Attached is a copy of
Keesing's Record of World Events,
(London, Longman Publishing Group), pages 36221-36225, giving a
detailed account of student riots in Burma since September
1987.
The major confrontation between students and government forces
occurred during a series of demonstrations involving students which
took place in Rangoon during the month of September 1988. Following
the military coup that brought Saw Maung to power on 18 September
1988, student demonstrations were violently suppressed by the armed
forces. According to some reports, more than one thousand deaths
occurred when troops opened fire on the demonstrating crowds. [
"Inside Bloody Burma", in
Newsweek, 3 October 1988, pp.
30-32.] Four hours after taking power, Saw Maung established a
strict nighttime curfew and banned all gatherings of more than four
people. [
Urgent Action, (London, Amnesty International), 15
December 1988.] It is reported that participants in small
demonstrations which took place outside Rangoon following the
imposition of the curfew were detained by government forces.
Urgent Action, (London, Amnesty International), 22 November
and 13 December 1988.
Thousands of students left the country fearing reprisals by the
government; many fled to Thailand, from where they were later
forcibly returned. [ "Opening up to the World", in Asiaweek, 3
February 1989, pp. 27-29.] Various reports indicate that students
returning to Burma under a government amnesty were detained and
tortured; at least one died soon after his release. ["Opening up to
the World", p. 28; "A Darkening Scene", in
Far Eastern
Economic Review, 24 November 1988, pp. 40-41, and
Urgent
Action, 12 January 1989.]
Street demonstrations in Burma are reported
to have resumed six months after the events following the military
coup of September 1988, but on a smaller scale. For the latest
report on student political activities, please see the attached
source:
On the march again", from Far Eastern
Economic Review, 13 April 1989, p. 19).
Also attached, for information on the student unrest and general
information on Burma, the following documents:
"Inside Bloody Burma", 3 October 1988, pp.
30-32.
"The students struggle on", in
Asiaweek, 28 October 1988, pp. 28-30.
"Opening up to the world", in
Asiaweek, 3 February 1989, pp. 27-29.
Burma: the 18 September 1988
military takeover and its aftermath, (London: Amnesty
International, December 1988), two-page summary.
Europa Year Book 1989: Burma,
(London: Europa Publications, 1989), pages 592-595, 600-603.
Country Reports on Human Rights
Practices for 1988: Burma, (Washington: U.S. Department
of State, 1989), pages 740-750.