The court of Letpadan in Burma , has indicted students for their participation in protests againsta new law on Education last month. They face up to nine years of jail. Their mistakes: having participated in demonstrations against the new education law which, last month, were dispersed by the security forces of Letpadan, a city located 145 km north of Rangoon, the Capital.
69 people have been charged, including illegal assembly and rioting, the website The Asian Correspondent. Burma’s students ask that the law be amended. They fear that the text adopted last September limit the autonomy of higher education institutions and the freedom of students and teachers.
Three fingers raised
“What’s interesting,” said the site information, “is the fact that many detainees were photographed making the salvation of three fingers raised.”
This gesture is a silent sign of defiance against an oppressive regime inspired by the American movie The Hunger Games. Thai students have taken this symbol in the months following the seizure of power by the military junta in Burma in May 2014.
“While the Thai authorities appear fully aware of the symbolism behind the three fingers hello, this does not seem to be the case with the Burma authorities,” concludes the article.
The accused students are kept in custody until their next hearing.
