Boston University for Burma members maintain their peers have failed to recognize the extent of the injustices in the struggling nation in their first event since it was founded this semester.

Members educated an audience of nearly 30 about the problem of public ignorance regarding the Burmese crisis at the Howard Thurman Center last night.

“The violations that the government commits are horrifying, yet the people have suffered for decades because the world is not hearing their cries,” BU for Burma President Kaye Lin said.

Zaw Wynn Tan, the event’s featured guest speaker, said Burma’s tragedy has received too little attention. Tan participated in nonviolent protests against the government in 1988 that ended in the bloody murder of more than 3,000 protesters, most of whom were students, he said.

“The whole world did not know about it,” Tan said. “In China, at Tiananmen Square, a few people died and the whole world knew. The whole world went after them. In Burma more than 3,000 students were killed. Some were still young, some in high school, some in college.”

Despite the public massacre of monks during pro-democracy protests last fall and the regular practice of child soldier enlistment, the State Peace and Development Council – which took control of Burma in a military coup in 1988 – has felt little international pressure to reform, Lin said.

BU for Burma members admire the power students had in the 1988 protests, but also believe students have the same power today, Lin said.

“With the access we have to sources and freedoms, we can fight for change,” Lin said.

BU for Burma Treasurer Julia Ong said she thinks events like yesterday’s gathering can help accomplish the organization’s goal of raising awareness, but students are intimidated by the magnitude of the issues.

“These situations are so big that a student confronts them and . . . wonders, ‘What can I do?’ and then moves on and continues [his] day,” she said. “Most people don’t choose to struggle with it, and they carry on. We’re trying to take a big situation and hold little events to aid the problem to make it feasible and realistic to deal with the situation.”

Those unfamiliar with Burma’s history before the talk said they left with a sense of both shock and empowerment.

“It’s unfortunate that this cause doesn’t get the publicity like Darfur does,” College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Allison Kanakas said. “Hopefully with an organization like BU for Burma people can become more aware, and we can help.”

CAS senior James McCormack echoed Kanakas’s sentiments.

“I was awestruck listening to Zaw Wynn Tan’s experience,” he said. “It’s sad that a situation like [the 1988 uprising] wouldn’t receive more press than it did.”

BU for Burma Vice President Siobhan Sullivan said she was pleased with the evening. Sullivan said she considers the group’s campaign for awareness a success so far. As awareness grows, she said, hopefully change will follow.