In the two years since the military coup, the Myanmar military council has detained about 30 students from the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU), including a life sentence, according to the students union.
Of the approximately 50 students arrested after the coup, some were released after serving their full prison terms, while others were released under an amnesty.
Nearly 30 ABFSU students, however, remained detained, an executive member of the students union told Development Media Group (DMG).
“From February 2021 until today, about 50 ABFSU students have been arrested. Some of our comrades were released after serving their full prison terms, but about 30 of them remain in prison,” he said.
Among those arrested was Ko Hein Htet, also known as Ko Po Po, who was charged under Sections 505 (a) and 50 (j) and sentenced to life imprisonment on 9 February, according to the ABFSU.
Ko Hein Htet, vice president of BEHS Students Union No. 1 and a member of the North Okkalapa Township Students Union, was arrested ib 30 November while attending a public campaign in North Okkalapa Township.
“So far, our ABFSU comrades have been unjustly sentenced to a minimum of two years to a maximum of life in prison. One of them was sentenced to life imprisonment. Eleven comrades have died while working for democracy,” the Central Executive Committee member added.
Ko Oo Than Naing, spokesperson for the Arakan State Students Union, said he condemns the unjust arrests of the students because they’re on the right side with the people of Myanmar.
“Students have also been arrested in Arakan State. Students were also unjustly arrested in the mainland. We students are on the right side with the people. The military council has unjustly arrested them, charged them under different sections of the law, and brutally tortured them. The ABFSU condemns these acts,” he said.
Sent by DMG.