Although they used light sticks instead of candles at a vigil that lasted barely two hours, the significance of the candle-light vigil was not lost on the 150-odd, mainly Burmese audience at the event held at the NUS Faculty of Law yesterday.

Many Burmese students who came forward to share their thoughts at the event were effusive in their praise for the organizer of the event that was part of “Myanmar Peace Awareness Day,” which included other activities such as the manning of petition booths at both the NUS Bukit Timah and Kent Ridge campuses, and a forum in the afternoon.

“We want to express our heartfelt thanks to the organizers. In our country, people have been suffering for a long time,” said a female Burmese student, who cannot be named for safety reasons.

“It’s now time for a change in our history. This event is just one step…in reaching our aim,” she added.

The organizers have earlier requested for attending media to refrain from attributing any quotes or using any photos that would compromise the identities of any Burmese students, for fear of any repercussions.

The vigil at BTC was similar to other events happening simultaneously at Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University, all of which were organized to raise awareness of the current situation in Burma.

Signatures collected would also be forwarded to the local Burmese embassy and the ASEAN secretariat based in Singapore.

“Peaceful expression has been crushed in Myanmar. We hope to take up the battle on our (Myanmar) brothers and sisters’ behalf,” said Choo Zheng Xi, one of the event organisers.

“The event was conceptualised only on Saturday and snowballed on Sunday... and it's just amazing how we managed to get everything done and approval from the deanery in the last couple of days,” he added.

NUS dean of law, Tan Cheng Han, told TODAY newspaper on Oct. 2 that he would wear a red ribbon in support of Choo’s initiative.

“I am happy that my students have an interest to what goes on outside Singapore,” he said. 

Tan was referring to the unrest in Burma that was, according to BBC, sparked by an Aug. 15 two-fold increase in petrol and diesel prices, and a five-fold increase in the cost of compressed gas that is used to power buses.

The violent suppression of peaceful protestors by the ruling military junta in Burma has resulted in international condemnation and extensive media coverage.

“The candlelight vigil itself is to get the awareness from the international world,” said a male Burmese student at the vigil, who added “because we need the external pressure from the ASEAN side to support our country during the protest.”

Second-year sociology major, Muhammad Shamil Zainuddin, said he believes the media can help to highlight the situation in Myanmar.

“I hope that media continues to put the spotlight on this issue because once it stops, everything stops,” Zainuddin said. 

“The media has the power to actually do something” he added.

The Associated Press reported yesterday that international pressure followed by U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari’s visit to Burma has led Senior Gen. Than Swe to agree in principle to meet National League for Democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Suu Kyi has not met a senior junta leader since 2002 and this move is seen as a major turn of events as world’s media continue watching.

“Right now there is an international community watching. This is not something we can allow. We can’t stand by and watch this any longer,” said Vasudha Srinivansan, a third-year law student. .

At press time, organisers have collected 346 petition signatories in NUS. Figures for NTU and SMU were not immediately available.