Junta oppression remembered

Myanmar's bloody "8-8-88" uprising remembered in Thailand and Philippines on the 20th anniversary.

It has been exactly 20 years since Myanmar's military junta crushed the popular uprising on the 8th of the 8th month 1988.

The people of Myanmar wanted democracy.

But instead 3,000 people lost their lives - and 20 years later the military are still in control.

The population has barely protested since.

But the 20th anniversary was marked by protesters in Manila in the Philippines.

They held a picture of of detained opposition leader Aun San Suu Kyi as they marched through the streets.

They also attacked China's support of the Myanmar's junta by carrying a mock Olympic torch with the word "freedom" written on it.

SOUNDBITE: Amnesty International Philippines Director Aurora Parong saying: (English)

"It's really very ironic that on the day that the Burmese people took up an uprising to fight against human rights violations, then there is the Beijing Olympics which is supposed to be a crowning glory for China, but China supports the Burmese government which continues to violate rights of people."

Protesters also gathered in Bangkok.

More than a hundred Burmese who had fled during the 1988 crackdown were amongst the activists.

A Myanmar national flag was burnt as protesters carried banners saying "we won't forget, we won't give up"

Again China was criticised for its support of Myanmar's leadership.

SOUNDBITE: Julian D. Pieniazek, protester, saying: (English)

"China is also the strongest supporter of the Burma regime and for that reason, we want to pressure, we want to publicise this. Show what their support is doing. It absolute reduce the country to a dreadful state."

Amnesty International reports that more than two thousand political prisoners remain jailed in Myanmar.

Political leader Aung San Suu Kyi who won an election in 1990 has spent much of the intervening years under house arrest.

While protesters in the outside world called for her release, in Myanmar military authorities imposed tight security in the main city Rangoon targeting anyone wanting to mark the anniversary.

Penny Tweedie, Reuters.