Two pupils, their father and two teachers at an online school run by the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) in opposition to military rule remain in junta detention after Myanmar’s regime arrested them more than a week ago.
Among the detainees are two children aged around eight and 14, their father U Kyaw Min Htay, who is a striking employee of Myanma Railways from Sagaing town, and two striking teachers, Daw Myint Myint Than and U Wai Yan Min Htike from Mandalay, who ran the online Bright Future Federal School. They were detained on July 27.
“They were detained because someone informed the regime,” said U Nay Phone Latt, the NUG spokesman.
“Children have the right to choose what type of learning they want to receive. Arresting children attending an NUG-linked school harms children’s right to learn freely. It is a violation of the right to education, which is unacceptable.”
Pro-junta Telegram channels reported that the two sisters’ phones were used for learning at the NUG’s online school.
The channels last month called on the regime to check if private schools in Mandalay employ striking teachers and take action against schools with NUG links.
A Sagaing resident said: “Soldiers came in military vehicles to Ywar Htaung ward and made the arrests. At first, we thought the man was arrested because he is a striker from Myanma Railways. But we heard it was because his two children attended an NUG-run online school. It is an unlawful act to arrest someone for learning. It is an act of extrajudicial bullying to arrest children.”
The NUG has told teachers and pupils to go into hiding and keep their learning secret.
Teachers who joined the civil disobedience movement following the 2021 coup have opened schools for families that reject education under the junta.
While most schools are online, in some parts of Sagaing Region and ethnic-minority areas where resistance forces have replaced the junta administration, children can study in community schools.
“The regime has been using various ways to arrest and threaten teachers. Some were killed. But we continue to provide our services to the people while ensuring their safety,” said U Nay Phone Latt.
On July 17, a junta court inside Mandalay’s Obo Prison sentenced teacher Daw Ei Shwe Sin Myint to 20 years in prison for running an online school opposed to military rule. Along with her, 14 teachers aged between 20 and 40 from the Federal School of Aungmyaythazan were arrested in March last year. The fate of 14 other teachers is unknown.
The regime tries to stop striking teachers working at private schools and has required schools to issue lists of their teachers and their addresses.
