SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Learn more.

Date of Incident: April 14, 2022

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances

Institution(s):University of Computer Studies, Mandalay

Region & Country:Southeastern Asia | Myanmar (Burma)

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On April 14, 2022, a convoy of three vehicles from the University of Computer Studies, Mandalay, was bombed on the Mandalay-Mattara highway. 43 students, teachers, and employees, including the rector, were inside the cars, but no one was injured or killed. 

The group was reportedly on its way to celebrations for the Thingyan festival, hosted by the military, when the convoy was bombed around 7:00 am. As a result, the first vehicle in the convoy sustained slight damage to the left side of the body and windshield. According to Moe Tauk Kyal, the students were not affiliated with the civil disobedience movement and it is unclear who carried out the attack.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about a violent attack apparently targeting members of the higher education community. Violent attacks on higher education personnel and students result in injuries and loss of life, violate international human rights and humanitarian law, and  undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally. All parties to conflict must refrain from such violence and should commit to supporting the right to education and academic freedom.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED).
http://burmese.dvb.no/archives/527667
https://moetaukkyal.com/archives/31193
https://mizzimaburmese.com/article/104613