Myanmar students to hold conference despite ban

Myanmar student unions have said that they will go ahead with a conference in Yangon with regard to a new education law that they oppose, despite the meet being banned as it clashes with the ASEAN summit in the capital Nay Pyi Taw.

The All Burma Federation of Student Unions planned to hold the conference in the Kha We Gyan Blind school in Yangon's Mayangone township Nov 12-13 but were denied permission, the Myanmar Times reported Tuesday.

The ministry of home affairs has said that security will be tight during the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit and US President Barack Obama's visit.

Obama is scheduled to address students for the second time at the Yangon University in Hlaing township Nov 14, the day after the students' conference is scheduled to end.

It will be almost exactly two years after Obama first addressed the students on what was his first visit to Myanmar.

"We will not stop our conference even though the authorities won't give us permission in their township," a student union official said.

The unions have now moved the venue to the Free Funeral Service charity's office in North Dagon township.

The student unions expect about 300 to 500 students from across the country to attend the conference, the official said.