The State's Minister for Development Affairs, Dr Toe Toe Aung, said on July 16 he would not grant permission for the ceremony to be held at the Than Lwin Garden because it was a public space.

He said the park would remain open on Martyrs' Day, July 19, which commemorates the assassination of General Aung San and eight others at the Secretariat building in Yangon in 1947.

"It will not be locked or guarded by police but we will use the full force of the law to punish anyone who breaks the law," he said.

Dr Toe Toe Aung issued the warning after students at Mawlamyaing Technological University said they planned to march to the park on July 19 and pay their respects at a statue of General Aung San.
 
"We planned to pay our respects at the statue of General Aung San just as we did last year," said the chair of the university's student union, Ko Phone Myat Moe.

There had been no problem with the local authorities last year, he said.

Dr Toe Toe Aung said Martyrs' Day would be officially commemorated in every township throughout Mon State.

He said the commemoration ceremonies would be led by local administrators and political parties and social organisation would be invited to participate.