Triggered by brutal police repression of student-led protests causing the death of over a hundred students and civilians in March and June 1988, widespread protests and demonstrations broke out on 8 August throughout the country.
Dipicu tindakan brutal polisi atas demonstrasi-demonstrasi yang dipimpin para pelajar yang memakan korban jiwa ratusan pelajar dan rakyat sipil pada bulan Maret dan Juni 1988, aksi-aksi protes dan demonstrasi muncul secara besar-besaran di seluruh Birma.