Myanmar students, activists charged over protests

YANGON, Myanmar, March 25 (UPI) -- Dozens of students and activists appeared in court Wednesday following a police crackdown on protests over education reforms.

Nearly 130 students and activists, including 10 Buddhist monks, were arrested on March 10 during a heated protest of reforms that they say stifle academic independence. For weeks, those arrested and detained were not told their charges.

Some have been released, but 65 appeared in court early Wednesday, facing charges of insulting civil servants and refusing to disperse.

Images of the protesters being beaten by police sparked international outrage. President Thein Sein told the BBC that the officers' actions were appropriate.

Students began a protest march in January from Mandalay to Yangon (also known as Rangoon) in opposition to the reforms. The march was considered illegal.

During the protests, Haung Sai, a member of the National Network for Education Reform,told Al Jazeera there were at least three police officers to every one protestor.

"The students never had a chance," Haung Sai said. "The authorities were clearly in force and geared up to end this as violently and as quickly as they could."