A Naypyidaw schoolteacher, who claimed that the Ministry of Education forced her to retire after she attended the 8-8-88 anniversary, was reportedly fired after speaking with the media about the incident.

According to Soe Soe Khaing, the Ministry of Education reneged on their earlier decision and fired the educator and now she will no longer receive her government pension.

“The first order called for forced retirement and then the second order came, which said you have been sacked. I would like to know whether the order can change,” said Soe Soe Khaing.

Earlier this month, Soe Soe Khaing joined thousands of people from across Burma on 8 August in Rangoon to commemorate the student-led uprising against Ne Win’s dictatorship in 1988 that was brutally suppressed by the military.

However, the Ministry of Information’s Wai Lin Oo rejected Soe Soe Khaing’s account and claimed that the teacher was fired for taking leave without official permission.

Following the ministry’s decision, activists urged authorities to consider Soe Soe Khaing’s career achievements before she is stripped of her benefits.

“The Ministry of Education should be soft,” said Mya Aye, who is a member of the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society.

“We want this case to be settled in the right way. They should look at the history of the teacher who has been educating children for 18 years.”