On February 1st, when a nationwide silent strike was held, 60 percent of the entire population of students in Pathein, the capital of Ayeyarwady Division took leaves of absence from schools and universities, according to people close to the Department of Education.
The revolutionary forces organized a countrywide silent strike to show their opposition to the dictatorship on February 1st, the second anniversary of the military coup, and 60 percent of students in state schools and universities in Pathein also took leaves on that day.
“Today is not a holiday but the number of students attending school is significantly low. Even the fritter seller near the university entrance closed his shop early and went back home”, a security staff from Pathein University said.
Not only high, middle and elementary schools in Pathein, but also the Pathein University had many students who took leaves on February 1st, people close to the student affairs department of the university said.
February 1st marked exactly 2 years since the Military Council led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing staged the coup. Most Pathein residents explained that they joined the silent strike and did not leave their homes that day to show their disapproval of the coup.
In Pathein, tea shops and restaurants such as Man San Thu, Naung Yoe, Than Kywe, La Min Eain, Kant Kaw Yeik, which are normally crowded with customers from dawn to afternoon, were deserted after 10:00 AM that day.
On that day, schools also allowed students to go home earlier than usual, a parent said. “I think because of the quiet and lack of traffic in the city, the city’s high, middle and elementary school students were allowed to go home around 2:30 PM”, she said.
Many groceries and pharmacies in Pathein’s neighborhoods were also closed. Although a few shops were open, there were no shoppers during the silent strike period of 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Some sources close to the police said that Military Council troops, Pyu-Saw-Htee militias and pro-Junta informants were conducting searches and investigations of those who encouraged the public to join the silent strike through social media.
