The All-Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) gathered in Loikaw, Karenni State, on Saturday to honour 34 members killed in the Karenni region over the group’s 25 years of armed struggle against the Burmese military.

The event in Loikaw was the first in a series of commemorations that will pay tribute to more than 670 ABSDF fighters who have died in conflict with government forces across Burma since the group formed in 1988.

Around 150 family members of the deceased attended the ceremony.

Buddhist and Christian services were held for fallen comrades. Certificates of honour were presented to surviving loved ones.

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ABSDF General Secretary Comrade Sunny said the group would continue their struggle:

“Our comrades sacrificed their lives in the armed struggle, but their mission is yet to be accomplished,” said Comrade Sunny at the event. “We vow to the public here that we will continue our struggle until we accomplish our goals – democracy, human rights, internal peace, and birth of a federal union, for which our comrades died fighting for.”

He said the group is planning similar events in other regions across Burma to commemorate and honour the ABSDF fighters killed in those regions.

ABSDF was formed on 1 November 1988 by university students, workers and citizens following the brutal military crackdown of 8 August that year — when scores of student protesters were killed.