As the Chinese exult in the opening of an Olympic Games aimed at showing off their nation’s ascent under Communist rule, the population of neighbouring Burma is marking a more sombre occasion: the 20th anniversary of a failed pro-democracy uprising.

On August 8 1988 angry Burmese fed up with severe economic hardships and national stagnation after 26 years of socialist-oriented military dictatorship took to the streets en masse to demand democracy. While the dramatic uprising shook the nation and raised hopes of a better life, the military brutally suppressed the protests, killing at least 3,000 people and sending a generation of young Burmese fleeing for the border to struggle in exile.