On the day of U Thant 's funeral on December 5 , 1974 , tens of thousands of people lined the streets of Rangoon to pay their last respects .
On the day of U Thant 's funeral on December 5 , 1974 , tens of thousands of people lined the streets of Rangoon to pay their last respects to their distinguished countryman whose coffin was displayed at Rangoon 's Kyaikasan race course for a few hours before the scheduled burial .