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Activist Ko Ko Lay speaks about conflict and resolution in Burma
by Holly Leighton
News | 10/30/07
Posted online at 9:06 PM EST on 10/29/07
/ Last updated at 3:05 AM EST on 10/29/07
Ko Ko Lay, an exiled Burmese activist currently residing in the United States, spoke to an audience of approximately 30 students and guests in the Lurias room of the Hassenfeld Conference Center about the conflict in his home country and the steps that are being taken to find a resolution.
Lay was one of the student leaders who organized an uprising in Burma against the military-dominated Socialist Program Party on August 8, 1988, known as the 8.8.88 Revolution. He was invited by the Southeast Asian Club as part of a weeklong promotional program for the group, which also received support from the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life and the Brandeis Pluralism Alliance for the event.
"We believed it was our duty [to revolt]," Lay said during his speech. "It was time to change, but the regime kept down the movement."
On September 18 of that same year, the Burmese military ended the popular revolution through brute force, killing more than 3,000 students and civilians in the process. Students leaders like Lay were either persecuted or fled the country.
"So many of my friends-the other leaders-have been in solitary and will stay there for the rest of their lives," Lay said. "If I go back, I will be jailed for life."
Lay also spoke about Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Laureate and leader of the non-violent movement for human rights and democracy in Burma who was put under house arrest in May 1990 after the National League for Democracy won an election that would have made Suu Kyi the prime minister. Instead, the militaristic regime intervened and reassumed power.
After the military quelled the 1988 uprising, the organization split into two segments, an inside group and an outside group. Lay is part of the latter, a system of leaders and activists working to educate the world about the movement.
"We have a student army ready to fight back, made up of more than 10,000 students, but it is my job to try to make sure we don't need to use militaristic tactics," Lay said.
Lay was one of the student leaders who organized an uprising in Burma against the military-dominated Socialist Program Party on August 8, 1988, known as the 8.8.88 Revolution. He was invited by the Southeast Asian Club as part of a weeklong promotional program for the group, which also received support from the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life and the Brandeis Pluralism Alliance for the event.
"We believed it was our duty [to revolt]," Lay said during his speech. "It was time to change, but the regime kept down the movement."
On September 18 of that same year, the Burmese military ended the popular revolution through brute force, killing more than 3,000 students and civilians in the process. Students leaders like Lay were either persecuted or fled the country.
"So many of my friends-the other leaders-have been in solitary and will stay there for the rest of their lives," Lay said. "If I go back, I will be jailed for life."
Lay also spoke about Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Laureate and leader of the non-violent movement for human rights and democracy in Burma who was put under house arrest in May 1990 after the National League for Democracy won an election that would have made Suu Kyi the prime minister. Instead, the militaristic regime intervened and reassumed power.
After the military quelled the 1988 uprising, the organization split into two segments, an inside group and an outside group. Lay is part of the latter, a system of leaders and activists working to educate the world about the movement.
"We have a student army ready to fight back, made up of more than 10,000 students, but it is my job to try to make sure we don't need to use militaristic tactics," Lay said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
backhandpath
posted 10/30/07 @ 10:22 AM EST
Hi and thank you for such an excellent article.
As this story seems to want to fade from the larger media, Brandeis continues stand tall for justice by keeping the light on in Burma. (Continued…)
backhandpath
backhandpath
posted 10/30/07 @ 10:25 AM EST
Hi and thank you for such an excellent article.
As this story seems to want to fade from the larger media, Brandeis continues stand tall for justice by keeping the light on in Burma. (Continued…)
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