All dictatorships fear students unions, says a protest leader

“The government will continue destroying the student unions. They are afraid of the unity and power of student unions. They either threaten the students by means of detaining them or they persuade students to deceive each other. That is why the dictators who are wrong fear the students who are right,” said Phyoe Phyoe Aung. 

She continued that the nationwide student demonstration for democratic education has a common purpose and a vision for students unions. However, the government treats different students from different unions differently. Therefore, she said, the students who are not detained must continue fighting for democratic education.

Likewise, student leader Min Thwe Thit commented that the arrest of students must relate to the 2015 election. 

“I think the policy of detaining students is connected to the 2015 election. It seems they will hold the election after putting students and activists in prison. They will release all the detainees after the election. We won’t request to be released before the election. The democratic education we demand is more important than our release," he said. 

Most student leaders and members of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions who protested to demand democratic education have been sent to prison.

The two student leaders known as Honey Oo and Thiha Win Tin were arrested for checking the overnight guest list, admitted Hpone Myint, a police colonel from the Letpadan Police Department, during cross-examination on May 26 at the Tharyawady District Court. Student leaders Honey Oo and Thiha Win Tin were not present at the Letpadan protest camp while the camp was destroyed by the police in March. 

The police colonel was cross-examined by Maung Lat and Aung Thein, the students' lawyers and supporters, at the court. 

The officer said: “I don’t know whether Thiha Win Tin, Nanda Sit Aung and Honey Oo were at the camp but Honey Oo and Thiha Win Tin were arrested for checking the overnight guest lists.

The officer also said two police regiments were deployed to crack down on the student protest camp and thatthere are approximately 600 officers in a regiment. 

Police security was tighter than usual at the hearing on May 26. An argument broke out between students and authorities when the latter tried to put manacles on the students. 

“Today they put manacles on both of our hands. Previously, a pair of manacles was put on two students. We refused to go to court with these manacles. Then, the authorities brought us to court in a closed prisoner transport vehicle. There are 42 plaintiffs who intend to extend the case longer. We don’t believe in the judicial branch,” said Min Thwe Thit. 

Kyaw Swar Nyein, the judge for Thayawady Court, said putting a pair of manacles on each student was meant to allow them to move comfortably, and the manacles were taken off at the court. 

Lawyer Thein Than Oo said: “What was noticeable about today's trial is they agreed to be an independent judiciary. Journalists were allowed enter into the court. The police colonel was examined by two lawyers. There are seven other lawyers representing students and supporters. Today, we argued about putting manacles to the students. Then, the judge ordered that the manacles be taken off. According to Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, a suspect is not guilty until he or she is found to be guilty. Therefore, the students should not be treated as culprits. Since Myanmar is a member of the United Nations, they have to follow that covenant.”

The students and their supporters have been detained at Thayawady Prison for more than two months. They are being held under sections 143 (being a member of an unlawful assembly), 145 (joining or continuing in the unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 332 (hurting a public servant in the discharge of his duty) and 505(B) (disturbing the state's tranquility alarming the public by spreading rumours.)

Three student leaders, including Kyaw Ko Ko, still have warrants out for their arrest. 

One underage student was released and sent to juvenile court. 

“Myo Thiha was released on bail since he was under age 15 while he was arrested,” said lawyer Robert San Aung. He pointed out that detaining an underage person without a warrant violates EU regulations. An underage student named Aung Min Khaing was released at the previous hearing.

Images of Aung Min Khaing being beaten by police to re point that his longyi came off spread across social media networks and was highlighted by international media. 

Both underage students have been charged under Section 143, 145, 147, 332 and 505(B) at the Juvenile Court of Thayawady District.