In a bid to put a leash on any kind of students’ movement in universities, invigilators in Rangoon University east campus are collecting the names and roll numbers of students who are coming for their examination in black dresses as a mark of mourning for those killed during the protests, a student source said.

The invigilator’s move at the behest of the military junta came in the wake of a rumour that students in condemnation of the ruling junta’s brutal crackdown on protesters in September would wear black as a sign of mourning, the source said.

“Invigilators are secretly noting down the names of students and their roll numbers and the dates in which he/she came in black. If a student comes in a black dress today they will observe the next day whether the student again puts on black. We heard that those coming in black on all six days of the examinations will be failed and would eventually be expelled from the university,” a student told Mizzima.

Since November 21, the university has been conducting examinations for students’ correspondence course. The students believe that the invigilators were ordered by the special branch of the police to note down the names and roll numbers of the students.

“It would be much easier if they [authorities] made the students sign pledges, but I heard that authorities would fail the students in their examination and also expel them,” said another student, who is also appearing for the examination.

In a separate incident, students of Rangoon university east campus last week were prohibited by the authorities from making offerings at Than Lyin Township on ‘Tasaungdine’ full moon day. Students have a tradition of offering swan and food to the people in the locality during the full moon day of Tasaungdine.

Meanwhile, an unconfirmed report said the university authorities promoted a man who came with a recommendation letter from the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), the junta-backed civilian organization, to a tutor in the Botany Department of the university.

Following the monk-led ‘Saffron Revolution’ in September, authorities postponed university examinations and also delayed the re-opening of universities.

“The authorities had postponed the examinations of all university after the monk-led protests broke out in September. I think the authorities are likely to close the university on the 10 th of December as it is ‘International Human rights Day’ to prevent any activity by the students. But so far there is no announcement,” a student said.