Sittwe: Students have been barred from carrying cameras in Sittwe University compound by university authorities to prevent them sending photographs to the media in exile and democracy activists in exile, said a student.

"We are unable to take cameras to Sittwe University. The authorities are seizing the cameras from students if they bring them to the university. Many students have lost their cameras after bringing them to the university. The ban is intended to prevent students sending photographs of the university to the media in exile and activists," the student said.

The prohibition came about after some photographs related to Sittwe University were published on a website and journal of a media in exile during the students’ protest in Sittwe last month.

"There is no public notice at Sittwe University that cameras are disallowed, but authorities have been seizing cameras whenever they see students with them. But authorities told us the cameras will be returned to students after the school term is over," the student added.

At least 10 cameras have been taken away by university authorities.

Another student from the Government Technical College said that the college authorities also do not allow students to bring cameras to the GTC. If they see a camera with a student, they will seize it.

Despite the ban students are still keeping cameras and MP3 devices secretly inside the GTC compound, he said.

Speaking to Narinjara over telephone, a senior student at Sittwe University said, "Many student protests have taken place in the last few years at Sittwe University and the Government Technical College. News of the protests was picked up by the media in exile and exiled radio shows also aired reports of the protests. Because of this, the authorities are worried about the news spreading from the schools and have imposed many restrictions at the university and college."

Before the 1988 democracy uprising in Burma, there was a student protest at Sittwe University against the government. The democracy uprising broke out shortly after in Rangoon.

At the Government Technical College, a large demonstration took place last month to protest the increase of school bus fares. About 300 students participated and marched to the Rakhine State Administration Office.