24 September 2008

Alert

Journalist U Win Tin released after 19 years in prison


Incident details

U Win Tin

journalist(s)

released
(SEAPA/IFEX) - Burmese journalist U Win Tin, the longest term political prisoner in military-ruled Burma, was released on 23 September 2008, along with 9,000 other prisoners, media reports said.

The Mizzima news agency, a SEAPA partner, said that aside from U Win Tin, who was incarcerated in Burma's notorious Insein prison for 19 years, several other political prisoners were also released.

A report from the Reuters news service quoted U Win Tin as saying, "I will keep fighting until the emergence of democracy in this country."

Also granted amnesty were Daw May Win Maung, who was elected as a member of parliament (MP) in 1990 in Mayankone township, Aung Soe Myint, a MP from Taungoo, and National League for Democracy (NLD) member U Aye Thin, according to NLD spokesperson Nyan Win.

SEAPA, a coalition of press freedom advocacy groups from the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia, welcomes the release of U Win Tin. At the same time, the coalition notes that many more political prisoners remain in Burma's jails. SEAPA therefore maintains its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience in Burma.



Source

Southeast Asian Press Alliance
Unit 3B, Thakolsuk Place
No. 115 Terddumri Road
Dusit, Bangkok 10300
Thailand
seapa (@) seapa.org
Phone: +66 2 243 5579
Fax: +66 2 244 8749
 

More on this case

Journalist U Win Tin's health deteriorating after 19 years in jail, denied promised early release 3 July 2008 Imprisoned journalist U Win Tin hospitalised 24 January 2008 International PEN, RSF and Amnesty call for immediate release of editor U Win Tin 5 July 2005

Burma

Election analysis banned in Burmese publications 12 March 2010 Internet cafés in Sittwe ordered to monitor customers 24 February 2010 Aung San Suu Kyi calls upcoming elections illegitimate 16 February 2010 Internet cafes ordered to keep tabs on customers 9 February 2010 Another Democratic Voice of Burma reporter receives lengthy prison term 29 January 2010


 
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