30 students arrested for student pr

[caroline@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: 30 students arrested for student protest in Mergui

Media Release 43/99 
August 14, 1999.

30 Students Arrested for Student Protest in Mergui

Thirty students have been arrested in Mergui after an hour-long demonstration
on 12 August 1999. Approximately 150 students from State High School (1) of
Mergui gathered on 12 August and marched along the street to State High School
No (4).  They demanded the cancellation of the system of additional tuition
and
expensive fees, an end to the collection of various fees in school, adequate
distribution of school books, the release of student prisoners and to be
allowed to form a student union.

Students delivered speeches on daily economic hardships, military oppression
and democratic reform, and criticized the education system, particularly
corruption and the lengthy closure of universities. They also chanted
anti-government slogans, including "march ahead to 9999 movement", and sang
songs.

Aung Thu Nyein, general secretary of the All Burma Students' Democratic Front,
said, "We are seriously concerned about the plight of the arrested students in
Mergui and demand the SPDC to release them immediately. We believe that their
parents will be anxious about them, and the ABSDF shares their feeling. They
honestly expressed the basic suffering of the students, and the SPDC should
not
take action against them."

On 4 August last year, nearly 100 students from State High Schools (1) and (4)
staged a demonstration in commemoration of the 8/8/88 popular uprising,
following which six students, including Ko Yu, were arrested and sentenced.

The arrested students are:
1. Maung Win Phyo Hla, age 14, 9th standard, SHS (1) 
2. Maung Than Zaw, age 16, 10th standard, SHS (2)
3. Maung Aung Min, age 17, 10th standard, SHS (2)
4. Maung Khaing Linn, age 16, 10th standard, SHS (2)
5. Maung Than Win, age 17, 10th standard, SHS (2)
6. Maung Thein Than Win, age 18, 10th standard, SHS (2)
7. Maung Naing Linn, age 18, 10th standard, SHS (2)
8. Maung Nay Zin Oo, age 15, 10th standard, SHS (2)
9. Maung Thura Kyaw, age 17, 10th standard, SHS (2)
10. Maung Min Min Htike, age 16, 8th standard, SHS (2)
11. Maung Zaw Zaw Aung, age 15, 9th standard, SHS (2)
12. Maung Zaw Htun, age 17, 9th standard, SHS (3)
13. Maung Naing Oo, age 17, 10th standard, SHS (3)
14. Maung Kyaw Thura Aung, age 17, 8th standard, SHS (4)
15. Maung Myo Zaw Oo, age 15, 8th standard, SHS (4)
16. Maung Aye Soe, age 15, 8th standard, SHS (4)
17. Maung Htein Linn Aung, age 14, 9th standard, SHS (4)
18. Maung Soe Myat (aka) Joseph, age 23, 10th standard, External student
19. Maung Nyi Nyi Htwe, age 17, 10th standard, SHS (3)
20. Maung Ko Ko Naing (aka) Nyi Nyi, age 17, 9th standard, SHS (3)
21. Maung Agwa War, age 17, 8th standard, SHS (4)
22. Maung Kyaw Thu, age 21, 10th standard, External student
23. Maung Kyaw Zin, age 21, 10th standard, SHS (3)
and some 10 other unknown students.

All Burma Students' Democratic Front
For further information, please contact 01-9604026


--------------------------------------------------------------
All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF)
P.O. Box 42, Hua Mark P.O, Bangkapi, 10243, Bangkok
<caroline@xxxxxxxxxxxx> <lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>