Vigil for Burma to be held in downtown Dallas

by Staff of DFW International

On Friday, August 8, 2008 at 7:00 PM, supporters from around Texas will gather at Dallas City Hall Plaza to show their solidarity with the people of Burma during the 20th anniversary of the pro-democracy protests in Burma. This is the second such event in Dallas supporting the people of Burma; the first being the vigil at Southern Methodist University in October 2007, with over 250 people in attendance.

On August 8, 1988, hundreds of thousands of Burmese led mass protests calling for democracy. These protests were brutally suppressed, with human rights groups estimating over 3000 civilians killed. This event left the Burmese with a legacy to remember, such as the rise of Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy and the world’s only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

However, this legacy is sullied by the Chinese government, a major financier and arms provider to the Burmese military junta; the opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympics is on this very date, 8-8-08. The goal of this vigil is to make 8-8-08 a day for Burma: to remember the 8-8-88 protests and the political prisoners still held to this day; to honor the Saffron Revolution, the most recent display of the Burmese pro-democracy movement; and to aid the victims of Cyclone Nargis, who still remain isolated and largely unaided.

More than 200 Texas citizens from all walks of life will stand for the human rights of the Burmese people. They will commemorate those protesters who languish in prison, those who sacrificed their life for democracy and human rights, and those who continue to survive against all odds in Burma.

To speak to the vigil organizers or to receive more information about the 8-8-08 Global Day of Action, please contact Claire Balani at the number and email above or visit www.uscampaignforburma.org.

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