White armband campaigns launched in major cities
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Nearly two weeks have passed since the police violently cracked down on students protesting in Letpadan against the National Education Law, but public condemnation continues.
Aside from no official apology, some student and protest leaders are facing trials for the illegal assembly and instigating riots.
On March 19, a white armband campaign was launched in Yangon and some major cities, to condemn the crackdown.
The campaigners distributed white armbands bearing: “We are students, Respect Our Rights” to the people of all ages in Yangon, Mandalay, Pyinmana, Magway, Pyay, Bago, Letpadan, Pakokku, Pathein, Bogale, Kyaukpadaung, Dawei, Myeik, Yayphyu, Longlon, Daik-U, Kyaukse, Hpa-an, Taungdwingyi and Myingyan.
“We do not represent particular organisations. The main aim of the campaign is to denounce the violent,” Nway Oo Maung, a Pyinmana youth, said.
Similar campaigns were launched in Bogale, Kangyidaunk, Maubin and Kyaunggon. The white armband campaigners condemned the government’s plan to crack down on the students and their supporters, demanding an immediate release all detained students and their supporters.
Some youths are also condemning the violence through the distribution of white roses.
Over 120 were arrested after the crackdown.
Many of them plan to take legal actions against police officers for their hostile actions. Several students said there were beaten while on police vehicles.
On March 17, Kyaw Ko Ko and Pyae Phyo Kyaw, were charged of violating Section 18 which bars illegal assembly.
Kyaw Ko Ko is the chairperson of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) and involved in the main student protest column. Pyae Phyo Kyaw leads the student protest column of Central Myanmar.
A local resident in Magway, Nay Myo Kyaw, said, “The authorities focused only on the security point of view when the students demonstrated against the education law. I feel we lost democracy. To raise our country’s image in the international community, it needs to balance the freedom and the security.”
Apart from Magway, the police of Pakokku, Nyaungoo, Chauk, Yaynanchaung, and Aunglan are also going to file lawsuits against Pyae Phyo Kyaw and his followers.
