Sticker campaign for students launched
Ten young men conducted a sticker campaign in Yangon last week, as the latest public effort in pressuring the government to release all students and activists detained in Tharyawady Prison. The men pasted stickers bearing the slogan "Help students and st
“We encourage the student movement to continue. We don’t care if we are charged under Section 18 for this sticker movement. We sympathise with those who are detained in the prison. We request that the government release the students in Tharyawady Prison,” said poet Saung Kha, who helped organise the campaign.
Students from Denmark reportedly planned to join the sticker movement but were blocked by police.
Currently, a total of 70 students and their supporters are detained in Tharyawady Prison, facing charge of causing riots. They were among 127 arrested for protesting against the National Education Law in Letpadan.
Since the crackdown on the protesters on March 10, several groups have launched protests and campaigns calling for the release of the detained students and condemning the violent police crackdown. International community also called for the immediate release of the detainees.
On another front, amendments to the law are being discussed in Parliament.
Last week, the Lower House voted for 57 amendments, despite the Upper House’s approval of the 105 amendments.
Both Houses approved the formation of teachers and students unions.
As part of the 11-point demand, students asked for the legalisation of the unions, the allocation of 20 per cent of total budget for education purposes and management independence for universities.
“We will have to take into consideration of the national interests and the citizens regardless of the likes of the ministry, the parliament, the NNER and the students,” said Saw Hla Tun, secretary of the Lower House’s Bill Committee.
