11 Burmese journalists imprisoned in 2011

Friday, 30 December 2011 14:21 Mizzima News


(Mizzima) – As 2011 comes to an end, 11 Burmese journalists and writers still languish in prison for trying to exercise basic human rights.

An updated list by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (Seapa) showed the list contains journalists, photographers, a blogger and a poet.

In October this year, the military junta ordered the release of five writers as part of a group of 220 political prisoners freed in an amnesty program for the elderly and the sick. Despite the release, Seapa says that at least 11 writers and photographers still languish in jail.

The 11 imprisoned journalists and writers include:


1. Hla Hla Win, reporter with the Democratic Voice of Burma; sentenced to 27 years in prison for violation of the Electronics Act, the Immigration Emergency Provisions Act, and the Unlawful Associations Act. Hla Hla was arrested for interviewing Burmese monks.

2. Min Han, a Burmese poet; sentenced to 11 years for giving assistance to the 88-Generation Student Group and All Burma Federation of Student Unions during the 2007 Saffron Revolution.

3. Nay Phone Latt, a blogger; sentenced to 12 years in prison for violating the Video Law and the Electronics Act, for posting an online caricature of then military leader Than Shwe.

4. Ngwe Soe Lwin, a reporter of the Democratic Voice of Burma and recipient of the Rory Peck Award for journalism; sentenced to 13 years in prison for violating the Electronics Act and the Immigration Emergency Provisions Act.

5. Nyi Nyi Tun, an editor and poet; sentenced to 13 years for violating the Unlawful Associations Act and the Wireless and Telegraph Act.

6. Sithu Zeya, a photojournalist; sentenced to 18 years under the Unlawful Associations Act and the Immigration Emergency Provisions Act.

7. Thant Zin Aung, a photojournalist; sentenced to ten years under the Video Law and the Electronics Act for helping victims of Cyclone Nargis.

8. Win Maw, a reporter for the Democratic Voice of Burma; sentenced to 17 years for allegedly “instigating and disrupting public order and State security.”

9. Zaw Thet Htwe, a reporter; sentenced to 11 years under the Electronics Act.

10. Zayar Oo, a reporter; sentenced to seven years for distributing pamphlets calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

11. Thargyi Zeya, a writer; sentenced to 13 years under the Unlawful Associations Act and the Immigration Emergency Provisions Act.