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MIN KO NAING "Conqueror of Kings" |
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After the rare and defiant protests, Min Ko Naing and his fellow students went into hiding and began to organize students. "Once schools are reopened we must be ready to demonstrate again," Min Ko Naing told his friends who were also members of the underground group.
As anticipated, the government reopened universities and colleges in June. Student activists including Min Ko Naing immediately began distributinganti-government leaflets on campuses urging students to take part in the student movement. |
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About the same time, the country's economic situation went from bad to worse. Gen Ne Win's "Burmese Way to Socialism" was a total failure. Meanwhile, news of young students who were tortured in Insein prison spread all over the country. The Burmese people were completely fed up with the Gen. Ne Win government.
Back on the campuses, Min Ko Naing students were organizing protests and gaining momentum. This time, Min Ko Naing had a chance to show his artistic skill. |
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He drew a large poster reminding people of the student demonstrations in March and riot police's bloody treatment. In the picture, a young female student was being beaten near the Inya Lake. The young girl was on the ground with a riot police hitting her over the head with a club. Blood was everywhere. In the background, students were running in terror while some fell down to the ground.
The caption below the drawing said: "Don't forget March 16th. If we are cowed into submission and fail to rise up this time, then the country will be ruled by even more repressive rulers in the future." |
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On 12 June 1988, two copies of the posters were shown at busy streets and tea shops in the RASU campus. Many students went to see Min Ko Naing's posters. Impressed by the drawing, the crowd turned into a peaceful gathering and students began to give speeches. They demanded the release of fellow activists and the
reinstatement of students who had been expelled from universities for political reasons.
The demonstrations continued for a week until the government ordered theclosure of all universities and colleges again. |
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Min Ko Naing went underground, but he held several clandestine meetings in Rangoon and linked up with other student activists. They then dispatched students to travel all over the country and meet with villagers, monks, students and workers. They explained the importance of the March and June events and set up networks with provincial student groups. They were convinced that something would happen in the near future.
In July, at the BSPP's emergency congress, the government surprised students and people by releasing student activists. Gen. Ne Win also resigned, but his loyal supporter, Gen. Sein Lwin became the president of Burma. |
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As Sein Lwin was generally disliked by the people of Burma, protests led by students broke out in cities and provincial towns. Ne Win's resignation did not mean a change of the system; thus, a day after detained students were set free, on 8.7.88, Min Ko Naing and his fellow students issued a statement saying "we shouldn't be swayed by the release of our fellow students. We will continue to fight.". In fact, that was the first time Paw Oo Tun officially took the name of Min Ko Naing "Conqueror of Kings."
The statement was issued under the name of All Burma Federation of Students Unions [ABFSU], which was outlawed since 1962. |
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Under British rule, the ABFSU was actively involved in Burmese national politics. Leaders of ABFSU became national independence heroes and the state leaders. However, student activism was brutally put down when Gen. Ne Win came into power. The historic Union building was also demolished in 1962. Undoubtedly, the re-emergence of the ABFSU was a formidable challenge to the Ne Win government. The name was an auspicious name in the fight against Gen. Ne Win, a bad "King" of Burma. |
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Seeing that the timing was right, Min Ko Naing issued four statements targeting different sectors in Burmese society and urged them not to forget how they were suffering under military oppression. The ABFSU statements were widely distributed throughout the country.
On 14 July 1988, the second statement was distributed in response to the BSPP's emergency congress that was held on the 12 of July. The statement likened the congress to a magic show, which was merely intended to divert people's discontent and hatred against the BSPP. Small protests broke out in provinces. The situation became more explosive. |
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On 21 July 1988, Min Ko Naing's third statement was issued in response to religious riots in Taunggyi, Shan State in eastern Burma. The reason was that the BSPP was believed to be behind the religious riots between Muslims and Buddhists. Thus, Min Ko Naing's statement called on the people to tolerate and acknowledge the different religions.
Three days later, as the military was preparing to crackdown on the growing political gatherings in Rangoon and other cities, Min Ko Naing issued a fourth statement urging military personnel to support the pro-democracy movement and side with the people. |
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The statement also reminded the soldiers of what General Aung San, an independence hero and father of pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, said about the military. "Gen. Aung San told the Tatmadaw that its role is to protect the people of Burma and to defend the country from foreign invasion. Tatmadaw must not oppress its own people."
The ABFSU statements signed by Min Ko Naing were broadcast by foreign radio stations and well received by the people. ABFSU statements were powerful and encouraged people in Burma to challenge the one-party rule. As a result, the military intelligence also started looking for Min Ko Naing. The next plan by Min Ko Naing and other student activists was to call for a general strike in August. They later set a deadline for staging a nation-wide demonstration. It was later known as 8888 movement as the mass uprising began on August 8 of 1988. |
