The 73rd Anniversary of Martyrs’ Day was commemorated at the Secretariat (formerly the Ministers’ Office) where the martyrs were assassinated with a ceremony in Yangon yesterday.

Present at the ceremony were Yangon City Development Committee Chairman Mayor U Maung Maung Soe, committee members, department officials and the Guard of Honour. They saluted the martyrs and observed 2 minutes of silence. Due to COVID-19, this year’s flag-raising ceremony was conducted with only 67 people while about 780 people including students and members of humanitarian organizations participated in previous years.

YCDC Joint Secretary U Than said this year’s Martyrs’ Day ceremony is unlike previous years. It follows directives from the National-Level Central Committee for containing COVID-19 and also from the Ministry of Health and Sports. He said they had to maintain social distancing measures and keep people six feet apart, hence why there were only 67 people this year.

While people were allowed to visit the Secretariat from 19 to 21 July in previous years, the spread of COVID-19 has prevented a similar event from happening this year. Various vehicles honked their horns at 10:37 am across Yangon, about the same hour when Bogyoke Aung San and the martyrs were assassinated, in their honour and observed two minutes of silence. Yangon City Hall also organized an offering of meals in memory of the martyrs. — Nyunt Ko Ko 

(Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)