ABSDF: Students barred from exams

[lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Media Release
Date: August 17, 1998

Known Student Protestors Barred from Sitting Exams in Burma

Many students who were involved in December 1996 demonstrations
in Rangoon and Mandalay have been excluded from sitting
university and college examinations scheduled to be held across
Burma tomorrow (August 18), according to sources throughout the
country.

On June 26, 1998, the authorities sent letters to students
throughout the country informing them of the time and place of
their exams. However, many students known to have participated in
the December 1996 demonstrations did not receive a letter from
the authorities, and therefore have been excluded from the
examinations.

In an apparent attempt to avoid large numbers of students
gathering in major cities, Burma's military authorities have
organized the exams to be held in towns and cities across the
country.

ABSDF Foreign Affairs Secretary Aung Naing Oo says Burma's
military authorities must be condemned for prohibiting students
to sit their exams for merely voicing their opposition to the
military regime.

"The whole thing is farcical. The irony of the situation is that
universities and colleges have been closed for the past 18 months
and students are being asked to sit for exams without having
studied since late 1996."

"Furthermore, the Army has told local authorities to be polite to
students who ask why they haven't received a letter for their
exams and to avoid any possible confrontation. Military
Intelligence officers will also be closely watching students
during the exams," he said.   

This is the first time Burma's military authorities have held
exams since December 1996 when students took to the streets
demanding justice following a brawl in which three students were
severely beaten by police. 

Universities and colleges in Burma are still officially closed,
and since 1988 they have been shut for more than five years.
After being closed in December 1996, universities and colleges
were re-opened for one month on June 18, 1998, for examinations
for final year students. The exams to be held on August 18 are
for all other university and college students.

All Burma Students' Democratic Front

For more information please contact 01-253 9082, 01-654 4984.