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Handling of student protest not to have impact on democratic reform: Myanmar official

Xinhua, March 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

Myanmar government's recent handling of student protest will have no impact on democratic reform, Minister of Information U Ye Htut revealed his attitude to the media Thursday over the breaking up of the student protest in Latpadan on Tuesday.

As for the general election scheduled for later this year, he said "political stability, rule of law and resolving differences in accordance with the state constitution are essential for the election".

He said that "election will be successful if the government is able to continue its efforts for the rule of law".

"The forced dispersal of student protesters by police was a sorrowful incident, but the government tried as hard as it could to achieve a peaceful settlement in line with its policy, he said, adding that "The government had sought to avoid undesirable incidents since the start of the demonstration".

He denounced the idea of taking to the street to fight instead of seeking change through the legislative process.

He also blamed the student protesters for trying to penetrate the police blockade forcing the police to disperse them. "The students decision to march to Yangon instead of choosing democratic or parliamentary process was the cause of the conflict, " he said.

Violent clashes between the government's security forces and the striking student group occurred in Latpadan, Bago region, on Tuesday as the protesters attempted to push through the barricade erected by the security forces to head for Yangon after negotiation between the two sides broke down.

In the authorities' violent crack down, a total of 127 protesters including 65 students and 62 civilians were reportedly detained.

In the incident, 16 police were injured, the authorities said.

The dispersal action brought the more than one week's sit-in protest in Latpadan to an end.

According to local media report, the detained students including some of their leaders were brought to the court in Latpadan Wednesday for trial on charge of illegal gathering, defiance of order to disband, creation of unrest and injuring the authorized persons carrying out duties. Enditem