The Bryan Brown Theater and Function Centre in Bankstown was the venue for the Commemoration of Myanmar Spring Revolution Heroes event on Friday, 12 August 2022. The event, which paid tribute to the heroes of the Spring Revolution in Myanmar, especially Kyaw Min Yu aka Jimmy, Phyo Zeya Thaw, Aung Thura Zaw and Hla Myo Aung, was organized by Sophia Sarkis and other members of the CRPH Support Group and Diaspora Community in NSW alongside the Friends of Myanmar.
The event was organized in response to the murders committed by the Junta – the group of military leaders led by General Min Aung Hlaing – against humanity and the Burmese people. On 1 February 2021, the Junta deposed the democratically elected government of Myanmar and arrested an array of legally elected representatives, in addition to Australian professor Sean Turnell who was an economic policy advisor for a state counsellor in Myanmar.
The commemoration event especially highlighted the execution of the four fallen heroes mentioned previously after an alleged closed trial by the Junta. Moreover, families of these heroes are still unable to retrieve the bodies of their deceased in order to perform burial rituals. The event started with a song tribute to the people of Myanmar, followed by a heartfelt yet strong speech by Sophia Sarkis in which she thanked those who helped organise the event such as Mr. Remy Wehbe, co-founder of Oz Arab Media, Mayor Khal Asfour of the City of Canterbury-Bankstown, the Bryan Brown Theater, and the dignitaries who attended the event and gave speeches throughout, namely The Hons Anne Stanley MP, Julia Finn MP, Lynda Voltz MP, Mark Buttigieg MLC, along with Clr Rachelle Harika from the City of Canterbury-Bankstown, in addition to a host of politicians from both Australia and Myanmar.
The main goal of the event, in addition to the tribute to the fallen heroes, was to encourage the Australian government to impose sanctions against the Junta. During her speech, the Hon Anne Stanley confirmed that she has spoken with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong who reassured the Burmese community that the Australian Government is actively considering these sanctions.
The event also included a variety of musical performances in both English and Burmese and was concluded with a vow made by the attendees in support of the people of Myanmar and their revolution.
