Tense deadlock as Myanmar student protest enters third day

Myanmar riot police yesterday corralled dozens of student protesters calling for education reform after activists defied official orders to disband and the tense deadlock entered a third day.

A core group rallied near a monastery compound in the central town of Letpadan despite being encircled by police who have vowed to prevent their planned march to the country's main city Yangon.

"The government is now blocking us from all sides," said student activist leader Phyo Phyo Aung, adding that several protesters had fallen ill from sitting in the fierce tropical heat.

"I think they want to cut us off and stop other students from joining us," she told AFP, referring to around 50 other activists camped inside the monastery.

Some other students have entered the second day of a hunger strike in protest over the current education laws.

Tensions have risen since students Tuesday ignored a deadline from the authorities to disperse and give up plans of marching to Yangon, some 130 kilometres (80 miles) further south and the scene of previous major student-led demonstrations.