Skip to main content.
OSUN Menu
Education sub-menu
Education
OSUN Courses
Faculty
Graduate Programs
Certificate Programs
Mobility
Teaching
Birkbeck Summer School
Center for Liberal Arts and Sciences Pedagogy (CLASP)
Developing Teaching Professionals
Experiential Learning Institute
Global History Lab
Global Teaching Fellowship Program
GLOBALED
Curricula
CORUSUS
Economic Democracy Initiative
Experimental Humanities Collaborative Network
Global Studies
Hannah Arendt Humanities Network
Human Rights Program
Liberal Arts and Sciences Collaborative
Policy Labs
Professional Development Program for University Administrators
Strengthening the Core
Transnational Feminism, Solidarity, and Social Justice
Research sub-menu
Research
Research Projects
Community Engaged Research
The Democracy Institute
Economic Democracy Initiative
GEOHUB
Global Institute of Advanced Study
OSUN Forum on Democracy and Development
Research Creation Initiative
Senior Projects
Fellowships
Chatham House Academy Fellowships
Global Scholars Academy
Past Projects
Global Observatory on Academic Freedom
Open Society Research Platform
Access sub-menu
Access
Teacher Education
Enhanced Network Teacher Education Capacity
Hubs for Connected Learning Initiatives
Education Pathways
Collaborative for Liberal Education for Adolescents
Consortium for the Liberal Arts in Prison
Hubs for Connected Learning Initiatives
Microcollege for Just Community Leadership
Civic sub-menu
Civic Engagement
Student Engagement
Get Engaged Conference
Global Commons
Global Engagement Fellows
Engaged Learning
Certificate in Civic Engagement
Community Engaged Liberal Arts and Sciences
Community Engaged Research
Engaged Senior Projects
Experiential Learning Institute
OSUN Science Shop
Solve Climate by 2030
Academic Freedom sub-menu
Academic Freedom
Initiatives
AltLiberalArts
Invisible University for Ukraine
Smolny Beyond Borders
Threatened Scholars Integration Initiative
Institutional Partners
American University of Afghanistan
Parami University
News sub-menu
News + Opportunities
Newsroom
Current News
News Archive
Events
Current Events
Events Archive
Opportunities
For Students
For Faculty
Archive
Student Fellows and Ambassadors
Resources sub-menu
Resources
OSUN Resources
Academic Technology Guides
Blended Learning Toolkit
Digital Collection
Digital Case Studies
Digital Course Collection
Student-Produced Videos
About sub-menu
About
About OSUN
Our Vision
Who We Are
What We Do
Member Institutions
Themes
Annual Report
Branding
Search
Search
News & Events Menu
News & Events Menu
Newsroom
Current News
News Archive
Events
Current Events
Events Archive
Opportunities
Current Opportunities
Opportunities Archive
OSUN News
View all news
Open Society University Network Urges Myanmar Military Authority to Cease Violent Persecution of Academics, Students and Civil Society
Photo of Myanmar protest by Htin Linn Aye, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
On February 1st 2021, the military in Myanmar took over all branches of government and arrested the country’s civilian leaders and members of its democratically elected parliament. Millions across the country rose in protest to defend democracy and freedom and to prevent a return to the brutal oppression brought about by the junta that had ruled Myanmar for decades, denying its people rule of law, basic human rights, education, proper medical care, and access to livelihoods.
The nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement united people of all walks of life, occupations, ethnicities, and religions. The response of the army and security forces has been harsh and indiscriminate – over 250 people have been killed or tortured to death in detention; over 2,250 have been arrested, including
547 students
currently held in prisons without charge or access to legal assistance. Over forty university campuses and many hospitals in major cities have been
taken over
by armed military brigades. Dozens of young protesters have been killed by sniper fire. Civil society and media organizations have been subject to devastating raids, their staff detained, and assets confiscated at gunpoint.
Central European University and Bard College have been resolute supporters of the revival and reform of higher education in Myanmar over the years, through study and research opportunities; development of critical thinking, modern curricula and student-centered teaching; engagement in reform policy dialogue; and vigorous promotion of academic freedom and university autonomy.
As the founding members of the Open Society University Network, and on behalf of our global university community, we
appeal
to the military authority to cease violence against peaceful, unarmed civilians and the persecution of students, academics and civil society. We urge the immediate release of those unlawfully detained. We stand with the students, educators and all citizens of Myanmar and call on the army, police and security forces to refrain from denying the people of their country the future of peace, liberty and dignity they aspire to. We also call on the international community for solidarity, support and protection for our friends in Myanmar, who are in peril.
Post Date:
03-19-2021