Myanmar lawmakers condemn violence, resume work on education law

2015-03-13

Students arrested during the police crackdown in Letpadan are driven back to Thayawady prison in Bago region, Myanmar, March 11, 2015. RFA

Eleven political parties represented in Myanmar's parliament called on Friday for avoiding violence in handling the controversial education reform issue, following the beatings and of student demonstrators and others earlier this week, who were protesting the current law, lawmakers said.

"I would like to suggest that if the education law has a lot of central control, please reduce it," said Saw Saw Aung Kyaw Naing, a lawmaker from the Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party.

"At the same time, please create a balance if there are a lot of demands on the education law. Do what should be done if it is impossible to amend the entire education law. [But] both sides should solve this problem through discussion and negotiation."

A parliamentary session to discuss amendments to the National Education Law began is being held on March 5-17, when it will close with final discussions and remarks by the National Network for Education Reform (NNER), an organization consisting of educational, political and religious groups.

Leaders from 36 political parties have attended the session so far, although many others have been invited.

"The old education law is not clear and had a lot of central control, said Aung Than Tint, chairman of the Myanmar People's Party. "We support the amended draft law because it aims to make a less control."

The NNER said Friday it would not participate in parliamentary discussions until all student demonstrators arrested Tuesday while protesting against the National Education Law in Bago region's Letpadan township had been released, The Irrawaddy reported. The group will boycott the upper house education reform hearing on March 17 unless all relevant parties can attend.

Released from jail

Authorities on Friday released from detention two reporters and nine students from among the 127 people detained during the violent police crackdown on students and monks who oppose the controversial education law, which they say is undemocratic.

About 60 of the total 127 protestors detained were charged on Wednesday with incitement, forming an unlawful assembly and rioting, according to local media reports. Seventeen of those detained were conditionally released on Thursday.

Eleven others, including two journalists, were released on Friday, the reports said.

Police arrested Phyo Aung Myint, a journalist at the local Reporter News Journal, and Nyan Lin Tun, a reporter for the local-language Myanmar Post, as they covered the protests, according to local media reports. Several journalists also said they had been beaten by security forces while covering the protest.

The Home Affairs Ministry said the courts would deal with the rest of those detained while students arrested in Letpadan would be released to their parents if they could prove they are enrolled in a college or university.

Requests for legal assistance for six detained student protest leaders were rejected, and their trial is set for March 25, said their lawyer Robert San Aung.

"Bago's security and border affairs minister Col. Thet Htun said my request wasn't allowed because students are still under investigation," he said. "His refusal is against the law."

Response sparks outrage

Authorities' violent response to the demonstrators has sparked both national and international outrage.

Members of the public, including lawyers, artists, writers those who work for civil society organizations, gathered Thursday at the office of the Free Funeral Service Society in the in the commercial capital Yangon to denounce the crackdown and call the unconditional release of the detainees, according to local media reports.

Prominent Buddhist monk Sayadaw Ashin Sandatika said the government that changed from military dictatorship to civilian government, behaved in an authoritarian manner.

"Almost all the government members are top leaders from the previous military government although they said they are ruling a democratic country," he told RFA's Myanmar Service. "That's why they behave like dictators. They only want to solve problems through violent means."

More than 60 international rights groups have sent a letter to the Myanmar government condemning the police's excessive use of force against students, monks and residents in Letpadan who were protesting peacefully. They called on the government to drop all charges against the students and amend the National Education Law in line with student demands.

Former U.S. president George W. Bush on Friday criticized the crackdown on student-led protests in Myanmar and called for the quick release of those arrested.

Reported by Win Naung Tow, Pyone Moh Moh Zin, San Maw Aung and Kyaw Zaw Win. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.

Link to original story on RFA website