Violent crackdown condemned

The United States, the European Union and Amnesty International have promptly condemned the violent crackdown on protesters against the National Education Law in Letpadan, about 140km north of Yangon.

The opposition National League for Democracy of Aung San SuuKyi, Nobel laureate and Myanmar's icon of political freedom,demanded an inquiry.

In a statement released on the evening of March 10, hours after the crackdown, the European Union Delegation to Myanmar calls for a formal investigation into the use of force against protesters in Letpadan.

"Freedom of expression and the right to legal and peaceful assembly are fundamental values of the European Union," it said.

“Freedom of assembly is an important component of any democratic society,” State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters on Monday. “We condemn the use of force taken against peaceful protesters.”

In a statement Amnesty International quoted eyewitnesses as saying that when protesters tried to dismantle a police blockade, police started beating protesters, including some who had fallen to the ground, with batons.

“The violent response by police in Myanmar against the student protesters in Letpadan was completely disproportionate. Police clearly used excessive force against protesters, and also beat helpless people who had fallen to the ground, which amounts to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under international law,” said Rupert Abbott, Amnesty International’s Research Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Yet, this condemnation, plus fears that Myanmar might backslide from reforms, has failed to soften Myanmar authorities' action.

Government Spokesman Ye Htut told state-owned Global New Light of Myanmar: "The government's handling of the protest will have no impact on democratic reform."

While expressing sorrow about the situation, he insisted that the protesters should seek change through the legislative process.

 “Despite requests for peaceful negotiations, student protestors tried to penetrate the police blockade and the police were legally obligated to disperse them,” the information minister said.

The information minister said the government’s handling of the protest will have no impact on democratic reform, stating that when demonstrators on Wall Street were removed by police, or when protesters in Ferguson were dispersed with the use of tanks, “nobody spoke of US democracy having backtracked.”