
political activist and student leader had been appointed secretary of the National Student Union.

On that infamous day the people of Burma confronted the ruling military with a nationwide public
demonstration.

Thiha led the people of Thingangyun Township, where he lived, on a seven-mile march to
downtown Rangoon, carrying anti- government placards.

The soldiers jumped from their trucks and aimed their German made automatic assault
rifles at the demonstrators. Then, without any warning, they fired …
The national and international media hovered to see what would happen. What they witnessed
is marked indelibly on the minds and hearts of the Burmese people and pro-democracy activists
everywhere, forever.

Thiha recalled how the throngs of demonstrators walked into a wall of police and soldiers not

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NO EASY ROAD: A Burmese Political Prisoner’s Story – Part 2

Report by Paul Pickrem

Wednesday, 30 June 2010 18:57 - Last Updated Saturday, 03 July 2010 06:58

long after they reached the area of the government offices near the downtown.

“They blocked the road with military vehicles, including a tank,” he said.

When the people saw the soldiers they slowed down, until they eventually stopped. The soldiers
jumped from their trucks and aimed their German-made automatic assault rifles at the
demonstrators. Then, without any warning, they fired at the people from about 60 meters.

He remembered the crowd on the left of him was in chaos after about seven people fell to the
ground, shot.

People started running toward the soldiers, some out of anger, but some out of fear.

They continued shooting, even as the media watched.

He said he had climbed on top of car and was shouting through a bullhorn to the soldiers to stop
shooting.

As the crowd panicked and started to run away from the soldiers in all directions, they stopped
shooting and ran back to their vehicles.

They left the area when the people dispersed.

“Several friends pulled me off the car I had climbed on and into another vehicle, which drove
away quickly.

“Shooting could be heard all over the city.

“I said, ‘I need to be in the crowd leading the people.’ They said, ‘Look at your right leg.”

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 NO EASY ROAD: A Burmese Political Prisoner’s Story – Part 2

Report by Paul Pickrem

Wednesday, 30 June 2010 18:57 - Last Updated Saturday, 03 July 2010 06:58

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answer
with
Intelligence
7, rage.
pain.
times.
tortured
former will
1991, UNII
the
NO EASY ROAD: A Burmese Political Prisoner’s Story - Part 3
NO EASY ROAD: A Burmese Political Prisoner’s Story – Part 1

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