A market ,north of Myanmar ()

Myanmar’s military regime deployed more police officers in Yangon determined to prevent any commemoration of the 21st anniversary of the military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters that left thousands dead.
Visitors to the famous Shwedagon Pagoda were watched by uniformed and plain-clothes officers, easily identifiable by their similar shirts, and the pro-junta thugs on the standby outnumbered tourists. Police trucks patrolled in the city. Other than the intense police presence and the government’s slowdown of internet connection speed, there was no flicker of protest. The memorable day passed like any other in the former capital.
The nation-wide protests against the regime, led by the late strongman Ne Win, were started by students on August 8, 1988. Millions of people, including hundreds of thousands of monks, university students, government servants, housewives doctors and some air force and navy personnel throughout the country, took to the streets, insisting Ne Win go. The nation-wide demonstrations ended on September 18, after a bloody military coup, believed to be ordered by Ne Win. During the uprising, thousands of protesters, mostly Buddhist monks and students were slaughtered by the army.
“We do not forget August 8.We will never forget this very day”, said U Yin Htwe,a lawyer.
”The reason why we remain quiet is because we all are tied up with daily struggle for food ,and we are awaiting the right
U Yin Htwe, a law student then, was one of the students who marched towards armed soldiers at Inya Lake .He said,”Many students were shot dead by riot police that stormed from the rear”.
The 1988 uprising made Suu Kyi a national hero, but the Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been detained for nearly 14 of the past 19 years. She is now awaiting a verdict, due Tuesday, in her trial on charges of breaking the rules of her house arrest.
The New Light of Myanmar, the regime’s mouthpiece, today urged people to cooperate with the government. It said.” “The government and the people have had to work hard together for a long time to make our nation what it is today. Therefore, we can’t let anyone to destroy it”.
A Buddhist monk confirmed the regime’s fear.
He said, “You should wait and see how people and we monks will react if the verdict, due on Tuesday, goes wrong. We have no alternative but to protest and fight back.”
The monk added,” Silence is sometimes dangerous”.