Let Them Finish What They Started

But the regime refused to honor the election results and cracked down on the NLD leaders, most of whom ended up in prison or, in the case of Suu Kyi, under house arrest.

Like the NLD and other pro-democracy groups, students from the '88 generation were crushed and their leaders imprisoned. Several student leaders, including Min Ko Naing, served up to 15 years in prison, but when they were released around 2005, everyone could see that their lengthy imprisonment and suffering in jail had not made them bow their heads to the regime.

After being released, the student leaders formed the 88 Generation Students group and carried on their political activities, steadily gaining political momentum and public support. They launched some effective campaigns, such as the “White Shirt” campaign, and within two years their efforts led to the 2007 Saffron Revolution, which put the plight of the Burmese people in the world spotlight.

As a result, Min Ko Naing and his colleagues were once again thrown behind bars, and are now serving 65-year sentences in remote prisons. Conveniently for the regime, the 88 Generation Students group leaders were all in jail when it held the “election” in 2010, and they remained incarcerated when the new “civilian” government took power.

Tellingly, Suu Kyi was released but the 88 Generation Students group leaders remain in prison. This is a strong indication of who the regime fears most today.

Other student leaders from the '88 generation fled Burma to escape political persecution and imprisonment, but they continue to make a contribution while in exile. Many are the leaders of exile political groups, human rights organizations and media.

Critics say that the ineffectiveness of opposition parties has contributed to the ability of the military rulers to keep their hold on power since 1988. But after 23 years, the former student leaders and their pro-democracy colleagues have managed to keep the flame of democracy burning.

In addition, without the brave efforts and selfless sacrifices of the former students, both in 1988 and beyond, the pro-democracy movement that exists today would not be in place and the advances it has made would not have occurred.

Political parties like Suu Kyi's NLD were officially formed after 1988 and still exist. Civil society groups have more “space” to organize and operate today than they had in the past. Some members of pro-democracy parties, although their numbers are small, now sit in the new Parliament.

But justice has not been achieved for the victims of the '88 movement, and its leaders still languish in jail without any serious pressure being applied to free them by domestic political parties and the international community—especially Western democracies and the UN.

In addition, Burma has yet to see meaningful political change and its current situation does not look promising. The country is still ruled by many of the same ex-generals who staged the bloody coup in 1988 and later became the leaders of one of the world's most notorious regimes.

Unfortunately, in the face of this the leaders of the current political organizations do not seem to be of the same political caliber as the imprisoned leaders of the 88 Generation Students group.

But the spirit of '88 is still alive and the pro-democracy flame is still burning, so it's time for every person and organization with pressure to bear to use their influence to gain the release of those leaders of the 88 Generation Students group who remain in jail.

The student leaders of 1988 should all be allowed to finish the mission they braved bullets to start on the streets of Rangoon, 23 years ago today.