Soldiers march past Martyrs Mausoleum on July 19. Pic: AFP

MYANMAR marked the 60th anniversary of the assassination of national hero General Aung San and eight others at a memorial ceremony held at Martyrs Mausoleum near Shwedagon Pagoda on July 19.

The Culture Minister, Major General Khin Aung Myint, led the early morning ceremony, which was also attended by the Yangon City Mayor, Brigadier General Aung Thein Linn, and other senior government officials.

Maj-Gen Khin Aung Myint and Brig Gen Aung Thein Linn laid wreaths at the annual ceremony and two minutes silence was observed in memory of the fallen leaders.

The ceremony marks the assassinations of Gen Aung San, six ministers, a government secretary and a bodyguard, who were gunned down during a cabinet meeting at the Government Secretariat on Theinbyu Road in downtown Yangon.

At the time of his death, Gen Aung San was serving as deputy chairman of an executive council overseeing Myanmar’s transition to independence from Britain, which came six months later.

The ceremony, which lasted about 20 minutes, was followed by the laying of wreaths by relatives of the victims.

Gen Aung San’s family was represented by his eldest son, U Aung San Oo, and his wife Daw Le Le Nwe Thein, who live in the United States.

The commemorative event also included the laying of wreaths by diplomats, members of social organisations and the general public.

The assassinations were planned by a rival political group, whose leader, Galon U Saw, was executed in May 1948.