The regime appears determined to stop any attempt to mark the date, which with four eights - 8.8.88 - is of magical importance in Burma's calendar and of huge significance to protesters who two decades on are still trying to bring down a military government in power under a different dictator.

On 8th August 1988 Burmese soldiers are believed to have shot, suffocated and drowned more than 3,000 protesters after weeks of anti-government demonstrations.

In recent weeks protest leaders who were still on the run have been arrested and additional military units have been moved into the city, Burma's largest.