KNPP/KNDF and PDF terrorists launched destructive actions taking shelter in houses, religious buildings, and health and educational infrastructures starting in December 2021 aiming at deteriorating the government administration mechanism in Kayah State. Moreover, they intentionally attacked Loikaw University, the non-military target, using heavy and small weapons, destroying the educational buildings, abducting education staff and students including the rector, deploying them as human shields in the attacks and opening fire taking shelter in the educational buildings of the country. They committed such doings aiming to destroy the future of the country and continued these inhumane attacks.
Currently, Loikaw in Kayah State has returned to normal due to the concerted efforts of the government and Tatmadaw, and the local ethnic people have returned to their places. Meanwhile, the relevant officials conducted rehabilitation processes, and the State Administration Council Chairman Prime Minister also instructed to reopen the Loikaw University as quickly as possible so that locals would not lose their learning opportunities.
To implement the directive of the Prime Minister, the coordination meeting to repair the damaged buildings of Loikaw University in terrorist attacks was organized in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
SAC Secretary General Aung Lin Dwe, Union Ministers, Deputy Ministers and departmental officials attended the meeting, and the Kayah State chief minister and Kayah State social affairs minister joined via videoconferencing.
Speaking at the meeting, the SAC secretary said it is known how the global society values education that 15 member states of the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2601 (2021) that restricts the attacks on schools and the use of schools for military purposes. That resolution also condemns the attacks on children, schools, and teachers, urges the conflict parties to protect the right to education in armed conflicts, create the schools as safe places for children, respect the schools as civilian spaces and promote the right to education in armed conflicts.
The Safe Schools Declaration also states the commitment to protect students, teachers, schools, and universities from violence and attacks during armed conflicts, protect the right to education without fear of violence or attacks, and every teacher, professor, and school administrator should be able to teach and research in conditions of safety, security, and dignity. Every university must be a safe place for students, scholars and experts.
In Myanmar, there is at least one university in each region and state for the students to pursue higher education. There are Loikaw University, Technological University, University of Computer Studies, Education Degree College and Government Technological Institute in Loikaw, Kayah State.
Moreover, Loikaw University offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in science and arts, and faculty members from the mainland serve duties there, and day and distance students also study higher education there.
On 13 and 14 November 2023, KNPP/KNDF and PDF terrorists intentionally attacked the Loikaw University which is not a military target, and arrested the security forces members of the university with excessive force. Due to their attack, the educational facilities of the university were seriously destroyed.
They arrested 132 faculty members and educational staff including the rector, 64 family members, totalling 196, and also students. During their attacks, the teachers hid in the nearest classrooms and houses.
The security forces focused on the safety of faculty members, staff and students, and conducted counterattacks in a controlled manner not to affect the main building, convocation hall and classrooms of Loikaw University. However, the KNPP/KNDF and PDF terrorists attacked the educational facilities and abducted the teachers, staff and students instead of allowing them to go to safe places and using them as human shields committing war crimes. He strongly condemned the inhumane attacks of terrorists on innocent teachers, educational staff and students, saying the examination of the third batch of distance universities set on 13 November 2023 was postponed, and the Loikaw University has been closed to date. Currently, Loikaw returned to its normal situation, and Loikaw Technological University, University of Computer Studies, Education Degree College and Government Technical Institute were reopened starting from the 2024-2025 academic year. He then highlighted the main intention of the meeting to repair and reopen Loikaw University as quickly as possible for thousands of arts and science students who face hardship to join the day and distance courses. The Ministry of Education should explain the damage to the university and the Ministry of Construction should estimate the repair works and cost. The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement should discuss the fund status to repair the university and the Kayah State’s chief minister should brief the security measures and administration mechanism.
He continued that the future of the country can be constructed only with education, so the Loikaw University must be repaired as quickly as possible and it is the duty of the government.
Union Minister for Education Dr Nyunt Pe reported on damage to the university – three-storey main building, two-storey convocation hall, two-storey buildings, water purifying system and electronic appliance, two-storey dormitory for teachers, officer housing, two-storey staff housing with four rooms, four-storey building with four rooms, two-storey building with eight rooms, housings for rector and pro-rectors, two-storey dormitory for students, gymnasium and sports hall, two-storey library and two-storey recreational centre.
Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Soe Win reported on the use of the National Natural Disaster Management Fund for Loikaw University, while Kayah State Chief Minister U Zaw Myo Tin about damages and repairs for the university, security measures, plans to reopen the university including administration and security related measures, deputy minister for construction about technological assistance, quality and assessment in construction.
The attendees coordinated the discussion, and the SAC Secretary concluded the meeting.
MNA/KTZH
#TheGlobalNewLightOfMyanmar