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Articles - Burma

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Burma

Five reasons why IFEX members are sceptical about Burma's progress

Aung San Suu Kyi's landslide victory and other key media reforms in recent months have led many in the international community to go gaga for Burma. But IFEX members are cautiously optimistic - especially about the media freedom situation. Here are five reasons why.

Burma

IFEX members welcome release of journalists, bloggers

In a move showing the government's commitment to reform, Burma has released more than 650 prisoners in a presidential amnesty, including high-profile blogger Nay Phone Latt, five Democratic Voice of Burma journalists and leading musician-journalist Win Maw, report Mizzima News and other IFEX members. Of those released in this latest round of prison releases, 302 of them were political prisoners.

Burma

Hundreds of political prisoners freed, including famous comedian

The Burmese government has freed hundreds of prisoners, including the famous comedian Zarganar, and announced that it would free 6,000 more, report Mizzima News, the Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International (WiPC), Index on Censorship (Index), ARTICLE 19, Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Burma

Token Internet freedom gesture amid continued draconian jailings

Numerous IFEX members are stepping up pressure on the new government of Burma, which still detains approximately 2,000 political prisoners despite its interest in convincing the international community to end economic sanctions and support its chairing of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2014.

Burma

Artists under fire; "Irrawaddy" magazine remembers 1988 uprising

Inside Burma, a photojournalist is facing a possible 23 years behind bars, a political hip hop artist recently released from prison was banned from performing at a charity event, and a dance troupe is being forced to perform in front of a censorship board, reports Mizzima News. Outside the country, the exiled editor of "Irrawaddy" magazine marks the August anniversary of the 1988 uprising that was ruthlessly crushed by the same regime that continues to silence dissident artists and writers, reports Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Burma

Suu Kyi's release spotlights sham election, remaining political prisoners

Nearly eight years after being detained, Burma's most famous activist, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been freed. But her release comes just days after the Burmese junta declared victory in the country's sham elections, and when more than 2,000 other political prisoners remain locked up. IFEX members around the world that have been vigorously campaigning for Suu Kyi welcomed her release as the "first step" for freedom for Burma.

Burma

Rights abuses surge ahead of historic election

On 7 November, the Burmese people will go to nationwide polls for the first time in 20 years. But contesting political parties will have seldom been seen or heard of in the state media. Independent websites have already been censored, and foreign journalists will not be allowed to cover the spectacle. Thirty-three IFEX members, including Mizzima News and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), are lobbying the governments of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting this week in Hanoi to put pressure on Burma to respect free expression - essential if the elections are to be seen as credible, they say.

Burma

Exiled news sites hit by cyber attacks ahead of election

Three exiled Burmese news websites were hacked on 27 September, the third anniversary of the military's mass killings during the "Saffron Revolution" and ahead of national elections in Burma, report the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), Mizzima News and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The Mizzima News site was one of those hacked.

Burma

Election laws rampant with free expression violations

The Burmese military government has announced its plans to hold elections for the first time in 20 years on 7 November 2010, six days before Aung San Suu Kyi's current house arrest comes to an end. But the junta simply plans to reinforce its military rule with an illegitimate election, say Human Rights Watch and ARTICLE 19. Both IFEX members are calling on the international community and the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to pressure the junta to release 2,000 political prisoners and repeal Internet censorship and all regulations of the media that interfere with freedom of expression.

Burma

Undercover reporters face multiple risks to bring stories to the world

Correspondents living in Burma detail the dangers of undercover reporting and the layers of censorship to which approved news gathering is subjected in first-hand reports published by Mizzima News.

Burma

Reporter sentenced to 20 years in prison; junta diversifies censorship

A Burmese video reporter who challenged government policies in her work was sentenced to 20 years in prison on 31 December, report Mizzima News, the South East Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) and other IFEX members. The junta has also stepped up its censorship regulations with the military controlling newspaper content, and film and video footage under greater scrutiny, reports Mizzima News.

Burma

Surge in political prisoners despite release of four journalists

Four Burmese journalists have been released from prison after Burma's military government announced on state-run television, on 17 September, that it will give amnesty to 7,114 prisoners. But there was no mention of the more than 2,200 political prisoners still languishing in prisons all over the country, reports Mizzima News. This came a day after Human Rights Watch released a report saying the junta has more than doubled the number of political prisoners in the past two years, including more than 100 in recent months.

Burma

Suu Kyi gets eighteen months' house arrest amid international outrage

Amid a flurry of protests around the world, Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to one and a half years of house arrest, report Mizzima News, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), ARTICLE 19 and other IFEX members.

Burma

Aung San Suu Kyi on trial for breaking restrictions

Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was taken from her home last week and put in Insein Prison on a charge of breaching the conditions of her house arrest order. ARTICLE 19 and Human Rights Watch are demanding that the international community pressure the Burmese military government not to continue Suu Kyi's 13-year detention.

Burma

JUNTA IMPONE SENTENCIAS DE CÁRCEL RIDÍCULAS EN ÚLTIMA OFENSIVA CONTRA LIBRE EXPRESIÓN

Burma

DANS SA DERNIÈRE VAGUE DE RÉPRESSION DE LA LIBRE EXPRESSION, LA JUNTE DÉCERNE DES PEINES DE PRISON RIDICULES

Burma

JUNTA HANDS DOWN RIDICULOUS PRISON SENTENCES IN LATEST CRACKDOWN ON FREE EXPRESSION

What do you get for helping survivors of Cyclone Nargis, which tore up Rangoon and the Irrawaddy Delta in May? Extreme jail time, apparently. A popular comedian active in Burma's democracy movement was sentenced to 45 years in jail on 21 November for criticising the junta's slow response to the cyclone, videotaping the damage and organising his own relief efforts - what IFEX members are calling a "historical low point" for free expression in Burma.

Burma

UN BLOGUEUR EST INCARCÉRÉ POUR 20 ANS; UN POÈTE TIRE DEUX ANS

Burma

"BLOGUERO" ENCARCELADO POR 20 AÑOS; IMPONEN 2 AÑOS A POETA

Burma

BLOGGER JAILED FOR 20 YEARS, POET GETS TWO YEARS

A young Burmese blogger and a poet who disguised an attack on the country's military leader Than Shwe have received heavy jail sentences, report Mizzima News, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and other IFEX members.

Burma

COMEDIANTE BIRMANO GANA PREMIO UNA HUMANIDAD DE PEN CANADÁ

Burma

UN COMÉDIEN BIRMAN REMPORTE LE PRIX « ONE HUMANITY » DU PEN CANADA

Burma

BURMESE COMEDIAN WINS PEN CANADA'S HUMANITY AWARD

Zarganar, the leading Burmese poet, comedian and activist who is currently being detained for criticising the Burmese junta's handling of the cyclone that hit the country in May, has been honoured with PEN Canada's 2008 One Humanity Award.

Burma

LES SITES WEB DES GROUPES MEMBRES DE L'IFEX EN TUNISIE ET EN BIRMANIE SONT ATTAQUÉS

Burma

ATACAN A SITIOS WEB DE MIEMBROS DE IFEX EN TÚNEZ Y BIRMANIA

Burma

IFEX MEMBER WEBSITES IN TUNISIA AND BURMA UNDER ATTACK

The online news magazine Kalima, often touted as one of the only independent news sources in Tunisia, has suffered an attack that has completely destroyed its web content, reports the Observatory for the Freedom of Press, Publishing and Creation in Tunisia (OLPEC). Meanwhile, the websites of IFEX member Mizzima News, a Burmese news agency in exile, has also been hacked.

Burma

MIEMBROS DE IFEX SALUDAN LA LIBERACIÓN DEL PERIODISTA U WIN TIN

Burma

LES MEMBRES DE L'IFEX SALUENT LA LIBÉRATION DU JOURNALISTE U WIN TIN

Burma

IFEX MEMBERS HAIL RELEASE OF JOURNALIST U WIN TIN

IFEX members welcomed Tuesday's release of U Win Tin, the longest-serving political prisoner in Burma.

Burma

GRUPO DE ACCIÓN DE BIRMANIA DEMANDA LIBERACIÓN DE PERIODISTAS

Burma

LE GROUPE D'ACTION DE L'IFEX SUR LA BIRMANIE EXIGE LA LIBÉRATION DE JOURNALISTES

Burma

BURMA ACTION GROUP DEMANDS RELEASE OF JOURNALISTS

The Burma Action Group, made up of 22 members and partners of the International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX), is appealing to international bodies to pressure for the immediate release of Burmese dissidents being held on "trumped up" charges by the Burmese junta.

Burma

SE CONMEMORA EL 20 ANIVERSARIO DEL "8-8-88"

Burma

CORRESPONSAL EN BIRMANIA GANA EL PREMIO AL VALOR 2008

Burma

ON SOULIGNE LE 20e ANNIVERSAIRE DU 8 AOÛT 1988

Burma

UNE CORRESPONDANTE EN BIRMANIE REMPORTE LE PRIX DU « COURAGE EN JOURNALISME » DE 2008

Burma

20TH ANNIVERSARY OF "8-8-88" MARKED

The 20th anniversary of the tragic Burmese uprising that resulted in the killing of an estimated 3,000 people, the exile of thousands, the jailing of hundreds, and deteriorating human rights and democracy was marked on 8 August in Burma and around the world.

Burma

CORRESPONDENT IN BURMA WINS 2008 COURAGE AWARD

The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) has announced that Aye Aye Win, an Associated Press correspondent in Burma, will receive a 2008 Courage in Journalism Award.

Burma

OTRO CUMPLEAÑOS PARA LA REPRESIÓN

Burma

UN AUTRE ANNIVERSAIRE DE NAISSANCE DANS LA RÉPRESSION

Burma

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY OF REPRESSION

"The continued repression in Burma is a stain on the world's conscience," said ARTICLE 19 on the 63rd birthday of deposed democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The day, 19 June 2008, was her 4,618th under house arrest, and had to be celebrated alone, without a phone call, visit or letter.

Burma

LA DEVASTACIÓN DEL CICLÓN SE AGRAVA POR LAS RESTRICCIONES A LA INFORMACIÓN

Burma

LA DÉVASTATION PROVOQUÉE PAR LE CYCLONE AGGRAVÉE PAR LES RESTRICTIONS À L'INFORMATION

Burma

CYCLONE'S DEVASTATION AGGRAVATED BY RESTRICTIONS ON INFORMATION

The tragedy of the cyclone that killed as many as 100,000 people in Burma and left up to a million others homeless was in no doubt made worse by the military's severe restriction on news and its failure to alert the public, say the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), Mizzima News and other IFEX members.

Burma

LE RÉFÉRENDUM QUI APPROCHE EST UNE « ARNAQUE », DISENT LES GROUPES DE DÉFENSE DE LA LIBRE EXPRESSION

Burma

PRÓXIMO REFERÉNDUM ES UNA "FARSA", DICEN GRUPOS DE LIBRE EXPRESIÓN

Burma

UPCOMING REFERENDUM A "SHAM", SAY FREE EXPRESSION GROUPS

Burma's military junta is going ahead with a 10 May constitutional referendum except in areas hit hardest by Cyclone Nargis.

Burma

JUNTA SIGUE ATACANDO A MEDIOS

Burma

LA JUNTE CONTINUE DE S'ATTAQUER AUX MÉDIAS

Burma

JUNTA CONTINUES TO ATTACK MEDIA

Despite plans for a constitutional referendum in May and other promises of reform, the Burmese junta continues to crack down on the country's struggling independent media, say Mizzima News, Human Rights Watch and other IFEX members.

Burma

UN COMÉDIEN REMIS EN LIBERTÉ PARLE

Burma

COMEDIANTE LIBERADO HABLA DE SU ENCARCELAMIENTO

Burma

RELEASED COMEDIAN SPEAKS OUT

Over the past week, at least 75 people, including two journalists, who were arrested during the September protests in Burma have been released from Insein prison, reports Burmese-run news agency Mizzima News. The IFEX Burma Action Group has called upon the UN to help exiled reporters and publicly investigate the cases of missing, jailed and murdered journalists. Meanwhile, one activist who was recently released speaks out about his detention.

Burma

"MOVEMENT SIMMERS UNDER ASHES": INTERVIEW WITH BURMESE COMEDIAN ZARGANAR

Mizzima News interviews renowned comedian, actor and director Zarganar ("Tweezers") who was released from detention on 17 October. He was arrested on 25 September in connection with offering alms the day before to the protesting monks in their ex-communicative boycott of the junta at Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon.

Burma

RÉGIMEN MILITAR ABRE COMUNICACIONES, PERO MANTIENE UNA ESTRECHA VIGILANCIA

Burma

LE RÉGIME MILITAIRE ROUVRE LES COMMUNICATIONS, MAIS LES SURVEILLE D'UN OEIL ATTENTIF

Burma

MILITARY REGIME OPENS COMMUNICATIONS, BUT KEEPS TIGHT WATCH

As tumultuous protests that rocked Burma in September 2007 subsided, the military regime is relaxing censorship and other restrictions, but continues to control the Internet and detain prisoners.

Burma

CONTINÚA OFENSIVA A PESAR DE CONCESIONES; EL MUNDO PROTESTA

Burma

LA RÉPRESSION CONTINUE; EN DÉPIT DES CONCESSIONS, LE MONDE PROTESTE

Burma

CRACKDOWN CONTINUES DESPITE CONCESSIONS; WORLD PROTESTS

Dozens of marches around the world supported the people of Burma on the weekend, but the country's military government continued to arrest pro-democracy activists while seemingly relaxing its iron-grip on communications, report Mizzima News, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), Burmese exile-run news sources and news reports.

Burma

LA ESPERANZA SE MENGUA MIENTRAS EJÉRCITO APLASTA MANIFESTACIONES Y COMUNICACIONES

Burma

L'ESPOIR S'ÉVANOUIT TANDIS QUE L'ARMÉE MET UN TERME AUX PROTESTATIONS ET AUX COMMUNICATIONS

Burma

HOPE FADING AS MILITARY STAMPS OUT PROTESTS, COMMUNICATIONS

Burma's protests against the military junta and declining living standards have escalated from peaceful demonstrations and military warnings to bloody confrontations that have left an unknown number of people dead, including a Japanese journalist, report Mizzima News, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) and Burmese exile-run news sources. Authorities have also cut off the Internet and mobile phones that have played a crucial role in documenting the protests and getting information out of the notoriously closed regime.

Burma

EN DÉPIT DES RESTRICTIONS, ONT LIEU À TRAVERS LE PAYS LES PROTESTATIONS LES PLUS IMPORTANTES DEPUIS DEUX DÉCENNIES

Burma

LAS MAYORES PROTESTAS EN DOS DECENIOS CUNDEN EN EL PAÍS A PESAR DE LAS RESTRICCIONES

Burma

BIGGEST PROTESTS IN TWO DECADES ROLL ACROSS COUNTRY DESPITE RESTRICTIONS

The Burmese junta has stepped up censorship and violence against journalists who are trying to cover the rare mass protests gaining momentum across the country, while deepening their own propaganda in state media, report Mizzima News, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), ARTICLE 19, other NGOs and Burmese exile-run news sources.

Burma

INUSITADAS MANIFESTACIONES PROVOCARON ARRESTO DE ACTIVISTAS Y OFENSIVA CONTRA LA LIBRE EXPRESIÓN

Burma

DES PROTESTATIONS PEU COMMUNES DÉCLENCHENT L'ARRESTATION DE MILITANTS ET LA RÉPRESSION DE LA LIBRE EXPRESSION

Burma

RARE PROTESTS SPARK ARREST OF ACTIVISTS AND CRACKDOWN ON FREE EXPRESSION

Protests against soaring fuel prices held in Burma's capital Rangoon last week - including the largest rally in a decade - have sparked the arrest of at least 70 activists and a crackdown on the media and lines of communication, report Mizzima News, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) and news reports.

Burma

ANUNCIO PARÓDICO SUSCITA NUEVAS REGLAS DE CENSURA

Burma

UNE FAUSSE PUBLICITÉ ENTRAÎNE DE NOUVELLES RÈGLES DE CENSURE

Burma

SPOOF AD SPARKS NEW CENSORSHIP RULES

An ad placed in English-language "Myanmar Times" newspaper that carried a hidden message calling the country's military ruler a "killer" has prompted a slew of new rules for media outlets, report Mizzima News and local news reports.

Burma

JUNTA LIBERA A 52 ACTIVISTAS DETENIDOS DESDE MAYO

Burma

LA JUNTE LIBÈRE 52 MILITANTS DÉTENUS DEPUIS MAI

Burma

JUNTA RELEASES 52 ACTIVISTS DETAINED SINCE MAY

Following international pressure, on 2 July 2007, Burma's military rulers released the last of 52 activists arrested in May for participating in a prayer vigil for pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) says 51 were released on 27 June, but prominent HIV activist Phyu Phyu Thin, who carried out a five-day hunger strike, was held longer, reports SEAPA and Mizzima News.

Burma

DES MILITANTS EXIGENT LA LIBÉRATION DE SUU KYI

Burma

ACTIVISTAS EXIGEN LIBERACIÓN DE SUU KYI

Burma

BURMA: ACTIVISTS DEMAND SUU KYI'S RELEASE

Tension rose in Rangoon over the weekend following the extension of renowned democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi's detention for a fifth successive year, report ARTICLE 19, Mizzima News and local press reports.

Burma

AGENCIA DE NOTICIAS BIRMANA VUELVE A ABRIR

Burma

INDIAN AUTHORITIES RAID BURMESE NEWS AGENCY

New Delhi authorities yesterday raided and sealed off the headquarters of IFEX interim member Mizzima News Agency, a leading source of independent news on Burma run by exiled Burmese journalists, reports the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA). Mizzima is a partner of SEAPA.

Burma

LIBERAN A REPORTEROS QUE CUBRÍAN MANIFESTACIÓN

Burma

DES JOURNALISTES QUI COUVRAIENT UNE RARE MANIFESTATION SONT ARRÊTÉS

Burma

REPORTERS COVERING DEMONSTRATION RELEASED

Three reporters were arrested on 22 February 2007 while covering a rare demonstration against Burma's military junta in Rangoon, but were released after five hours, Mizzima News reports. Correspondents Myat Thura of the Japanese Kyodo news agency, Sint Sint Aung of Nippon TV and May Thagyan Hein of "Myanmar Dhana" economic magazine were detained and reportedly interrogated as to how they knew about the demonstration in advance.

Burma

DOS PERIODISTAS LIBERADOS DE LA CÁRCEL

Burma

DEUX JOURNALISTES LIBÉRÉS DE PRISON

Burma

TWO JOURNALISTS RELEASED FROM JAIL

Two journalists have been released from prison in Burma after being pardoned by the military dictatorship, report Mizzima News, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), International PEN's Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF

Burma

ESTRICTAS PENAS DE CÁRCEL SUBRAYAN ESTADO REPRESIVO

Burma

DE LOURDES PEINES DE PRISON JETTENT LA LUMIÈRE SUR UN ÉTAT

Burma

HARSH JAIL TERMS HIGHLIGHT REPRESSIVE STATE

Burma, officially known as Myanmar, has a reputation for being one of the world's worst violators of human rights, including freedom of expression. It has one of the strictest media censorship regimes, and journalists and writers are often given harsh prison terms for criticising authorities.

Burma

AGISSEZ ! BIRMANIE : LA LAURÉATE DU PRIX NOBEL EN RÉSIDENCE SURVEILLÉE

Burma

¡ACTÚE! BIRMANIA: PREMIO NOBEL EN ARRESTO DOMICILIARIO

Burma

TAKE ACTION! BURMA: NOBEL LAUREATE UNDER HOUSE ARREST

20 June 2006

Burma

SEAPA APOYA A PERIODISTAS BIRMANOS EXILIADOS

Burma

LA SEAPA SE PORTE À L'APPUI DES JOURNALISTES BIRMANS EN EXIL

Burma

UN EXPERT DES NATIONS UNIES DÉNONCE VIGOUREUSEMENT L'OCCIDENT POUR SA DIPLOMATIE INEFFICACE TANDIS QUE SÉVIT UNE CRISE DES DROITS

Burma

SEAPA SUPPORTS EXILED BURMESE JOURNALISTS

A coalition of exiled Burmese journalists and press associations has agreed to strike up a committee to provide support to Burmese colleagues in Thailand, India, Bangladesh and China, following a two-day conference funded by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA).

Burma

EXPERTO DE ONU CRITICA A OCCIDENTE POR DIPLOMACIA INEFICAZ EN MEDIO DE CRISIS DE DERECHOS

Burma

U.N. EXPERT BLASTS WEST FOR INEFFECTIVE DIPLOMACY AMID RIGHTS CRISIS

The international community is not doing enough to pressure Burma's military regime into curbing widespread and systematic human rights violations, says a U.N. human rights expert assigned to monitor conditions in the country.

Burma

CUATRO PERIODISTAS SON LIBERADOS DE PRISIÓN, PERO NUEVE PERMANECEN TRAS LAS REJAS

Burma

QUATRE JOURNALISTES LIBÉRÉS DE PRISON, NEUF AUTRES RESTENT DERRIÈRE LES BARREAUX

Burma

FOUR JOURNALISTS FREED FROM PRISON, NINE REMAIN BEHIND BARS

Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and PEN Canada have welcomed the recent release of four Burmese journalists from prison but are urging authorities to free eight others who remain behind bars, including award-winning editor U Win Tin.

Burma

BIRMANIE : SIGNEZ UNE PÉTITION POUR FAIRE LIBÉRER UN JOURNALISTE

Burma

BIRMANIA: FIRME UNA PETICIÓN PARA PEDIR LIBERACIÓN DE PERIODISTA

Burma

TAKE ACTION! BURMA: SIGN A PETITION TO URGE JOURNALIST'S RELEASE

Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) invites free-expression supporters to sign an online petition calling for the release of jailed Burmese journalist U Win Tin. U Win Tin, who is serving a 20-year sentence for "subversion," is also a senior aide to opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Burma

L'AMJ ET RSF EXIGENT LA LIBÉRATION D'UN JOURNALISTE

Burma

WAN Y RSF INSTAN A LIBERACIÓN DE PERIODISTA

Burma

WAN, RSF URGE JOURNALIST'S RELEASE

U Win Tin's hopes of being a free man after 15 years in prison appear to be fading, following news that the Burmese journalist and dissident may not be on the list of 9,000 prisoners who are being released from jail, report the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).

Burma

PARTIDARIOS DE LA LÍNEA DURA INICIAN OFENSIVA CONTRA PUBLICACIONES

Burma

LES TENANTS DE LA LIGNE DURE RÉPRIMENT DES PUBLICATIONS

Burma

HARDLINERS CRACK DOWN ON PUBLICATIONS

In Burma, where a military junta rules the country with an iron fist, conditions for the press are set to worsen following the recent ouster of Burma's prime minister Khin Nyunt, report the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Burma

BIRMANIA: FIRME PETICIÓN PARA APOYAR A PERIODISTA DEPORTIVO ENCARCELADO

Burma

TAKE ACTION! BURMA: SIGN PETITION TO SUPPORT JAILED SPORTS JOURNALIST

Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières) has launched an online petition to support jailed Burmese journalist Zaw Thet Htwe. The editor of sports magazine "First Eleven," Zaw Thet Htwe was sentenced in May 2004 to three years in prison on spurious charges of "attempting to assassinate leaders of the military junta."

Burma

DES LAURÉATS DU PRIX NOBEL DEMANDENT LA LIBÉRATION D'UNE DISSIDENTE

Burma

PREMIOS NOBEL PIDEN LIBERACIÓN DE DISIDENTE

Burma

NOBEL LAUREATES CALL FOR DISSIDENT'S RELEASE

Fourteen Nobel prize winners, including Vaclav Havel, Toni Morrison and José Saramago, have joined International PEN in calling on Burmese authorities to release jailed opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other imprisoned writers.

Burma

UN JOURNALISTE EST LIBÉRÉ APRÈS DIX ANS DE PRISON

Burma

PERIODISTA LIBERADO TRAS DIEZ AÑOS DE CÁRCEL

Burma

JOURNALIST FREED AFTER TEN YEARS IN JAIL

Burmese journalist and poet Kyi Tin Oo has been released from prison after serving a ten-year sentence, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) says.

Burma

DES MEMBRES DE L'IFEX PROTESTENT CONTRE LA CONDAMNATION À MORT D'UN JOURNALISTE

Burma

MIEMBROS DE IFEX PROTESTAN POR SENTENCIA DE MUERTE A PERIODISTA

Burma

IFEX MEMBERS PROTEST JOURNALIST'S DEATH SENTENCE

The Alliance of Independent Journalists (Aliansi Jurnali Independen, AJI), Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) and ARTICLE 19 have added their voices to an international protest against Burmese authorities for issuing a death sentence against journalist Zaw Thet Htwe.

Burma

LA CONDAMNATION À MORT D'UN JOURNALISTE CONSTITUE UNE NOUVELLE « TROUBLANTE »

Burma

SENTENCIA DE MUERTE PARA PERIODISTA ES "PERTURBADORA"

Burma

DEATH SENTENCED FOR JOURNALIST "DISTURBING"

In what exiled Burmese journalists call a "disturbing" development, authorities in Burma have sentenced the editor of a sports magazine to death for treason, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).

Burma

WIPC INICIA CAMPAÑA PARA LIBERAR A ESCRITORES ENCARCELADOS

Burma

LE WiPC LANCE UNE CAMPAGNE POUR FAIRE LIBÉRER LES ÉCRIVAINS EMPRISONNÉS

Burma

WiPC LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO FREE JAILED WRITERS

The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of International PEN has launched a month-long letter-writing campaign aimed at putting pressure on the Burmese military junta to free opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and nine imprisoned writers in Burma.

Burma

FREE EXPRESSION TAKES BIG STEP BACKWARD

Freedom of expression in Burma took a "serious step backward" last week after the military junta detained National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi, shut down the opposition party's countrywide offices and sentenced several NLD members to lengthy prison terms, report ARTICLE 19, Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN (WiPC).

Burma

FREEDOM FORUM AWARDS $1 MILLION PRIZE TO BURMESE OPPOSITION LEADER

The US-based Freedom Forum has awarded Burmese opposition leader and Nobel peace prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi its US$1-million "Free Spirit" prize in recognition of her pro-democracy efforts, reports the BBC. It is the first time in the prize's 10-year history that the organisation has awarded it to an individual.

Burma

ABRIRÁ SUS PRIMEROS CIBERCAFÉS

Burma

BURMA TO OPEN FIRST INTERNET CAFES

Burma's military junta has announced that it will allow Internet cafes to operate for the first time in the country, with an important caveat: users will only be able to access 1,800 websites, reports the "Straits Times." From November, 10 Internet cafes are slated to be opened ? five in the capital, Yangon, and five in the northern city of Mandalay, according to the "Myanmar Times."

Burma

SERIA PREOCUPACIÓN POR LA SALUD DE U WIN TIN; FOTÓGRAFA LIBERADA

Burma

DE SANTÉ DE U WIN TIN EST EXTRÊMEMENT PRÉOCCUPANT; UN PHOTOGRAPHE EST RELÂCHÉ

Burma

GRAVE CONCERN FOR U WIN TIN'S HEALTH; PHOTOGRAPHER RELEASED

One of Burma's most well-known political prisoners, journalist U Win Tin, is gravely ill and needs urgent medical attention, say Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the Burma Media Association (BMA). The groups are demanding his immediate release from prison amidst reports that his already poor health has sharply deteriorated since early July.

Burma

UN JOURNALISTE EST LIBÉRÉ APRÈS ONZE ANS DE PRISON

Burma

PERIODISTA LIBERADO DESPUÉS DE 11 AÑOS DE CAUTIVERIO

Burma

JOURNALIST RELEASED AFTER 11-YEAR IMPRISONMENT

Burmese journalist Sein Hlaing, publisher of the magazine "Pe-Phu-Hlwar," has been released from prison. He was one of nine political prisoners – all members of the opposition National League for Democracy – freed last week by the Burmese military regime, say Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Hlaing was released three years early, having served 11 years of a 14-year jail term. Speaking to RSF, Hlaing said he was in good health and thanked the human-rights organisations who have been campaigning for his release.

Burma

DES MÉDIAS DE BIRMANIE DEMANDE LA REMISE EN LIBERTÉ DE JOURNALISTES EMPRISONNÉS

Burma

BMA PIDE LIBERACIÓN DE PERIODISTAS ENCARCELADOS

Burma

BMA CALLS FOR RELEASE OF IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS

The Burma Media Association (BMA) marked 3 May by launching an Internet campaign in support of imprisoned journalists in the country. The organisation says at least 36 media workers are still detained in Burma while two are being kept under house arrest. Despite the release of a few journalists last year, "press freedom … in Burma is deteriorating," BMA says.

Burma

NATIONS UNIES; LE CPJ PUBLIE UN RAPPORT SPÉCIAL SUR LA SITUATION DE LA PRESSE

Burma

DURANTE VISITA DE ONU; CPJ PUBLICA INFORME ESPECIAL SOBRE CONDICIONES DE PRENSA

Burma

DURING UN VISIT; CPJ ISSUES SPECIAL REPORT ON PRESS CONDITIONS

In what Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) calls a "goodwill gesture" timed to coincide with the visit of a United Nations Human Rights envoy to Burma,

Burma

DESPUÉS DE SIETE AÑOS; OTROS DOCE SIGUEN ENCARCELADOS

Burma

APRÈS SEPT ANS DE DÉTENTION; DOUZE AUTRES SONT TOUJOURS EN PRISON

Burma

JOURNALIST RELEASED AFTER SEVEN YEARS; TWELVE MORE STILL IN JAIL

Journalist San San Nweh has been released after more than seven years in jail, according to Reporters sans frontières (RSF), the World Association of Newspapers (WAN), Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of International PEN. On 18 July, Burma's military junta announced that eleven members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) had been released from prison, among them San San Nweh and dissident writer Aung Khin Sint. The NLD is led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. In 1990, the party won the general elections, but the junta refused to honour the results and cede power, notes CPJ.

Burma

SEULS LES GÉNÉRAUX JOUISSENT DE LA LIBERTÉ DE LA PRESSE

Burma

SÓLO GENERALES DISFRUTAN LIBERTAD DE PRENSA

Burma

GENERALS ALONE ENJOY PRESS FREEDOM

Independent journalists have been continuing to exercise their profession in Burma, despite working in conditions that the "Irrawaddy" magazine (Vol.8, No.9, September 2000) calls "some of the severest censorship that the world's press has ever seen." In the editorial "Free Burma, Free Media", the author reviews Burma's press freedom record over the decades, noting that "in the 1950s, Burma was one of the most promising countries in Southeast Asia in terms of press freedom and journalistic professionalism." However, since the first military coup in 1962, press freedom has steadily declined and now only really exists for the military. The generals are "free to use the media to slam the democratic opposition... to promote their xenophobic worldview and to drill it into the minds of the Burmese people that only the military can act as the nations savior," says the author.

Burma

PERIODISTA CERCA DE LA MUERTE EN PRISIÓN

Burma

UN JOURNALISTE EMPRISONNÉ EST À L'ARTICLE DE LA MORT

Burma

JOURNALIST NEAR DEATH IN PRISON

Reporters sans frontières (RSF) and Daniel Cohn-Bendit, along with the association "MPs for Burma", are campaigning against the continued imprisonment of and "criminal attitude" towards Soe Thein, a journalist and Member of Parliament (MP) for opposition party National League for Democracy (NLD). Soe Thein's family attests that he is "close to death," suffering from stomach disease and a recent heart attack. According to RSF, Soe Thein was admitted to a hospital in Rangoon in September, only after he had a heart attack in his prison cell. He had a first heart attack in July 1997, but was refused treatment, says RSF. Accused of writing texts about "peaceful resistance" for the NLD, Soe Thein was detained in 1996 under the State Protection Law, which provides for indefinite periods of detention without trial. Soe Thein's bad health is "the result of the harsh detention conditions of political prisoners in Burma, and the criminal attitude of the authorities, which refuse to treat sick prisoners properly," asserts RSF.

Burma

PERIODISTAS SIGUEN EN PRISIÓN, UNIVERSIDADES ABIERTAS

Burma

DES JOURNALISTES SONT TOUJOURS EMPRISONNÉS; RÉOUVERTURE DE UNIVERSITÉS

Burma

JOURNALISTS STILL IN PRISON, UNIVERSITIES OPENED

Individuals everywhere are encouraged to sign the Reporters sans frontières (RSF) online petition for the release of Burmese journalist and novelist San San Nweh. San San Nweh continues to serve her ten-year prison sentence, received in 1994, for "producing and sending anti-government reports to international radio stations and foreign journalists passing through the country," says RSF. Held in the harsh prison conditions of the Insein prison in Rangoon for five years, San San Nweh participated in the 1988 pro-democracy movement in Burma through the publication of two magazines, "Gita Pade-tha" and "Ein-met-hpu". Her husband and daughter were also imprisoned. The petition can be viewed and signed at RSF's website: http://www.rsf.fr.">http://www.rsf.fr">http://www.rsf.fr.

Burma

RSF EXAMINA UNA LARGA HISTORIA DE REPRESIÓN

Burma

RSF PASSE EN REVUE LA LONGUE HISTOIRE DE LA RÉPRESSION

Burma

RSF REVIEWS LONG HISTORY OF REPRESSION

Burma has witnessed "ten years of contempt for press freedom" under the rule of the military junta, which continues to flagrantly violate human rights and free expression, states Reporters sans frontières (RSF). Holding power since 1988, the junta refused to recognise the May 1990 elections in which the National League for Democracy (NLD), under the head of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, won a landslide victory with over 80% of the popular vote. Since this time, the junta "has violated the rights of Burmese and foreign journalists to practice their profession freely" through murder, torture, severe jail sentences, threats and censorship, reports RSF. In the past ten years, four journalists were killed by Burmese security services.

Burma

NOUVELLES RESTRICTIONS À L'UTILISATION D'INTERNET

Burma

INFORME DE ARTICLE 19 AFIRMA QUE LOS MILITARES PRACTICAN "SEVERA" CENSURA

Burma

SELON UN RAPPORT D'ARTICLE 19, L'ARMÉE EXERCE UNE CENSURE SÉVÈRE

Burma

ARTICLE 19 REPORT SAYS MILITARY PRACTICES "SEVERE" CENSORSHIP

Censorship under the military rulers in Burma (Myanmar) is among the world's most severe, says ARTICLE 19 in "Acts of Oppression", a report published earlier this month when the United Nations Commission on Human Rights was meeting to examine the situation in Burma. According to the report, "under successive military governments, the law in Burma has been used as an instrument for the suppression of rights, particularly with respect to freedom of expression. Vague and sweeping censorship laws shut out any criticism whatsoever of the ruling elite." In an 15 April press release, Andrew Puddephatt, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19 said, "The international community has failed most singularly to address the appalling human rights situation in Burma. It will take more than handwringing to get the military government back to barracks."

Burma

HRW DEMANDE AUX NATIONS UNIES DE PRENDRE DES MESURES EN FAVEUR DES DROITS

Burma

HRW CALLS ON UN TO TAKE ACTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

United Nations member states should pressure the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) in Burma (called Myanmar by the dictatorship) to release political prisoners and lift freedom of expression restrictions, says Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Burma

HRW PIDE A ONU EMPRENDER ACCIÓN RESPECTO A DERECHOS HUMANOS