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HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE IN



Media Release
Date: August 6, 1998


           HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE IN SOUTHERN BURMA


High school students in Burma's southern town of Mergui held a
demonstration on August 4 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of
the pro-democracy uprising in August 1988, and to mark the
massacre of unarmed civilians by the Burmese military.

About 100 students from three State High Schools in Mergui began
the demonstration at about nine o'clock in the morning and
marched along the main roads of the township.

ABSDF Foreign Affairs Secretary Aung Naing Oo said students
shouted pro-democracy slogans and distributed leaflets during the
demonstration.

"The protest was peaceful and the students were very disciplined.
No incidents were reported and this was partly because many
people in the town were following the students and protecting
them from being broken up by the riot police." 
  
"However, Mergui police successfully blocked the gates of all
four high schools in the township and prevented other students
from joining the demonstration." 

The leaflets distributed by the students called on the people of
Burma to respect those who have sacrificed their lives for
democracy in Burma. The leaflets mentioned Ko Ko Oo who led
protests in Mergui during the 1988 uprising and was the first
person the military gunned down. 

While the demonstration was in progress, Burmese Army units
arrived at Mergui's main police station led by Colonel Tin Latt,
deputy-commander of the Coastal Region Military Command. Colonel
Tin Latt immediately ordered his troops to reinforce the police
in order to break up the protests. However the students had
already finished their demonstration, which lasted about three
hours.

Colonel Tin Latt subsequently ordered the closure of all schools
and officers from Military Intelligence Service Unit 19 (MI-19)
have been carrying out surveillance on students involved in the
protest.  

The military recently formed special anti-riot units throughout
the country and temporary offices for these units have been set
up at district police stations, including Mergui Township. 

All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF)

For more information please call 01-253 9082, 01-654 4984.