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Views of a Burmese student



	This is the point of view and opinion of Ma In Gyin Naing, a 2nd year
honors Chemistry student at the Rangoon University who actively participated
in the recent December Students' demonstration, upon the last December
Students' demonstration and the situation of students and youth including
young women in Burma

	She was born in Rangoon in 1974.  She started her primary school at the No.
2 State High School in San-chaung township ( Rangoon ) until the seventh
standard and then, she continued her secondary school at the No. 1 State
High School in Mon-ywa township in Sagaing Division.  While she was studying
at the No. 2 S.H.S in San-chaung as a 9th standard student,   she joined
with the 1988 Students' Demonstrations and she was a member of the Basic
State High School Students' Union.

	After 1988 uprising, she joined with the Democratic Party for a New Society
(DPNS) and she became a core member of DPNS.  She actively participated in
the political activities of DPNS in Rangoon and Mon-ywa. 

	In 1991, she tried to continue her education at the No. 2 S.H.S in
San-chaung, but she was rejected because of her involvement in the students'
movements. So, she had to continue her studying at the No. 1 S.H.S in
San-chaung and she passed the secondary school ( 10th standard ) in 1992.

	In 1994, she started her higher education at the Rangoon University (Hlaing
Campus) by studying Chemistry as a major subject.  In 1996 when she was
studying as a 2nd year honors student, she joined with the All Burma
Federation of Students' Unions (ABFSU) and performed as a student activist
in Rangoon.

	On December 7, 1996, she was arrested because of  her participation in the
December Students' demonstration. She was temporarily detained just for
interrogation by MIs in Rangoon.

	After that, on 14-12-96, her house was searched by authorities due to
suspicion of her connection with ABFSU and the underground movements.
Therefore she had to hide inside Burma for 6 months and, in June 1997,
sneaked out to the Thai-Burma border.  And then, she joined with her mother
political organization, the Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS).


# Whether, in the December Students' Demonstration, there is any involvement
of political organizations or not.

	It was not related with any political party and, during the demonstration,
there was no involvement of political organizations.  It was merely that the
students themselves demanded the rights of students what they really need to
be practised.  And also, they contributed their views, opinions and needs in
the movement and fearlessly asked for their rights.  The groundless
accusation of the Slorc __ as of Slorc it was due to the destructive
elements of political parties and various groups both inside and outside the
country __  is to ignore the tradition of  Burmese students, the role of
students in the national politic and the struggles of students for the sake
of the people. By  using such distortions, they ( the Slorc ) tried to
denigrate the students' movement, they disregarded it, and they abased it.
	The real destructive element of the students' movement was the performance
of the Slorc's MIs during the movement.  They (Slorc's spies among students)
disseminated some leaflets signed by the name of " the group of students who
need the peaceful studying" which made distraction and confusion  some students.

 The demands are as follows;
- to allow the Students' Union to be formed freely.
- to unconditionally release all detained students and political prisoners.
- to announce the real events and allow the freedom of press.

#  The opinion of the students upon the NLD and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

	At present, the Slorc are trying to cut out the supports given by other
political groups including ethnic nationalities to the NLD and Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi.  So, some of students and youths are afraid to associate with the
activities of NLD and some are being concerned for that.  But, most of
students actually understand that the political deadlock and dilemma in
Burma is because of the Slorc. And  also, the lack of sincerity of Slorc
make unstablity in the country politically and economically.
	Most of students and youths understand the role of NLD in politic and
regard the NLD as a political party which won the support of the people in
Burma.  And also, they support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as the people's leader
who are trying her best to reach the will of the people in Burma.
Especially, women are more proud of her stance on the side of people.
	The students agree with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on the matter of the current
educational system.  Her criticism on the present educational system and the
pointing out of the weaknesses of educational performance of Slorc is the
real suffering of the students and the same opinion as of students.  

# The political awareness of young women and views on culture.

	After the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the political awareness of
Burmese young women are more and more than ever. Especially, it can be seen
that there were the performances of girls __ some were in the leading role
__ in the last December Students' demonstration.  
	At present, internationally, the sharing and spreading culture each others
in the global village are increasing.  Both advantages and disadvantages are
being comprised under this circumstances.  In Burma, the ways of other
cultures which, even in their countries, can not be accepted are imported
into the country instead of  sharing exemplary habits and behaviours.  
	The current social and educational conditions of Burmese young women are
quite lower than  of other countries.  But, in our thought, we love freedom.
We want to be as others in various fields.
	But, " What is freedom?  How to reach it? " the unsolvable questions arise
from  their lives in a straitened social and economic circumstances. It
mislead them to the calamity when they can not find any proper way to ease
their difficulties.  So, it can be seen that there are some women under such
calamitous lives.

# The awareness of youths and students in politic and the deception of Slorc
on them.

	The youths and students have been growing up under the BSPP government as
well as the Slorc with the lack of democratic rights.  They have had no
opportunity to study what they want, and to participate in politic. And also
they had to survive in the straitened circumstances.  
	After the 1988, the people movement opened their eyes and they actively
participated in politic despite being the crucial oppression of the military
regime.  But they used to be with fear.  Though they love their country,
they are still afraid of the threaten of the military regime.  They are not
freedom from fear. They are not familiar in a sacrifice for their country.
Some are still afraid of the government's action because of their
involvement in politic. But the tradition and spirit of Burmese students in
the history of Burmese politic should not be forgotten.  It is the
historical heritage for students.
	The Slorc well know about that.  They (the Slorc) are fear the students and
youths would get the propressive ideas and ways of thinking against the
military regime.  So, the military regime inveigles the youths in others
such as going to night clubs, discotheques and pubs, drinking alcohol, using
drugs.  It is clear that they systematically destory the lives of youths and
their future by using such deception.

# To join with the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), the
threat and lure of the Slorc.

	In the secondary schools, the students are forced to join with the USDA and
participate in its activities.  Students of secondary schools do not know
the purpose of Slorc for creating the USDA and they just know it as an
organization of students.  As  the nature of youths, the students are very
interested in the organizational activities.  The Slorc understands the
nature of youths and applies well it as an advantage for the USDA's
activities.  
	In the public rally controled by the Slorc, the USDA uses the students by
force in marching there.  Most of students are disappointed for it but they
have no choice.  


# The effect of economic declination of the country on the students in their
education.

	The present economic situation of Burma is quite low and the daily incomes
of ordinary people can not reach the basic needs for their survivle.  Even
for their living, people hardly have to survive.  It effects the education
of their children.  Due to the high cost of learning and the economical
hardship of the parents,  Most of youths have to lose their education.  Some
have to give priority to their subsistence instead of their education. It is
also the danger of the country for future.
	The following are some facts that the students are facing in their schools.
- the collection of so-called donations by authority in the primary and
secondary schools, various colleges and universities. But they are not
donations and every students must pay. ( for example __ in the secondary
schools, to set up computer department, 500 ks for each student in the 5th
standard and 1,000 ks for each. And also there are some donations for
various reasons such as for new building, for construction of new roads and
etc. )
- the students have to buy the curriculum books published by government from
black market with unreasonable prices.
	It can be seen that the comparison between the basic cost of the university
students and the income of people as follows;
the cost of a university student:		5,000   ks per month 
                                                (for day student)
						10,000 ks per month 
                                                (for hostel student)
the income of a person:			        1,000 to 2,000 ks per month 
						( for government employment )
						100 ks per day 
						( for hand-to-mouth person )
	Therefore, some teenagers are more interesting to get income than to learn
for their education under these situations.

# The students' movements in future.

	The students' movements will be more strong.  Among the students, they are
still disgruntled on the measures of the military regime in general.
Especially, the consequences of the December Students' movement have not
come to end and the student activitists are being more active.  They are
looking forward to any possibility for the next movement.  Due to the
systematical using divide and rule by the military regime among the
students, there are also some studens who like to stay away from any
movement against the government.  However, if the Slorc can not follow as
the demands of the students, they (the Slorc) will have to face the
students' movements in near future.  It will be happening soon.

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