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Bkk post -Classes relocated as univ



Subject: Bkk post -Classes relocated as universities reopen after 3-year shutdown

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Bangkok Post Dec 30, 1999.
BURMA


Classes relocated as universities reopen after 3-year shutdown

Engineering students in Burma began picking up the threads of their =
lives this week, returning to classes three years after the military =
regime closed all universities to quell political protests.

Hedging their bets that diploma-hungry students will stay off the =
streets, the authorities have taken the extraordinary measure of moving =
the university classes away from traditional campuses-the focal points =
of student unrest in the capital.

Universities, hotbeds of activism since the days of British colonial =
rule, have been open only 30 months since 1988, when the current =
generation of generals came to power after crushing an uprising against =
a quarter-century of military rule.

The government says that relocating campuses is for student convenience. =
Those living outside Rangoon will study in Prome, 240km north of the =
capital, and those living in upper Burma will study in Mandalay, the =
country's second-biggest city.

Third-and fourth-year engineering students from the capital began =
studies on Monday at newly-opened Rangoon Technology University at the =
satellite town of Hlaingtharyar, about 14km from downtown Rangoon. No =
unrest was reported. "Though this new campus is far from my house, I am =
so excited to return to classes," exclaimed Thu Thu, who said it took 40 =
minutes to get to the campus from her house downtown.

Other classes of the institute remain suspended. First-year and =
second-year engineering classes are expected to resume in early 2000.

Rangoon Technology University is the new name for Rangoon Institute of =
Technology, whose old campus in north-central Rangoon used to be a =
centre for student demonstrations and triggered the failed 1988 =
uprising.

Along with other colleges in Burma, it was closed on Dec 9, 1996, =
following protests against police handling of a quarrel between students =
and some restaurant workers.

The protests had quickly taken on a political edge and the generals =
accused opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi of organising them.


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<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT color=3D#900000 =
face=3DARIAL,HELVETICA><B>Bangkok Post Dec 30,=20
1999.</B></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT color=3D#900000=20
face=3DARIAL,HELVETICA><B>BURMA</B></FONT></DIV><BR><!-- HEADLINE -->
<H1 align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D4>Classes relocated as universities reopen =
after=20
3-year shutdown</FONT></H1>
<P><FONT color=3D#000000>
<P><FONT size=3D+2><B>E</B></FONT>ngineering students in Burma began =
picking up=20
the threads of their lives this week, returning to classes three years =
after the=20
military regime closed all universities to quell political protests.</P>
<P>Hedging their bets that diploma-hungry students will stay off the =
streets,=20
the authorities have taken the extraordinary measure of moving the =
university=20
classes away from traditional campuses-the focal points of student =
unrest in the=20
capital.</P>
<P>Universities, hotbeds of activism since the days of British colonial =
rule,=20
have been open only 30 months since 1988, when the current generation of =

generals came to power after crushing an uprising against a =
quarter-century of=20
military rule.</P>
<P>The government says that relocating campuses is for student =
convenience.=20
Those living outside Rangoon will study in Prome, 240km north of the =
capital,=20
and those living in upper Burma will study in Mandalay, the country's=20
second-biggest city.</P>
<P>Third-and fourth-year engineering students from the capital began =
studies on=20
Monday at newly-opened Rangoon Technology University at the satellite =
town of=20
Hlaingtharyar, about 14km from downtown Rangoon. No unrest was reported. =
"Though=20
this new campus is far from my house, I am so excited to return to =
classes,"=20
exclaimed Thu Thu, who said it took 40 minutes to get to the campus from =
her=20
house downtown.</P>
<P>Other classes of the institute remain suspended. First-year and =
second-year=20
engineering classes are expected to resume in early 2000.</P>
<P>Rangoon Technology University is the new name for Rangoon Institute =
of=20
Technology, whose old campus in north-central Rangoon used to be a =
centre for=20
student demonstrations and triggered the failed 1988 uprising.</P>
<P>Along with other colleges in Burma, it was closed on Dec 9, 1996, =
following=20
protests against police handling of a quarrel between students and some=20
restaurant workers.</P>
<P>The protests had quickly taken on a political edge and the generals =
accused=20
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi of organising=20
them.</P></FONT></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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