69 students, supporters attend second court hearing

They were charged under five sections at the township court on March 25 following the police crackdown on the main student boycott column.

“We have sent a letter to the authorities concerned to change the court from Letpadan to Thayawady. The authorities have not passed it yet,” Thiha, an administrator of Letpadan township, said on April 5.

Eleven out of the 69 detained students and supporters were bailed out during the March 25 court trial and they also attended the trial yesterday.

A number of 127 students, supporters and journalists were arrested in the police crackdown in Letpadan on March 10. The authorities released 28 students, two reporters and 22 supporters. Eleven supporters were also bailed out.

Student leader Nandar Sit Aung was arrested as he staged a protest against the crackdown in Letpadan in front of Theingyizay market in Yangon on March 27. He will be brought to trial together with 69 detained students and supporters. 

The protesters demanded changes to the National Education Law. The crackdown took place though the authorities agreed to amend the law. One of the contentious points cover the students and teachers unions. 

During April 4-5, students from the United Kingdom and Australia met to exchange knowledge with their counterparts from Myanmar on student unions and education system in Yangon.

Students were from Liverpool’s John Moores University, Oxford University and Nottingham University from the UK and the Macquarine University from Australia

The two-day meeting mainly focused on the formation of student unions. Students from the UK and Australia have become members of student union since joining their respective universities. The student unions are officially recognised by their respective governments in both countries.

“Foreign students explained that since joining the universities, they become members of student unions and the administrative bodies of the universities.

“’We also explained that in the past, Myanmar students had the right to establish student unions. Since the 1962 coup, the authority did not allow the formation of student unions. Some points are totally different but other points, the same. But after meeting the foreign students, we learned many ideas to be put into the amendment of the education law,” Nan Lin, chairperson of Dagon University told the Daily Eleven. 

Last month, police beat and arrested student protesters marching to Yangon from Mandalay.  

“They (foreign students) expressed their surprise and sadness over the brutal crackdown on student protesters,” Nan Lin added. 

The delegation also met Aung San Suu Kyi, chairperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Nay Pyi Taw on April 3.