When the student’s Democracy Education column marched from the Sasana Hall to Mawlamyine University, Mon State, MNP members supported them by standing with placards on the Zaycho Road in Mawlamyine on 9th February.

Nai Soe Myint said: “The MNP fully supports students. We also support Democracy Education and being allowed to be educated in your mother tongue. We support the student’s current protests and activities.”

He added that according to government announcements there are political parties backing the students who are involved in the protests, so even though the MNP want to fully support the student’s protest they cannot give them any direct support.

He said: “I would like to urge our Mon students to join with this student column. Our party cannot become directly involved because the government is watching us.

Dr. Aung Naing Oo a parliament member from Mon state explained that the students are protesting against the ratification of the educational law. Educational organizations, youth groups, students unions and political parties had complained about the bill and wanted it amended before it was ratified, but the union parliament ignored their protests and ratified it into law. That is why the students are now protesting.

There are some students’ parents who do not want to support the protest because their children will have to take their final exams soon.

Dr. Aung Naing Oo said: “If students do not protest for change now it will not be possible to change anything later because there will be the elections and the constitutional amendment process, that is why they are trying to amend the education law now. If we look to the other side only the Union Parliament has the power to amend this educational law. So the students think that if the Union Parliament, the Education Ministry and central government compromise and amend the law it will be easier.”

“Moreover, regarding the changes to the Educational Law, if they [the government] had amended the laws earlier when the students [first] complained there would not be widespread student protests throughout the country, so this problem should be solved urgently.”

The students have 11 points they want to discuss and amend. When the Mon State Students Group and the Dawei Students Group arrived in front of Mawlamyine University, they were not allowed to enter into the university compound. On 10th February the students from Dawei were going to start marching to Yangon.  

Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI