ZogamNuam

Memorial March for the fallen heroes of the Saffron Revolution

10 November 2007, Hamburg.

Photo Albums : http://www.flickr.com/photos/freeburma/

A memorial march for the fallen heroes of the Saffron Revolution was held in Hamburg Saturday. The event was organized by the Burma Action Group – Hamburg, made up of the Burmese Community residing in this city, in cooperation with the Amnesty Internationl and the Solidarity Committee for Burma, formed up by young German cosmopolitans in Hamburg.

The march started from the Central Railway Station at 5:30 pm and the marchers walked through the down town main streets of Mockebergstrasse and Jungfernstieg and ended at the Gansemarkt around 6:15 pm, where prayer services and wreath laying for the victims of Burma’s recent democracy movement are held. The marchers number around 80 people made up of members of the three organzations mentioned above and students from the Hamburg University. Some members of Vietnam Reform Party belonging to a Vietnamese exile group also take part in the event.

The memorial march was led by a Burmese monk Ashin Sopaka who recites prayers in Pali and Burmese with the marchers following slowly behind him. Torsten Wilde of the Amnesty International followed from behind the crowd in a car by expalining the well-wishers and pedestrians about the event and about the Saffron revolution in Burma. The marchers carry at the fore front a banner written in German: “TRAUERMARSCH fur die gefallene Helden der Saffron Revolution in Burma” / Myanmar and one big poster of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Upon arriving Ganzemarkt Ashin Sopaka, Torsten Wilde, U Franky Zaw Min Tun and U George Khan gave speeches. The participants lay wreath and sign the condolence book in a temporary tent constructed by the BAG. Near the tent is a candle lighted decoration of the word FREE BURMA. Donations are collected to support Ashin Sopaka in his global campaign
for Free Burma. Ashin Sopaka and U Franky Zaw Min Tun lead the Buddhist and Chrisitan prayer services respectively.

The participants also launch a Petition to Mr. Ban Ki Mon, the General Secretary of the United Nations titled: Global Campaign for Justice in Burma.
(see: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/04065569 )

At around 7:45 pm Daw Christine Pum thanks all the participants and announces the successful completion of the march and prayer serivices.

The organizers vacate the site at 8:00 pm.

Related posts:

1. International bloggers are preparing an action to support the peaceful revolution in Burma.
2. Free Burma – Demostration in Hamburg
3. Aufruf zu Friedensmarsch und Kundegebung am 27.Oktober in Berlin
4. Keynote – Strategy Paper read by Salai Kipp.