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Alert

Win Tin and 12 other journalists still imprisoned despite anticipated release

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF and the Burma Media Association (BMA) have called on Prime Minister Soe Win to quickly release renowned journalist Win Tin and 12 other imprisoned journalists.

On 19 November 2004, news reports had suggested that Win Tin?s name was included on a list of prisoners that the military junta was set to release. On 20 November, several media outlets and organisations even reported that the 74-year-old journalist had been freed. However, Win Tin currently remains detained in his special Insein Prison cell, in Rangoon, where he is serving a 20-year sentence.

Friends of Win Tin told RSF that neither the prison nor military authorities had announced their intention to release him early.

Speculation about freedom for political prisoners followed an 18 November announcement that nearly 4,000 prisoners were to be released because of "irregularities" on the part of military intelligence, headed by the former prime minister, General Khin Nyunt.

While appealing for the release of Win Tin and 12 other journalists, RSF and the BMA said, "They were all sentenced for false reasons and at unfair trials. They should all benefit from the decision to release prisoners detained unfairly by former secret service heads."

As of 23 November, at least 13 journalists were jailed in Burma, including Aung Pwint, Sein Ohn, Myint Thein, Thaung Tun, Win Tin, Monywa Aung-Shin, Ohn Kyaing, Sein Hla Oo, Thein Tan, Nay Min, Lazing La Htoi, Zaw Thet Htwe and Aung Myint.

In May, journalist Zaw Thet Htwe, editor-in-chief of "First Eleven" sports magazine, was sentenced on appeal to three years in prison (see IFEX alerts of 18 May and 26 April 2004, 5 and 3 December and 24 July 2003). His arrest was allegedly linked to the success of the magazine, which specialises in football, and for its independent editorial line. Amnesty International and RSF have collected thousands of signatures appealing for his release.

In 2003, the military junta released four journalists, but has still not freed journalist Sein Hla Oo, whose seven-year prison sentence officially ended in August 2001 (see alerts of 23 July and 31 May 2002 and 30 May 2000).

For more information about imprisoned Burmese journalists see http://www.rsf.org or http://www.bma-online.net.