BURMA: RANGOON: STUDENT DEMONSTRATORS CLASH WITH RIOT POLICE

(10 Dec 1996) English/Nat

Baton wielding Burmese riot police have chased protesting students through the streets of the capital, Rangoon.

Monday's clashes followed a protest Saturday that marked the largest demonstration of civil unrest since Burma's democracy uprising of 1988.

Military intelligence have accused pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi of inciting the student unrest and confined her to her home.

But both the Nobel Peace Prize winner and the students have denied any links.

Following a violent melee between riot police and students on Saturday, the military government closed universities in the hope of quelling student protests.

But the students weren't put off by the show of force and a demonstration erupted Monday in front of campuses in Burma's capital, Rangoon.

About 150 students sat in front of the locked main gate.

They are demanding an end to police brutality, the right to form a students' union and more freedom and human rights.

At midday, about 250 students began marching down Kyimyindine Road toward the U-S Embassy in downtown Rangoon.

Their numbers soon swelled to several hundred.

They held aloft portraits of General Aung San, the country's independence leader and father of Aung San Suu Kyi, while shouting "Give us freedom", "We are united" and "Open the schools".

A phalanx of 100 riot police took positions on the road to block the marchers' route to the embassy, which had been a focal point of protests during the nationwide democracy uprising of 1988.

University professors had appealed to students to turn back and avoid a possible violent confrontation.

The sit-in lasted about two minutes before students rose and once again walked toward the embassy.

But riot police armed with shields and batons began a steady march straight toward the students, who then turned and fled back up Kyimyindine Road and into side streets.

The police pursued, and students began throwing rocks as they approached.

Police then began chasing journalists, attempting to strike them with their batons.

About 10 troop carriers with 30 to 40 soldiers aboard chased after the students.

Monday's clashes followed a protest Saturday that marked the largest demonstration of civil unrest since Burma's democracy uprising of 1988.

Military intelligence accused Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize winner, of inciting the anti-government demonstrations and have detained her at her home.

Both the students and Suu Kyi have denied any links.

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