Burmese student activist speaks to students

A former Burmese student union leader encouraged students across the UK to be more socially active at an event last week.
 
Ko Aung a former leader the Universities Student Union in Burma addressed the annual National Union of Students (NUS) conference in Newcastle.

Mr Aung said: “I hope to inspire students by sharing my experiences as a leading student activist in Burma.”
 
He also urged UK students to make use of their social freedom saying: “Please use your liberty to change things that are wrong or unjust; you have the power, believe in it and dedicate yourselves to the cause.”
 
The Burmese dissident rose to prominence in the 1980s for leading student protests in opposition of the ruling military junta.

Ko Aung is currently involved in the 88 Generation Student Group campaign, in partnership with Amnesty International and the NUS.

The campaigns calls for the release of those imprisoned for their involvement in the 1988 protests.
 
Mr Aung told The Journal: “Some of the campaigners had been released but then were re-imprisoned in 2007 following their involvement in protesting the government’s raising of prices on petrol and amenities. The re-offending campaigners were sentenced in 2009 to a ridiculous 55 years imprisonment.”
 
The speech follows the conference’s tradition of ‘Fraternal Greetings’ whereby the national president of NUS receives greetings from a representative of a partner organisation.
 
The conference brought together representatives from every student union, guild and association nationwide for three days to elect a new NUS president and to debate current student issues both at home and abroad.