Security beefed up in Rangoon on July 7 Anniversary Day

Phanida
Mizzima News - 07 July 2008

Chiang Mai – The authorities in Rangoon have beefed up security in townships today on the occasion of the July 7 Anniversary Day.

The government backed 'Swanahshin' has been deployed at crowded junctions, near the university campuses and in front of the NLD headquarters today the 46th anniversary July 7 day. Soldiers are patrolling the city in vehicles.

"The security is tight today. But we could not find the police. There were about 50-60 'Swanahshin' personnel in front of the NLD headquarters in four Toyota Dyna light trucks. There were another 30-40 'Swanahshin' personnel at the Sule pagoda", Ko Naing Ngan Linn, a NLD Youth in-charge said.

"The soldiers have been patrolling the city since last night in police cars. Today security personnel were deployed in an unusual move in mufti by the 'Swanahshin' at many crowded junctions and key places in the city," an undercover reporter of Mizzima said.

About 20 'Swanahshin' personnel were deployed at the town hall in the city centre today by the Police Col. in a Mazda jeep and a riot police truck, he added.

Police personnel, soldiers and 'Swanahshin' in plain clothes were deployed at many crowded junctions such as Kokkai, Shwegondaing, Sule, Thingangyun, Kyimyindine, Sanchaung, Hledan, South Okkalapa, Lanmadaw and Latha townships, a Rangoon local resident said.

The Dawbon Township 'Peace and Development Council' (PDC) asked for about 80 'Swanahshin' from the township to deploy them at Dagon University and 'Tarwa' University campuses in Rangoon Division for security, it is learnt.

The Revolutionary Council led by Gen. Ne Win who grabbed power in a coup brutally killed unarmed students who were staging demonstrations for freedom in education on July 7, 1962 -- 46 years ago.

"They are always scared of student demonstrations. The 'All Burma Federation of Student Union' (ABFSU) launched a poster campaign in almost all university campuses today," Ko Myo Tayza, spokesperson of ABFSU, said.

The copies of the ABFSU statement called 'Revolting against enslavement by military, Let's fly fighting peacock flag' were found pasted on the walls of Arts and Science University, Computer College, Government Technical College (GTC), Government Technological University campuses.

"The best and smoothest way for a breakthrough in the current political impasse is to release all political prisoners including students, monks and nuns who are unfairly imprisoned unconditionally and immediately, and enter into a dialogue with the opposition", the statement said.

"Education is politics. Without freedom of education, we cannot achieve political freedom. We are at the forefront of this struggle and leading the students to encourage them to express their will and desire freely and for freedom of education", Ko Myo Tay Za said.

"Resolving the current political crisis through coercion and bullying unilaterally by using arms and thugs will not be successful and will exacerbate the situation in the future. It will also ensure many more protests, calamities and unrests which will lead the country to utter devastation and finally to a failed state," the ABFSU statement added.

The University Student Union building which was a historical monument of anti-colonial and anti-fascist struggles was dynamited by the 'Revolutionary Council" led by Gen. Ne Win in the early morning of July 8, 1962.