Calls for release of detainees get louder

In a joint statement with his wife, ex-first lady Laura Bush, the former US leader urged Myanmar to free student leader Phyoe Phyoe Aung, who is a part of a forum run by the Bush Institute.

"We are deeply concerned about the recent arrests of peaceful demonstrators in Burma by local authorities," Bush said, describing Phyoe Phyoe Aung as a "passionate advocate for education" in the Southeast Asian nation. He called for the release of all. 

Myanmar authorities detained some 127 demonstrators - including students and monks - in a frenzied crackdown on a protest in the central town of Letpadan on March 10, drawing condemnation from the opposition, Western nations and Amnesty International.

Police armed with batons beat protesters at two recent student-led rallies calling for education reform, in violent scenes that have drawn comparisons to the tactics used under the former junta.

Zaw Htay, a senior official of the office of the president, told Reuters "some policemen were emotional and aggressive in handling the angry mob", and the government was investigating the incident. 

At least 14 students were freed from a prison in Letpadan and the government plans to release a total of 27, said a district official who requested anonymity, as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

"As students, we are not demanding power; we are just demanding to change the education law," said one protester, Yin Mon Mon Aung.

 "I also want to say to police not to use violence against students," he told Reuters after his release.

Scores remain behind bars facing unknown charges and without access to their families, although authorities released a handful of students on Thursday. Over 60 were charged of instigating the violence. 

Police had interrogated those arrested to determine if they were "real students" and authorities were contacting their parents "to hand them over properly", the state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said.

 "However, action will be taken against those who commit criminal acts, instigate instability and lead the protests behind the scene," it added. 

Despite the crackdown, activists vowed to keep up the pressure on the government as authorities continued to hold dozens of demonstrators.

"We will not make any big movement during the exams," said student leader Moe Htet Nay at a press briefing held in secret because some of the activists believe they are wanted by the police. 

"But we might demand to meet with the government. If they don't accept, that is the choice they make," he added.

Parliament remains silent over the crackdown. While the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has no plan to submit a motion to denounce the crackdown, MP Kyaw Min from the National League for Democracy (NLD) for Letpadan Township Constituency said the party has already released a statement denouncing the crackdown and has no plan to submit the motion. 

Political forces, lawyers, artists, writers, poets and members of civil society organisations, student unions and the public on Thursday gathered at the office of the Free Funeral Service Society in Yangon to denounce the crackdown and called for the unconditional release of all the detainees. 

FFSS (Yangon) chairman Kyaw Thu described the Letpadan incident on March 10 as ‘terrible’ saying that police even attacked ambulances carrying the injured.

“We are working on a humanitarian ground. It’s very terrible. If the government has been elected by the people, they don’t need to use violence against the people. I want to say that the government should not say they are elected by the people,” said Kyaw Thu, also a well-known film star. 

Movie star Bay Lu Wa said: “I did not think they would do harm to children. But I realised later that they even did harm to Buddhist monks. I strongly condemn the violence against students. I also demand the release of detained students, people and monks. Finally, I want to say I don’t believe in the government.” 

At the event, pamphlets were distributed calling on witnesses and families of the detainees and other protesters to give evidential documents about the incident to a commission set up to investigate human rights violations.

Criminal charges against student leaders could trigger a new wave of protests, said Ko Ko Gyi, a leader of the 88 Generation activists who led student protests in 1988 that grew into a country-wide pro-democracy movement before being brutally suppressed by the military government.

 "We are calling for the release of all those detained," KoKo Gyi told Reuters. "If they release only some students, it will be another spark."

Min Ko Naing from the group noted that the crackdown poses questions if the country is really in reform process. 

While saying sorry for the incident, Government Spokesman Ye Htut told state-owned Global New Light of Myanmar that the incident should not derail the democratic reform.