21 MARCH

1935 - Hiroshi Tamura, a major in the Japanese Imperial Army stationed in Taiwan, writes former revolutionary leader and Philippine President General Aguinaldo about his strong sentiments against imperialist American presence in the Southeast Asian Archipelago; the United States invaded the Philippines at the turn of the century and during World War II, Japan will drive out the US forces as it briefly occupies the same as part of its Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity master plan.

 1960 - Sixty-nine people are killed by some 300 policemen who fired into several thousand demonstrators during what will later be called the Sharpeville massacre in Johannesburg, South Africa; the demonstrators were protesting against the apartheid government's passage of pass laws requiring black people to carry reference books when moving in white areas.

1984 - The European Economic Community summit collapses over disagreements on Europe's annual rebate to Britain; British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's demand for a £730m rebate, which is intended to cover any shortfall between money the UK invests in Europe and how much is eventually returned, is denied by other EEC members.

1990 -  Namibia, a country in Southern Africa, gains independence from South Africa following the Namibian War of Independence; formerly named South West Africa, the United Nations assumed direct responsibility over it beginning 1966 following a number of uprisings and demands made by African leaders.