Students at Taungyi University in Shan State have expressed disappointment at being banned from holding what they had called “an all-ethnic students forum”.
Students said the university’s rector, Daw Myint Myint Mu, had ordered the ban after reprimanding five students who had been distributing pamphlets promoting the event, planned for January 26.
“She just called us in to reprimand us and said not to hand out leaflets or collect donations for the event,” said Ko Win Naing Oo, one of the five students who were organizing the forum.
“Then she gave us all warnings,” he said.
Ko Win Naing Oo said the forum had been arranged to discuss a range of issues, including recent allegations of drug abuse by some students.
“We want to hold this event as we think we need a network or an organization to solve all these problems”, Ko Win Naing Oo told Mizzima on January 9.
A spokesperson for the university said staff were concerned that students were acting without consulting their teachers.
“Students are still young and the people in charge need to know everything that the students do,” the spokesperson said.
“We were just advising them that they need to let us know [their plans].”
