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Myanmar to inquire into Yangon protest crackdown

Xinhua, March 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Myanmar government has formed a commission to inquire into the security forces' dispersal of student protesters in front of the Yangon City Hall on March 5, according to an order signed by President U Thein Sein which was published on Wednesday.

The commission, led by Deputy Home Affairs Minister Brigadier- General Kyaw Kyaw Tun, is tasked to investigate whether the security forces acted properly in dispersing the protesters, and whether the authorities concerned acted in line with legal procedures.

The commission is set to submit its inquiry report directly to the president before March 31.

A total of 15 protesters were detained in the demonstration last Thursday, which was staged to support the main student group' s strike in Bago region's Letpadan demanding amendment to the National Education Law.

Eyewitnesses said a number of unknown civilians wearing red armband played the leading role in dispersing protesters. The authorities took action to break up the protest group after issuing a warning ordering them to disband themselves within half an hour.

Violent clashes also took place on Tuesday, and 127 protesters, including 65 students and 62 civilians, were arrested as authorities moved to disperse protesters attempting to force their way through to Yangon from Letpadan.

The authorities said 16 members of the police force were wounded in the crackdown, which brought an end to more than one week of sit-in protest in the area.

The authorities claimed their measures to deal with the protesters were taken in accordance with the law as the protesting students pushed through security blockade and stoned the security forces.

The security forces also destroyed a motor vehicle used by the striking students, according to eyewitnesses. Endi