On 7 July 1962 students at Rangoon University staged a peaceful demonstration to protest the institution's lackluster education standards and unfair university regulations imposed by president Ne Win.

The protest was violently suppressed by the newly installed military junta, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 students.

The next day the army blew up the Students Union building, where students were taking refugee. The day would go down in history as the 7th of July Students massacre.

Veteran journalist Khin Maung Lay, who wrote under the name Pho Thauk Kyar, was covering the events at the university 51 years ago. He witnessed the students' peaceful protest and saw the army tanks heading towards the university.

This is his account.