Myanmar to drop charges against ethnic minority protesters in Aung San statue dispute

The government is set to hold talks with those who demonstrated against a statue of independence hero General Aung San

The surprise climbdown comes as the country’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the general’s daughter, faces dissatisfaction ahead of next year’s elections

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A woman walks in front of the General Aung San Statue at Thu Mingalar park in South Okkalapa township, Yangon. Photo: EPA

Published: 6:49pm, 13 Feb 2019Updated: 8:38pm, 13 Feb 2019

Myanmar will drop charges against dozens of ethnic minority protesters who demonstrated against a statue of independence hero General Aung San and will hold talks with them, state media said on Wednesday, offering a rare concession.

The surprise climbdown comes as Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the ruling National League for Democracy and the general’s daughter, faces rising dissatisfaction in ethnic minority areas ahead of elections set for next year.

On Tuesday, police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowd of 3,000 protesters in Loikaw, capital of the eastern state of Kayah, also known as Karenni.

Aung San brokered a 1947 pact among some of Myanmar’s ethnic groups that is marked by an annual holiday on February 12, but the Karenni protesters say its promises were not implemented after the general’s assassination that year.

On Wednesday, the official Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said state officials had negotiated with protesters the previous day and agreed to revoke the charges against them.

In turn, the activists agreed to suspend their protests, it said, adding negotiations would take place within a month, covering issues such as an inscription on the statue’s pedestal.

The statue may be moved from its prominent position in a Loikaw park, the paper added.