YANGON — Myanmar's government warned student protesters on Friday against marching to Yangon to seek educational reforms, saying "action will be taken" to restore law and order if they go ahead.
The special announcement on state television did not elaborate on the threat, which could include a confrontation with security forces and mass arrests.
Hundreds of students from across the country have been marching from Mandalay to Yangon, the old capital, demanding changes to a proposed law that they say would prohibit students from engaging in political activities and curb academic freedom.
The two sides reached a tentative agreement on Wednesday, but the students said they would not stop their march until they are certain that parliament will approve their demands.
The students stopped for the night Friday in Paungde, about 200 kilometres north of Yangon.
"We are surprised by the announcement. We will hold a meeting tonight to make a decision," said Thiha Win Tin, a protester contacted by telephone.
The march has attracted the support of growing numbers of students and Buddhist monks. It also has many supporters in the opposition National League for Democracy party of Aung San Suu Kyi, which is expected to make a strong challenge to the military-backed government of President Thein Sein in elections set for later this year.
The threat of an expanded protest is sensitive in Myanmar, in part because students were at the forefront of pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988 that were brutally crushed by the military.