Students from Sittwe University, University of Computer Studies (Sittwe), Technological University (Sittwe) and Taungup Degree College demand the Tatmadaw to immediately stop its arrest and persecution of people including students.
Headed by Students’ unions from these universities, students held a demonstration on 26 August. To promptly fulfill the needs of the universities is one of the issues they called for.
Students have pressured authorities to provide a stipend for IDP students to pursue their education, to increase budget allocation for education in Arakan State, to allow local and foreign aid for IDPs and to stop the information blackout in Arakan and Chin States.
“We mainly demand to stop recent wrongful arrests and torture of people and students in Arakan State. We also call for providing financial aid for IDP students for their education,” said Kyaw
Naing Htay, chairperson of the Sittwe University’s Students’ Union.
The Tatmadaw has announced that it would set up an investigation tribunal for the death of local residents during the Tatmadaw’s detention of suspects allegedly having ties with the AA.
Students from the Sittwe University demanded to tighten up security for the interest of students. They requested to assign security staff in the university, to install more CCTV cameras on the campus and to upgrade roads within the university compound.
“We have only one CCTV camera. It is not enough for the university. Students’ motorcycles were stolen. It happened three times. No one takes responsibility. It is a sad case for students,” Ko Kyaw Naing Htay said.
Students from the University of Computer Studies pressured officials to build a dormitory on the campus and a weather-proof gymnasium.
“There are seven universities in Arakan State. We requested to meet with the chief minister U Nyi Pu to present the needs of the universities. But, we received no response from any officials. That’s why we staged a protest,” said Ko Myat Hein Htein, vice-chair of the Students’ Union from the University of Computer Studies (Sittwe).
Other universities in Arakan State have arranged to protest against the recent Arakanese affairs and the needs of the universities.
