Police Lash Out At Burmese Protest Students

A student protest in Burma has been broken up by baton-wielding police officers, raising fears that the government is still using junta-style tactics to hold off dissent.

The unrest flared in the central town of Letpadan where some 150 students were protesting near a monastery.

Some took shelter, but around 70 were cornered by police.

Students and monks fled as police blocked roads and rounded up the protesters.

"The police beat us," one protester told the AFP news agency in a phone call, explaining there were some injuries.

"We cannot accept this kind of crackdown."

Police were later seen entering the monastery, according to a reporter.

Students have been protesting since November 2014 against a new education law.

They are calling for changes to the law that will decentralise the school system, teach in ethnic languages and let students have unions.

The latest violence happened after earlier scuffles with police who had put up a security blockade. Students said the authorities had reneged on a deal to allow them to march.

"If it isn't going to go as we agreed, we will break the blockade," one activist said before the clashes occurred.

"They will choose whether they allow or arrest us," he said, insisting the protest was intended to be peaceful and that the authorities had been given plenty of notice of other march.

On 2 March, Rangoon police stopped a similar march, bringing concern that the authorities, despite their apparent relaxation of the former junta rules, are still determined to prevent dissent ahead of a general election planned for the end of the year.