The students of Burma started the pro-democracy movement in the 1960s, in conjunc-
tion with the labour and peace movements. Right up to 1988 the students continued
with their protests against the brutal military dictatorship. In that year over 3,000
peaceful protestors were killed by the military, more than the number killed in a similar
manner in Tiananmen Square.
The present regime, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) views the stu-
dents as a threat to their totalitarian rule, due to their outspoken nature and their pro-
tests over the denial of fundamental rights, such as freedom of speech and expression.
Lack of education results in lack of knowledge. The regime has deliberately undermined
education in order to keep the people in the darkness, deprived of knowledge. Militarisa-
tion has been the top priority for the SPDC, rather than providing education for the peo-
ple.
The SPDC has used every tactic to silence the students' movements and to keep them
from assembling. The Education system has deteriorated so much that it is no longer
recognised by the world standards. In order to ensure a bright future for Burma, the
schools of Burma need to be re-opened and its standards raised to meet the interna-
tional level.
The Campaign Committee for Open School consists of representatives of Assistance As-
sociation for Political Prisoners (AAPP), All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF),
Burmese Women's Union (BWU), Democratic Party for New Society (DPNS), National
League for Democracy-Youth (Liberated Area) {NLD-Youth (LA)}, and the Students and
Youth Congress of Burma (SYCB).
Due to the oppressive SPDC regime, the future of Burma looks very bleak. The future of
a country is its youth, but the youth in Burma are seen as a threat to the military's to-
talitarian rule and are denied the right to education. Human rights are constantly
abused in Burma and the people live in fear of being crushed for their beliefs. The world
needs to know about Burma and its inhumane treatment of its people. To ensure a fu-
ture for the country, the schools need to be re-opened and the education system im-
proved. Therefore, we are calling on colleagues and friends around the world to join
hands with us in this cause for freedom of education.
See sample letter to Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt calling for a reopening of colleges
and universities.
Background Information about the Campaign Committee for Open School
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