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Burma quiet under watchful tanks
December 14, 1996
Web posted at: 1:45 p.m. EST (1845 GMT)RANGOON, Burma (CNN) -- Burma's capital streets were quiet Saturday as army tanks sat in front of city hall in a visible deterrent to a possible repeat of recent large-scale student protests.
After issuing warnings against further protests, the military government reopened most roads near Yangon University and the Yangon Institute of Technology. They had been closed after thousands of students from the two universities staged anti-government demonstrations earlier this week.
Only sections of University Avenue, where the pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi lives, and roads near the Institute of Medicine in central Rangoon remained closed. Medical trainees at the institute were the last group of students to stage peaceful rallies.
Students rallied for greater political freedom and the right to form a student union. The military used water cannon to disperse some of the protesters, hundreds of whom were arrested. There were conflicting reports about whether all have been since released.
The apparent inability of the student groups to maintain the protests may also stem from a split in their ranks. Some want only more rights for students, while others are interested in democracy for Burma.
Most of the students say their efforts have nothing to do with the continuing struggle led by Suu Kyi to get the military government to accept the opposition victory in the 1990 elections.
Suu Kyi has complied with a government request not to leave her home during the recent demonstrations. She denied government claims she is controlling the students, but has called for international pressure to force the military to grant the students their demands and to free members of her party detained for weeks without being charged.
The United States said its diplomats in Rangoon are being prevented from visiting Suu Kyi, a move they described as deeply disturbing. Burma warned the United States to stay out of its internal affairs.
Correspondent David Clinch andReuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Burma curbs Suu Kyi's movement, warns protesters - December 12, 1996
- Burma closes schools, confines opposition leader - December 9, 1996
- U.S. 'outraged' at Burma attack - November 11, 1996
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