Secretariat, Bogyoke Aung San Museum jammed with visitors on Martyrs’ Day

Thousands observed the 71st Martyrs’ Day yesterday at the Secretariat, the colonial-era building where Myanmar’s national hero General Aung San was assassinated in 1947, along with eight other martyrs.

A throng led by Yangon Mayor U Maung Maung Soe gathered at the monument, where the names of the Martyrs were inscribed, and observed two minutes of silence at 7am as the flag was lowered to half-mast in tribute to the fallen martyrs.

The room where General Aung San and his fellow Martyrs were assassinated were shown to the public through CCTV. The building, which is more than 100 years old, is in the process of being restored.

A picture of the room, complete with tables and chairs arranged as they were at the time of the assassination, 71 years ago, was also shown to visitors.

The Parliament building in the same compound was opened to visitors. The building will be open to the public until 21 July.

Meanwhile, the General Aung San Museum in Bahan Township was also crowded with visitors yesterday.

During the three-day special opening to public, from 19 to 21 July, to mark the 71st Martyrs’ Day, the public was not allowed to visit the first floor of General Aung San’s residence as the historic house could not withstand the weight and constant foot traffic of the crowds.

The rooms on the first floor were shown on an LED board in the compound of the house.

Officials said the public will be permitted to visit the first floor of the residence after 21 July.

The building, which is 97 years old, is structurally too weak to support a large number of visitors. The historic building will be renovated in the 2018-2019 Fiscal Year.

Hein Htet Lin

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar