A rare glimpse of history as Yangon’s Secretariat opens for Martyrs’ Day

Despite torrential rain and long queues, the crowds kept coming.

Thousands of people have turned out to pay their respects to Myanmar’s national heroes at the Secretariat in downtown Yangon for Martyrs’ Day today.

The building, a sprawling colonial-era complex worn away by decades of neglect, was the site of the 1947 assassination of independence leader Aung San and eight others who were shot to death by conspirators during a meeting on the compound’s second floor.

It may have been 69 years since his death, but the politician, the father of state counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, is still beloved by many.

“I’m feeling so sad to visit this place where they were assassinated [him],” said Ko Linn, 41, on the verge of tears as he stood in the queue outside. “It is very good that the government made this building public.”

Crowds explore the Secretariat in downtown Yangon on July 19, 2016. Photo: Poppy McPherson / Coconuts Yangon

The Secretariat, once a government building, was left to rot after the former military junta moved the capital from Yangon to Naypyitaw.

“I came here for the first time this year, because I want to show this to my son,” said Nan San Nyein, a woman in her early forties, queuing with her husband and son.

“Young people will know more about martyrs because the government made this building easily accessible to the public.

“Even though today is Martyrs’ Day, I feel pleasant because a lot of people gathered here to get inside the Secretariat building although it is raining.”

Inside, people snapped photos and a group of school kids paraded, dressed as dignitaries from the 1947 independence movement, led by a little Aung San.

Earlier in the day, Suu Kyi and other government and military figures, including army chief Min Aung Hlaing, gathered at Martyrs’ Hill, near the sacred Shwedagon Pagoda, for an official ceremony.

Some of the visitors wore black T-shirts made for Martyrs’ Day. Photo: Poppy McPherson / Coconuts Yangon

Security was tight at the building, with hundreds of soldiers guarding off-limits areas. Photo: Poppy McPherson / Coconuts Yangon

A woman takes a selfie outside the Secretariat. Photo: Poppy McPherson/ Coconuts Yangon