Students Sentenced to Death

In response to demonstrations two weeks ago by students at Burma's "West Point", the country's military regime has allegedly sentenced some students to death for their role in the protests, according to sources close to students at the college. The protests occurred at the Military Technology College (MTC) in Maymyo, also known as Pyin Oo Lwin, in Mandalay Division and were in response to the quality of the school's food as well as a recent regulation that reduced the cadet's rank upon graduation, according to the Washington DC-based Radio Free Asia (RFA). It remains unclear exactly how many students have been sentenced to death or what the exact charges are, however, sources told The Irrawaddy that the number is between three and 10. The sources also said that an additional 17 students have been sentenced to 20 years in prison and that a total of 72 remain in detention. According to residents of Maymyo, 40 percent of MTC's 5,000 students have been expelled due to the protests. And that all students have been sent home as the school remains closed since the protests occurred. MTC is also rumored to be moving to Ho Pong in southern Shan State as a result of the protests. Students at the Defense Services Academy (DSA) and the Defense Services Technological Academy (DSTA), both also located in Maymyo, were prohibited from going out last weekend and are also reportedly growing dissatisfied with the government's treatment of the students at MTC, according to the residents of Maymyo. The source close to the students at MTC also said that the school's principal, Col Pho Aung, has come under investigation for not properly controlling the students. The source noted that it was doubtful that he played any role in the protests but was being used by the regime as a scapegoat. The DSA was established in 1955 and is the most prestigious military school in the country. After 1988, however, the military junta expanded the DSA to include the Defense Services Medical Academy, the DSTA and the MTC in order to produce more professionals for the military.