Activists condemn school reopening
By Achara Ashayagachat
International pressure and the need for foreign currencies compelled the military junta
in Rangoon to stage a superficial reopening of universities in Burma late last month, ac-
tivists said yesterday.
Speaking after returning from a forum on education in Rangoon
organised by the opposition National League for Democracy, the activists said the junta
timed the move to coincide with the ministerial meetings of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations with Western dialogue partners in Bangkok.
They said the students were forced to give up political rights in order to take part in dra-
matically shortened courses on campuses moved far out of the capital in order to pre-
vent any mass movement
.
Christine Weima Lager, a Norwegian youth volunteer, said students had to pledge with
authorities that they would give Up political rights before being allowed to sign up for
courses. The university campuses had been moved from Rangoon to three different
places located between one to two hours away from the capital. "Some sit on paddy
fields while others are situated next to the army bases," Ms Lager said. Courses were
cut from one full year to three months and students had no way of knowing whether
there would be a new term, she added.
Debbie Stothard of the Alternative Asean Network on Burma said Burma was trying to
appease the international community in exchange for foreign currencies. In certain eth-
nic areas, the military, without spending a single kyat, had claimed to have built schools
jointly set up by parents and communities. The junta also were not paying teachers'
salaries, she added.
Ronny Hansen, of the Norway-based Worldview Rights project, however, said reopening
of the universities, though superficial, was a positive step. "It's a flawed education," he
said. "However, we can't wait until democracy is installed in Burma to get a true educa-
tion."
Lucy Abbot, from the Burma Support Group in Sydney, said some 400 medical students
had to share six textbooks and the texts had to be prescribed by the government only.
Wednesday, 23 August 2000
33
