Third Generation

U Thant Crisis, 1974

This historic event dates back from 1st December 1974 when the casket of U-Thant landed at Mingladon Airport and the final conciliation agreeing to build a memorial place for the state man in 1975. The memorial itself represents the site of an important man. It displays the story about civilians fighting for the respect of certain politicians who have not been regarded as such by the Military regime.

Triggered by the Ne Win’s military government’s refusal to build a memorial and tomb for the former UN General Secretary, the late U Thant, students went on the barricades.

The Military Regime was going to bury U Thant’s body at Kyandaw Cemetery (a commoners cemetry) and only later reluctantly agreed to let the general public show their respect at the ground of Kyaikasan Racing Ground.

The funeral casket was displayed on a stand, and the public was to queue up in many long lines under a brightly shining sun to give the last deserving respect to the famous son of our land. Unfortunately, General Ne Win made a severe mistake on that particular day. Ne Win banned the public from the ground and allowed only the 3000 students from the Rangoon Institute of Technology and the students from Rangoon Arts and Science University, RASU. So the senior students took the rare opportunity to stage the uprising.