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: September 19, 2022

Attack Types: Other

Institution(s):Technology University, Kale

Region & Country:Southeastern Asia | Myanmar (Burma)

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On September 19, 2022, at least one non-state armed group reportedly used explosive devices to carry out an attack on Myanmar military forces occupying the campus of the Technology University in Kale. Soldiers stationed on the campus reportedly opened fire at the surrounding area in response. No civilian casualties were reported.

Myanmar’s military has occupied and used higher education infrastructure across the country since a coup that took place in February 2021. Military occupation and use of such facilities has resulted in instances of armed conflict on the campuses, rendering such facilities unsafe for educational use and endangering civilians within their vicinity.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about armed activity around and military occupation of a higher education institution’s campus. State and non-state armed groups have a responsibility to refrain from occupying, using, or attacking higher education institutions, among other civilian objects.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://burmese.dvb.no/archives/555104
https://deltanewsagency.com/22229/