Govt pressed for release of students, activists

In a statement, Marie Harf, acting spokesperson of the US State Department, said Myanmar should immediately and unconditionally release all individuals being detained in the country as a result of exercising their right to peacefully assemble.

“Transparency, accountability, and justice are vital for the Burmese Government’s expressed goals of social stability, peace, and democracy.  We strongly urge an impartial and credible investigation into the events of March 5 and 10, in cooperation with civil society, that would hold accountable all those involved in the violence, including security forces who applied excessive force.  Only an impartial investigation and accounting will advance the country's goals of mutual trust and national reconciliation and avoid deepening division,” she said.

Police arrested 127 individuals after the crackdown in Letpadan on March 10, to break the protest against the National Education Law. Among them, 69 including students and activists are charged of causing riots and are now detained in Thayawaddy Prison. Eleven were later granted bail, and the rest remanded.

The arrested protesters were charged under Section 143 (unlawful assembly), Section 145 (joining or continuing in unlawful assembly), Section 147 (rioting), Section 332 (voluntarily causing harm to deter public servants), and Section 505 (b) (publishing or circulating information which may cause public fear or alarm and which may incite persons to commit offences against the State or against the public tranquillity.")

Last weekend, student leader Nandar Sit Aung, a leader from the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, was arrested in Yangon along with two other students - Shein Yarzar Tun and Aung Htet Aung (aka Aung Aung). 

While the latter two were released on bail, Nandar Sit Aung is being interrogated.

Section 143 of the Penal Code can be used to prosecute members of an unlawful assembly. Section 145 is used to take action against whoever joins or continues in an unlawful assembly, knowing that it has been ordered to disperse. Section 505 (b) is used to prosecute whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement, rumour or report with the intent to commit an offence against the state or public tranquillity.

It was initially thought he would be charged at Kamayut Township Court as Yangon police filed complaints against him, but then it was decided to transfer him to Letpadan.

In a video clip from Mingaladon Police Station that was posted on Monday on a Facebook account named Hla Hla Win, he questions whether Myanmar is headed in a democratic direction or will stick to its authoritarian past.

"We're in a dilemma," Nandar Sit Aung said in the clip. "We have also encountered similar situations in the past. I don’t understand why I (face) so many charges. I don’t know whether we will take the democratic way with peaceful negotiations or the way of the past. I think we're at a crossroads." 

On March 29, more than 200 people in Letpadan, Sagaing Region, staged a protest against the police crackdown. 

"We feel angry. Such violence should not happen in a democratic country. The authorities are charging the student protesters with several sections. The people should know we staged the protest to denounce the police violent action," a resident said.

On March 30, people in Kalaymyo Township, Sagaing Region held another demonstration against the crackdown, calling for the release of students and supporters.

A member of the Chin Mountain Resources Watch said: “We feel that the government is turning back to dictatorship as evidenced by the violent crackdown.”

A resident of Kalaymyo named Chan Myae Nyo said, “I denounce every violent action against workers or students. The violent crackdown against the students and supporters in Letpadan is a barrier to create a democratic country. I request the government to avoid the violent crackdown in the future.”

During the demonstration, people wore white armbands and black brooches showing the sadness of the violent crackdown.