Protest groups in Yinmabin Township, Sagaing Region, organized a public movement on June 17 to commemorate the 80th birthday of democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Local residents, youth, and members of protest groups joined together in the movement, holding photos of Aung San Suu Kyi and gathering peacefully to show their support. The participants conducted prayers and expressed their wishes for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners who remain detained under the military dictatorship.
During the event, participants also prayed collectively for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar and the achievement of justice and freedom that the Myanmar people have been yearning for. Yinmabin Township has been a consistent center of anti-coup activities, and despite the military council’s violent crackdowns on democratic protests, the people have remained steadfast in their resistance. The public movement demonstrated the continued solidarity of local communities in their struggle for democracy, even in the face of ongoing oppression by the military regime.
Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained since the military coup on February 1, 2021, and is currently being held in Naypyidaw Prison. She has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison on multiple charges, while the people continue to fight for her release. Activists say that commemorative events like this birthday celebration help maintain the momentum of the people’s struggle for democracy. The movement in Yinmabin Township reflects the unwavering spirit of Myanmar’s people in their pursuit of democratic rights and freedoms, despite the ongoing challenges and persecution they face under military rule.
