Comments regarding Education and closure of the School in Burma
"5. Expresses its grave concern:
(b) That, despite the partial reopening of some courses, most institutions of higher edu-
cation have remained closed for political reasons for over three years; [........]"
UNCHR: Text of 2000 Human Rights Resolution on Myanmar (12.4.2000)
"We are going to get poorer in terms of human resources. This is mainly because this re-
gime pays so very little attention to the education of our people. For the military regime,
the most important thing is to keep their hold on power, not to lose their grip on power.
In order to keep their grip on power they are prepared to sacrifice the future of our
young people. Universities in Burma have been shut over the last few years. Some uni-
versities, some faculties were opened, reopened for a short period. Some are opened at
the moment. But in general the universities of Burma remain shut. There is also the
dangerous development that members of the armed forces are educated separately.
Medical colleges and engineering colleges are kept opened for members of the armed
forces while the civilian population is deprived of higher education. This does not augur
well for the future of our country. We will become a house divided. We will become a na-
tion made up of two classes, the military elite and the rest. This does not augur well ei-
ther for the military."
Aung San Suu Kyi: Message to the UN Commission on Human Rights (56th Session)
"As politics and education are inseparable, so are democracy and student affairs. The
closure of universities and colleges since 1996 was an immense national loss. The gov-
ernment should resolve the students' affairs through dialogue and negotiations,"
Excerpt from the NLD statement on National Day (2.12.1999)
"The current student unrest proves the regime is not sincere in its desire to effectively
solve the country's social crisis, particularly in education. Whenever they deal with inter-
national pressure, the regime is clearly fishing for quid pro quo benefits of an up front
financial nature. Finally these superficial quick fixes turn out to be failures and in some
cases damage the situation."
U Maung Maung Aye
General Secretary, National Council of Union of Burma
(7.2.2000: Excerpt from the statement regarding student demonstration after opening
of the Government Technological College)
(Continued on page 27)
Campaign Committee for Open School - Statement 1/2000
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