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A juvenile who was among the education activists arrested in the police crackdown on protestors in Letpadan on 10 March has been released on bail.
Sixteen-year-old Aung Min Khine, chairperson of the Shwebo District Basic Education Students Union, was granted bail in a court hearing on Tuesday due to his status as a minor.
“Of the 13 bail applicants, only I have been granted bail so far,” Aung Min Khine told DVB. “I was told I am to stand trial at a juvenile court as the charges have been upheld, including Article 505(b), and that I was granted bail because I am underage.”
Aung Min Khine said that he sustained injuries in the 10 March crackdown, some of which are yet to heal, including a head would.
Robert San Aung, a lawyer representing the defendants in the trial, said that according to the Burma’s Child Law, Aung Min Khine should be tried as a juvenile in a separate trial.
“As the accused is a juvenile, he should be dismissed from the adult trial, and stand in a separate trial at a juvenile court,” said Robert San Aung.
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Families of the defendants, reporters and observers including German, French, EU and US representatives attended the hearing at Tharawaddy township court on Tuesday.
One hundred and twenty-seven people were arrested on 10 March after nationwide, student-led demonstrations against the National Education Law came to a head when a sit-in turned violent. Activists say that the law stifles economic freedom, and marches on Rangoon from all over the country were organised in protest.
After a series of negotiations between students and Naypyidaw representatives, an amendment bill was drawn up. Against the backdrop of the ongoing trial in Tharawaddy, activists reacted angrily to the passing of a heavily watered down bill by the parliamentary upper house at the end of March.
