Absence of unions has been a bane for students

by Phanida
Tuesday, 07 July 2009 15:12


(Interview with former student leader)

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Absence of students’ unions in Burma, which can operate freely, have led to many sacrifices by students with no guarantee of education, a former student leader of the 7th July student movement said.

The student leader recalled the 7th July 1962 student movement which protested against lack of students’ rights, democratic rights and the military dictatorship in Rangoon University.

The Revolutionary Council led by former dictator Gen. Ne Win grabbed power in a coup from a democratically elected civilian government on March 2, 1962. The students staged peaceful protests against this coup d’etat. The regime quelled the student demonstration brutally by opening fire on peaceful and unarmed students. This student demonstration and massacre was later dubbed the 7th July incident.

On this ill-fated day, hundreds of students were killed and the junta dynamited the student union building situated in Rangoon University campus the next day, July 8 1962.

Though it has been 47 years now, successive Burmese governments still ignore the rightful demands of students and have suppressed student movements brutally till today.

Mizzima reporter Phanida interviewed a former student leader (who wished not to be named on security grounds) on the background of the 7th July student movement, students’ rights and current Burmese politics. The interview is presented here.

Q: Students have sacrificed their lives for democratic rights and an end to military dictatorships in all ages. Why do you think they have not yet achieved their goal?

A: There are two parts to this question, pre-1962 and post-1962. Our democratic struggle took too much time. It took the whole of post-independence period. We must introspect on it. This is very important for all of us. Naturally the sacrifices and losses are inevitable. But Burma experienced two historical ages in its 60-year long post-independence period. This is the significant point of Burma’s history. Another significant point is the complexity of ideology in our movement; the right, left and centrist lines. The last point is there were many separations in our movement.




Q: Please tell us the main objective of the student uprising in brief.

A: Bakatha (All Burma Federation of Students Unions- ABFSU) struggled for student rights and democratic rights. The first student movement in which a student was killed took place in 1956. After that, the then AFPFL (Anti-fascist People’s Freedom League) government imposed restriction on student union movements. The second point is on education. After 1962, let me frankly say, politics overwhelmed us so much that there were hardly any talk on education.

Q: Should students get into politics?

A: In fact, students and education are a part of the political programme. But student movements are not for political power. We joined the student movement but not for power. There was a student circle at a specific time. We joined this movement to fulfill the demands of a needy political situation. In fact, the students did not strive for political power. They struggled only for the restoration of democratic rights and for peace. And they were into these movements for the reform of the education system too, to be transformed to a democratic education system.

Q: What is the reason for not allowing freedom of association in Burma? Why do you think this is crucial?

A: This should exist. This is a hallmark of democracy. We need freedom of association, freedom of expression and right to demonstration by chanting slogans. If we want to exercise these democratic rights in a legal framework, we must have an organization. But now the students have no such organization. In fact, Ko Paw (Min Ko Naing) is no more a student. They are now working as student activists under the shadow of the 88 uprising. There are no labour rights also. Lack of such freedom and democratic rights create an intense situation. Such a situation reveals the students badly need democratic rights to express their will and desire freely.

Q: To what extent did the students suffer in their right to education due to the absence of a legal student union (ABFSU)?

A: Yes, they have and are suffering a lot in this regard, not only now but since our time. This vicious circle will never end. To the question, to what extent, we have to sacrifice our lives…..the current education has no guarantee for the students.

Q: How important is the role of the UN in Burmese affairs. Can we rely on it to some extent?

A: I’ll tell my own view in this regard. Many people said that our country’s affair is sandwiched in the ‘international platform strategy’ of major countries. I’d like to point out that as long as this situation exists, whatsoever they (international community) talk about our country, these talks will be a far cry from Burma’s practical situation as they are not aware of the in-depth situation in Burma.

Q: Please give a brief account of the 7th July movement for the current student of today.

A: The 1962 student movement originated from the tightening of hostel rules. The students demanded abolishment of tight hostel rules, to give them more freedom, to revoke the curfew order imposed under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code on that day of 7th July. They held meetings in the night and dynamited the student union building in the early morning of the next day at about 3 a.m. The army was deployed in the campus at about 4 p.m.

Almost all political organizations supported the then ‘Revolution Council’ after that incident. Only the students were left in this (anti-military dictatorship) struggle. At that time, there were student organizations namely ABFSU, University Student Union, Rangoon University Federation of Ethnic Student Union etc.

Q: What would you like to say in memory of the 7th July student movement?

A: In fact, in a human society where there is no peace, no democracy, no education policy which can guarantee the future of students, it will be very hard for the society to move forward. For the students, there will be their education on the one hand and the political system on the other.
http://www.mizzima.com/edop/interview/2412-absence-of-unions-has-been-a-bane-for-students.html