3 activists demand release of students
Play
Three activists on March 31 staged a protest in front of the Myanmar Peace Centre demanding the release of all students and their supporters detained after the Letpadan crackdown on March 10.
The demonstration began at 7 pm marked by banners saying, “Justice”, “Free students immediately”, “Without free expression, there is no genuine peace”, “Without taking action against violence, peace cannot be created.”
Moe Thwe, one of the activists who participated in the protest, said: “We really appreciate that the ceasefire draft is being signed. We are really glad and respect all. However, the authorities beat and arrested students and their supporters who demanded the educational reform recently. We need to respect free expression of each other. Those who were arrested unfairly must be released.’’
The protesters handed over a letter to the MPC before ending the protest.
Experts from different fields, including the United States, had denounced the violent crackdown against the students. There were protests calling for the release of students and their supporters nationwide.
On March 27 when the nation marked the Armed Forces Day, protests took place in some major cities including Yangon and Mandalay.
On the day, a protest was also held in Myingyan, Mandalay Region, calling for the release of detained students and supporters.
On March 30, Thant Zin, a patron of Myingyan District All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABSFU) and former chairman of ABSFU, Upper Myanmar, was arrested for taking part in the protest.
Currently, five activists who participated in the protest are being investigated and the authorities are planning to arrest them soon.
“We arrested him [Thant Zin] in accordance with photos and witnesses. He was detained under an arrest warrant,” said Police Deputy Superintendent Myint Naing of Township Police Force.
Police arrested some students and local people participating in the protest in Myingyan District. Among the detainees were student leaders Nyan Myint Than, Sithu Myat, Kyaw San Tun, Ma Phyu and Sein Win.
“Education is very important to develop the nation. A demand for upgrading the education system is the people’s desire. Therefore, the government’s brutal crackdown on student protesters is not very democratic. We absolutely denounce the crackdown and demand the immediate release of the detained students,” said Soe Naing, a Myingyan resident.
