The junta shaved curfew and reopened universities, but few students showed up

Photo: East Yangon University
Photo: East Yangon University

Junta security forces today were guarding East Yangon University a day after it reopened, searching students and forcing them to show ID cards hours after a bus heading to the campus exploded.

There were no reports of injuries and investigators were determining the cause of the explosion, which took place as the authorities attempt to draw students back to schools starting with universities and pushed the overnight curfew back two hours to 10pm. 

Security forces had taken over a university clinic and classroom, according to the school’s student union, and few students were reportedly seen on campus today, as most stayed away in support of the broad strike called in all sectors to oppose the February coup d’etat. 

“How painful is this? The university is under siege. It’s a situation where students have to be under surveillance,” the student union wrote on social media.

Campuses have been closed since February. According to notices posted to classroom walls, students could pass the remaining exams if they attend the class through June 19.

The Democratic Voice of Burma quoted Dagon University’s Student Union as saying about 150 of its 6,500 students attended classes on the first day. Those few who did were widely criticized online.

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