Distance university student’s picnic blocked by university staff in Moulmein.

November 11, 2009

HURFOM, Moulmein: Students from a university level distance education program in Moulmein were denied permission by the school dean to organize a picnic after completing their exams. After being warned, their trip was banned without explanation.

According to a student from the University Distance Education (UDE) program, on September 29th, members of the program published invitation letters to their friends inviting them on a trip to picnic after their final exam. Over the next 2 days, 2 female tutors came to the home stay where the UDE students resided, and warned them to ask permission for the outing from the school dean. The tutors also suggested that it might be better to cancel the trip.

The students had planed to celebrate the completion of their exams with a picnic and a gifs exchanging, at Kawkareik in Karen state.  According to one older student, this is the first time any students from the UDE have attempted to organize a picnic like this.

According to a student, around 200 UDE students would have been involved in the trip as they had already paid 3,000 kyat a piece for travel costs. All of them had planned to wear Mon national dress for their trip.

On November 2nd, trip organizers went to the school dean and told him about their plan but refused to grant them permission to travel and warned them not to go. According to a source close to one of the organizers, despite explaining their intention of creating a social outing for friends the dean again warned them not to make trip.

During the exam on November 3rd, tutors read to the students in the exam room a statement from the school dean specifically stating that students must not go the picnic and go home as quick as possible after their exam.

In other areas students have effectively been banned from gathering together in large groups.  As reported by Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA) on August 7th, University of Moulamine (Mawlamyine) band its students from leaving the township after a large group went on a picnic unannounced.

According to students involved, no explanation was given for the restriction on the picnic.  “I don’t know what was wrong with our plan;” one student complained. “We just want to travel with many friends and to get to know each other better because we are from different parts of the country. I have no idea why the dean denied us permission to go on this trip.”

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