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Some detained Myanmar students freed after protest but others will face charges

Associated Press
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Student protester Thant Lwin Wai Chit, left, speaks on a mobile phone as his sister, center, and father stand by outside the court house after his release in Tharyarwaddy, north of Yangon, Myanmar, Thursday, March 12, 2015. Authorities freed several students detained after a bloody protest crack-down, but others involved in the stand-off over a new education law will face charges which carries up to two-year prison term. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) (The Associated Press)

Student protester Kyaw Zin Thant smiles outside a court house after his release in Tharyarwaddy, north of Yangon, Myanmar Thursday, March 12, 2015. Authorities freed several students detained after a bloody protest crack-down, but others involved in the stand-off over a new education law will face charges which carries up to two-year prison term. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) (The Associated Press)

Student protester Kyaw Zin Thant speaks to journalists outside a court house after his release in Tharyarwaddy, north of Yangon, Myanmar, Thursday, March 12, 2015. Authorities freed several students detained after a bloody protest crack-down, but others involved in the stand-off over a new education law will face charges which carries up to two-year prison term. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) (The Associated Press)

Myanmar authorities have freed several students detained after a bloody protest, but others involved in the stand-off over a new education law will face charges including disrupting stability which carries a two-year prison term.

One released student said Thursday that five students have been freed and about 20 more are expected to be released.

Government announced Wednesday that students who are currently in university will be freed on humanitarian grounds, while 10 Buddhist monks detained after a police crackdown on the protest in Letpadan have been released.

Nearly 130 people including about 60 students were detained Tuesday after hundreds of riot police charged their protest, pummeling them with batons and then dragging them into trucks, bringing a harsh end to a weeklong standoff.