The All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) has laid down a 28 February deadline for Burma’s parliament to approve a list of proposed amendments to the National Education Law.

The ABFSU, one of the main pillars of the recent student protests taking place across the country, said in a statement on 19 February that protest marches to Rangoon would resume if parliament failed to do so.

The main “column” of protestors – around 100 activists who have marched from Mandalay – has currently stopped at Aung Myay Beikmann Monastery in Letpadan, some 140 kilometres north of Rangoon.

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The ABFSU and other affiliated unions and student groups announced last week they would suspend all demonstrations during this present period of school examinations, but continue to monitor parliamentary moves on the proposal to amend the National Education Law.

A draft list of amendments is due to be formally submitted to parliament on Wednesday. Among the students’ demands are: a decentralisation of decision-making powers; permission to form students’ and teachers’ unions; and the introduction of mother tongue-based curricula in ethnic areas.

Other student columns from Monywa, Pakokku, Moulmein (Mawlamyine) and Tavoy (Dawei) have also announced a suspension of marches.