Monywa Students Protest Education Bill

Students from Monywa University in Sagaing Division on Wednesday launched a campaign opposing the National Education Bill.

The controversial bill, passed by parliament at the end of July, has been a subject of criticism among educators and students alike. Several student protests have been held around the country, claiming that the new bill would centralise decision-making and grant too much power to the Ministry of Education […]

Backlash Grows Against Burma’s National Education Bill

RANGOON — More than 200 civil society organizations have joined a national network of education organizations and a growing chorus of voices in rejecting a draft National Education Bill that looks likely to soon pass into law.

The National Network for Education Reform (NNER), which came out against the bill after it was passed by Parliament in late July, was joined this week by a diverse coalition of groups opposing the legislation because they say it violates “human rights standards.” […]

International Peace Day

Hundreds of peace marchers passed four different townships on Sunday, International Peace Day. The peace marchers called for ending war and to restore peace, while singing Peace songs. (Photo: Thaw Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy)

Hundreds Gather in Rangoon to Mark World Peace Day

RANGOON — At several sites in Rangoon on Sunday, hundreds of activists gathered to mark the International Day of Peace and call for an end to conflict in Burma.

A festive mood prevailed at the Women’s Peace March, one of three peace rallies held in the city this weekend, where several hundred women belonging to various women’s organizations showed up wearing blue shirts emblazoned with the peace symbol and a slogan ‘No Women, No Peace.’ […]

20 Injured in Clash with Police at Closed Korean factory

About 20 former employees of the now defunct Master Sports footwear factory were injured during a standoff with police after they held an official captive at the facility on Tuesday.

A group of workers came to the Rangoon factory on 16 September to negotiate with representatives of the Department of Labour, which was tasked with carrying out an August court ruling that the workers should receive compensation for sudden dismissal […]

Teachers’ and Students’ Organizations Join Up to Oppose Education Bill

RANGOON — The Myanmar Teachers’ Federation (MTF) said it plans to cooperate with students’ organizations and join their protests against the National Education Bill if the proposed legislation is not revised in Parliament in the coming weeks.

The MTF also called on authorities to stop their criminal investigations into recent, unauthorized student protests against the bill […]

Myanmar Villagers Demand Release of Student Activist

Hundreds of villagers in northern Myanmar, also known as Burma, have staged protests to demand the release of a student activist who was involved in the brief abduction of two workers at a Chinese copper mine this year.

A monk in the Letpadaung area tells VOA that 500 to 600 locals staged peaceful protests in several villages Monday seeking the release of Phyu Hnin Htway, who was detained Saturday […]

University Students Union Opposes Education Bill

The University Students Union released a statement on Wednesday denouncing the National Education Bill; at the same time it launched an awareness campaign in front of the University for Computer Studies, 25km north of Rangoon.

A spokesperson for the students’ union, commonly known in Burma as the ta-ka-tha, said the event was not a demonstration but rather “a gathering to raise awareness about the weaknesses of the education bill”, and that they had timed it to meet students who were entering the campus to sit for exams on Wednesday morning […]

Sagaing Students Protest Controversial Education Bill

Burmese university students stood their ground and protested on Monday against the controversial draft of the National Education Bill, which was approved by the Union Parliament on 30 July.

More than 30 students from the Sagaing Art and Science University, Technical University and Cooperative University participated in the rally, which was allowed to proceed without intervention by local authorities […]

Villagers form Petition to Oppose Rangoon City Project

A group of rural villagers living west of Rangoon said they are forming a petition to protest plans to build an extensive residential and commercial development on 30,000 acres (121 sq.km) of land in their area.

Local residents of Ton Tay [Twante] Township told DVB that they will send their petition to the Burmese president.

“They will destroy the paddy fields and we will have rice shortages,” said local farmer Aung Pe. “Many of the people here know only about farming. They have no other livelihood. I think that some rich people are buying out the farmers […]