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. Starting July 1, 2026, SAR no longer publishes reports for the incidents that it records. SAR continues to monitor and record incidents that will be used in the annual Free to Think report. This page provides a record of incidents reported up to that date. Learn more about the Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.

Date of Incident: September 05, 2023

Attack Types: Other

Institution(s):University of Computer Studies, Monywa

Region & Country:Southeastern Asia | Myanmar (Burma)

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On September 5, 2023, the local Monywa defense forces attacked the opening ceremony of a computer course being held by the military council at the University of Computer Studies in Monywa.

A representative from the defense forces stated that the attack was carried out because “they couldn’t accept the military council’s education system.”

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:
https://www.facebook.com/ayeyarwaddytimes/posts/pfbid03765DVMa9QarzFUTgTejYw1PgnpZAW6x5z2Cvsui9mCvcgiFLd3uPQMmRx79XqnSsl
https://www.facebook.com/khitthitnews/posts/pfbid02yQ4JNigAb3SwLAHw5dLWL595ffMFgFaEwY8U4sDaYmvJbQXoWSgwvBZ86rCaFvp9l
https://burmese.dvb.no/post/613610
https://insecurityinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/September-2023-Education-in-Danger-Monthly-News-Brief.pdf