Karen Political Parties Warn Government That It’s Use of Violent Force on Students Will Set the Country Back

Two Karen political parties have expressed their concern over the violent crackdown on student protesters saying the government’s use of force will not solve the problem and it could be a setback for the country’s reforms.

The Plone-Sawow Democratic Party (PSDP) and the Karen Democratic Party (KDP) officially voiced their concerns over the police forcibly dispersing protesting students at Letpandan in Thayarwaddy Township, Pegu/Pago Division on March 10.

Speaking to Karen News, Mahn Aung Pyi Soe, vice chairperson of the PSDP said using violence is not the way to solve the protests.

“Our party have expressed our concern since the beginning. We don’t want the government to use force or violence against the students. It is important to find the solution through peaceful negotiation. This is not good for the country, if the government continue using force and violence against its people, their actions will set the country back.”

A statement released on March 10 by the government’s Information Ministry, stated that 127 people have been detained and included 52 male students, 13 female students and 62 civilians.

The Myanmar Press Council released a statement calling for the release of any journalist who had been detained by the authorities. The MPC also raised the issue of journalists being beaten by police while they were trying to do their job of taking photos or videos while covering the protests.

Saw Ye Win Naing, chairperson of the KDP told Karen News that if the government has a genuine goodwill for the development of the country, they should not have blocked and used violence against the protesting students who were marching to Rangoon. Saw Ye Win Naing said violence would not solve the problem.

“This problem can only be solved through negotiation. By using force and violence, it’s not solving anything, but will only make the problem bigger. Our Karen State based political parties will have a meeting to issue a statement putting our common position regarding the government’s police force using violence against the students.”

The Karen Student Network Group (KSNG), who has a membership of more than 3,000, said they offered their support to the student protests and KSNG had a shared position with the Karen political and armed organizations against the government’s use of force on the protesters.

The violent crackdown on students by the Burma police force had been widely condemned by international and regional human right groups, ethnic armed organization, foreign governments including the United States and the European Union.