As of May 25, 2011, there are 21 Burmese journalists in the country’s prisons. The following list contains a brief biography and the cases on which they were convicted:
1. Ngwe Soe Lwin
Age: 31
Occupation: Reporter
Organization: Norway based Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB)
Prison term: 13 years
Convicted under: section 33(a) of Electronic Law Act, section 13(1) of Immigration Emergency Provisions Act
Date of sentence: June 27, 2009
Current prison: Lashio, Shan State
Address: South Dagon Township, Rangoon
Case: Video reporter coveried orphans of Nargis victims. He was awarded Rory Peck Awards for video journalists.
His brother, Aung Tun Myint, was also arrested and imprisoned for taking photographs of 2008 constitutional referendum held in Hmawbi, Rangoon Division. He was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment in an immigration case. He is now serving his prison term in Sittwe prison, Rakhine State.
2. Zeya, aka U Maung Maung Zeya
Age: 60
Occupation: Writer
Organization: None
Prison term: 13 years
Convicted under: section 17(1) of Unlawful Associations Act, section 13(1) of Immigration Emergency Provisions Act, section 33(1) of Electronic Law Act.
Case: He was arrested in connection with explosion of three hand grenades in front of X2O water festival pavillion at the Rangoon Water Festival on April 15, 2010.
Current prison: Hsipaw, Shan State
Address: Bahan, Rangoon
3. Sithu Zeya
Age: 20-plus
Occupation: photo journalist
Organization: DVB news
Prison term: 8 years (other cases pending)
Convicted under: section 17(1) of Unlawful Associations Act, section 13(1) of Immigration Emergency Provisions Act
Date of Sentence: April 21, 2010
Case: He was arrested for taking photographs at X2O water festival pavillion when three hand grenades exploded on April 15, 2010.
Current prison: Insein, Rangoon
Address: Bahan, Rangoon
4. Win Maw
Age: 40-plus
Occupation: musician, reporter
Organization: DVB
Prison term: 17 years
Convicted under: section 505(b) of Penal Code, section 13(1) of Immigration Emergency Provisions Act, section 33(a) of Electronic Law Act
Date of sentence: November 27, 2007
Current prison: Kyaukpyu, Rakhine State
Address: Sanchaung, Rangoon
Case: Shwe Thanzin music band conductor from Taungoo Win Maw was arrested for recording a song written in honour of Aung San Suu Kyi on her birthday and also accused of having contact with exile news agency DVB.
5. Hla Hla Win
Age: unknown
Occupation: Reporter
Organization: DVB news
Prison term: 27 years
Convicted under: section 33(a) of Electronic Law Act, section 13(1) of Immigration Emergency Provisions Act, section 17(1) of Unlawful Associations Act
Date of Sentence: December 31, 2009
Current prison: Myitkyina, Kachin State
Address: Minglataungnyunt, Rangoon
Case: She was arrested along with her host Myint Naing after interviewing monks at Pakokku Wipulla Rama Pali Monastery (West) in Magwe Division on September 11, 2009.
6. Zaw Thet Htwe
Age: 43
Occupation: Reporter
Organization: Sports columnist
Prison term: 11 years
Convicted under: section 505(b) and 295(a) of Penal Code, sections 33(a) and 38 of Electronic Law Act
Date of arrest: June 13, 2008
Date of sentence: November 21, 2008
Current prison: Taunggyi prison, Shan State
Address: Bahan Township, Rangoon
Zaw Thet Htwe was arrested for helping victims in Cyclone Nargis which hit Irrawaddy Division in May 2008. Zaw Thet Htwe was arrested while on his way to his ailing mother’s residence in Minbu after doing relief work for the Cyclone Nargis victims in Irrawaddy delta region in June 2008.
He was also previously arrested while he was leading his ‘First Eleven’ journal on November 28, 2003, and charged with sending forced labour news to International Labour Organization and sentenced to death penalty. But he was released by High Court’s order after two years following pressure from the ILO.
Earlier, he was arrested for covering corruption in Burmese sports community and given imprisonment. His prison term was later commuted to three years and finally released.
7. Zargana, aka Thura
Age: 50
Occupation: comedian, film director, blogger
Ornganization: none
Prison Sentence: 35 years
Convicted under: section 505(b) and 295(a) of Penal Code, section 33(a) of Electronic Law Act
Date of arrest: September 25, 2008
Date of sentence: November 21, 2008
Current prison: Myitkyina, Kachin State
Address: Yankin Township, Rangoon
He was arrested while he was helping Cyclone Nargis victims in Irrawaddy Division in May 2008 and sentenced to total of 59 years. His sentence was later commuted by 24 years.
He told jokes about the authorities and was arrested and questioned frequently for his performances. He was also arrested for 21 days for offering alms to protesting monks in 2007 during the September Saffron Revolution.
He was awarded the ‘Bremen Solidarity Award’ given by Mayor of Bremen, Germany, on February 15, 2011. The award is given biennially to those who are fighting for freedom and human rights.
Zargana also received the One Humanity Award for 2008 by the Canada-based PEN (Canada), the Lillian Hellman and Dashiel Hammett Award by New York-based Human Rights Watch, and Art Venture’s Freedom to Create by London-based Art Venture.
He was shortlisted for the ‘Citizen of Burma Award’ for this year. This award is given by exiled Burmese in US to those who devoted their lives to charity and social works.
8. Thant Zin Aung
Occupation: photojournalist
Prison sentence: 10 years
Convicted under: 32(b) and 36 of Video Law, 33(a) and 38 of Electronic Law Act
Date of arrest: June 13, 2008
Date of sentence: November 21, 2008
Current prison: Hpa-an, Kayin State
Address: Rangoon
Case: He was arrested along with Zargana by Military Affairs while on his way back to Rangoon after burying Cyclone Nargis victims in Bogale Township, Irrawaddy Division, in May 2008.
9. Nay Phone Latt, aka Nay Myo Kyaw
Age: 31
Occupation: blogger
Organization: National League for Democracy (NLD), In-charge (2) of Thingangyun youth branch.
Prison sentence: 12 and half years (first sentenced to 20 years later commuted by eight years)
Convicted under: instigating and disrupting public order and State security section 505(b) of Penal Code, section 32(b) and 36 of Video Law, section 33(a) and 38 of Electronic Law Act.
Date of arrest: January 29, 2008
Date of sentence: November 10, 2008
Current prison: Hpa-an, Kayin State
Address: Thingangyun Township, Rangoon
Nay Phone Latt is a member of the NLD (Youth) and he ran a ‘Link to World’ Internet café in Thingangyun Township. He is popular among Burmese youths as a blogger.
Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) awarded Zargana and Nay Phone Latt cyber warfare prizes for their contribution in disseminating uncensored news to the outside world during the Saffron Revolution and post-Cyclone Nargis.
10. Lu Tin Win (Released 17 May 2011)
Age: about 44 Plus
Occupation: Poet, writer. He is also the former political prisoner.
Organization: 88-Generation Students and Youths
Convicted uder: causing a threat to the State, section 505(b) of Penal Code, instigating unlawful assembly under sections 145 and 147 of Penal Code.
Date of arrest: September 27, 2007
Date of sentence: October 2, 2008
Current prison: Myiet Orison, Tanintary Division
Address: South Dagon Township, Rangoon
Case: He was arrested on September 27, 2007, by security forces near Sule traffic light in Rangoon and found to be in possession of a book titled ‘Stand and Opinion of 88-Generation’.
He was arrested on a political charge in 1998 and served nine years in Thayarwady Prison, Bago Division. He was released in early 2007.
11. Lay Lay Mon, aka Phu Ngone
Age: about 40
Occupation: Writer
Organization: Teens magazine
Date of arrest: late 2007
Date of sentence: November 28, 2008
Sentence: 6 years imprisonment
Convicted under: State security section 505(b) of Penal Code
Current prison: Shwebo prison, Sagaing Division
Address: South Dagon, Rangoon
He was arrested during a protest demonstration against sudden and drastic fuel price hike in 2007.
12. Min Han
Age: unknown
Occupation: Poet
Organization: 88-Generation Student
Sentence: 11 years imprisonment
Convicted under: section 4 of Law No. 5/96 (Law of Protecting National Convention from opposing and disrupting, section 505(b) of Penal Code, agitating an offence against public tranquility and state security.
Date of arrest: January 3, 2008
Date of Sentence: November 13, 2008
Current prison: Lashio Prison, Shan State
Address: North Okkalapa Township, Rangoon
Case: Poet Min Han gave assistance to 88-Generation Student Group and All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) during 2007 September Saffron Revolution. He also led Poets’ Union.
13. Nyi Nyi Tun, aka Mee Doke
Age: 48
Occupation: Editor-in-charge of Kandaryawaddy News Journal
Organization: Poet
Prison sentence: 13 years
Convicted under: Having contact with unlawful associations under section 17(1) of Unlawful Associations Act, section 13(1) of Immigration Emergency Provisions Act, section 505(b) of Penal Code and section 6(1) of Wireless and Telegraph Act.
Date of arrest: October 14, 2009
Date of sentence: October 13, 2010
Current prison: Insein prison
Address: South Okkalapa Township, Rangoon
Case: He conveyed a message saying ‘Comrades, the military regime sentenced me to 13 years imprisonment for bridging people and politics, Signed by Mee Doke(editor)’ at the court on the day he was sentenced by the court. He also told his family on the same day at the court that he was tortured during interrogation.
He was arrested after the October 2009 bomb blasts in Mingaladon, Shwepyitha, Hlainthayar townships, Rangoon Division by Rangoon Division Police Force Intelligence branch (Politics) in Thingangyun, Rangoon.
He was the editor-in-charge of legal publication ‘Kandayawaddy News Journal published in 2007 in Kayah State Special region. This journal was closed after his arrest.
14. Sein Win Maung, aka Win Swe
Age: about 50
Occupation: Administrator (Manager), Myanmar Nation Journal office
Organization: Myanmar Nation Journal
Prison sentence: 7 years
Under sections: section 17/20 of Printing Act
Date of arrest: February 15, 2008
Date of sentence: November 28, 2008
Current prison: Kengtung Prison, Shan State
Address: Kayan, Thongwa Township, Rangoon
Case: Authorities found a Human Rights Report by UN Special rapporteur on human rights, a book entitled ‘Let’s build unbreakable Union’ by Shan leader Shwe Ohn, a documentary video CD of protesting monks staging demonstration in saffron revolution in September 2007 when the Myanmar Nation Journal office was searched by Military Affairs Security (MAS). The authorities took Myanmar Nation journal office administrator Sein Win Maung and chief editor Thet Zin for questioning. Thet Zin was released in September 2009 by pardon granted by authorities.
15. Zaw Tun , aka Win Oo (released before May 2011)
Age: 36
Occupation: Freelance reporter
Organization: The News Watch
Prison sentence: 2 years
Convicted under: disrupting discharge of duty by public servant (police)
Date of arrest: September 2008
Date of sentence: June 18, 2009
Current Prison: Insein
Address: North Dagon satellite town, Rangoon
Case: He was arrested by security forces near Aung San Suu Kyi’s residence in September 2008 and released on bail. He was imprisoned for disrupting discharge of duty by public servant while facing trial. He resigned from Rangoon based ‘The News Watch’ weekly journal in early 2009 and worked as freelance journalist.
16. Zeya Oo
Age: about 30
Occupation: Reporter
Organization: 2007 ABFSU
Imprisonment: 7 years
Convicted under: causing an offence against public tranquility and State security, section 505(b) of Penal Code.
Date of arrest: March 23, 2009
Case: Distributing pamphlets with 88-Generation Students calling for release of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Current prison: Sittwe Prison, Rakhine
Address: South Dagon Township, Rangoon
17. Myat Tun
Occupation: Reporter
Organization: Narinjara News agency
Imprisonment: 5 years
Convicted under: section 13(1) of Immigration Emergency Provisions Act, illegal border crossing
Date of sentence: May 1, 2009
Current prison: Pauktaw Township, Thawunchaung village, Rakhine State
Case: Military Affairs Security (MAS) arrested Myat Tun (a retired police officer) in front of Buthidaung based No. 2 Strategic Command HQ while he was on his way back home from Bangladesh and accused him of sending news to exiled news agencies.
18. Thar Tun
Age: unknown
Occupation: Reporter
Organization: Narinjara News
Imprisonment: 5 years
Convicted under: illegal border crossing, section 13(1) of Immigration Emergency Provisions Act
Date of sentence: February 2009
Current prison: Buthidaung Prison
Address: Sittwe, Rakhine
Case: He was accused of contacting Bangladesh based Narinjara News agency and was sentenced to five years imprisonment for illegal border crossing, according to Narinjara news.
19. Hla Soe
Age: 50 plus
Occupation: Writer, former political prisoner
Organization: National League for Democracy
Imprisonment: 17 years
Convicted under: section 5(j) of Emergency Provisions Act, 5(1) Export Import Act and 6(1) Public Proterty Protection Act
Date of sentence: December 21, 2003
Current prison:Obo Prison,Mandalay state
Address: Amrapura, Mandalay
20. Thaung Win Bo (released May 17, 2011)
Age: 65 years
Occupation: Senior photojournalist
Organization: New Light of Myanmar (English)
Imprisonment: 3 years
Convicted under: 17(1) of Unlawful Associations Act
Date of arrest: June 8, 2008
Date of sentence: November 2008
Current prison: Taryawaddy Prison,Pagu division
Address: South Dagon, Rangoon
Case: sending news to his daughter, VOA reporter Aye Aye Mar. His family members said that he wrote travelogues as a journalist and had no political involvement before.
21. Aung Tun Myint (Released 12 May 2011–Completed sentence)
Age: 34
Occupation: Freelance reporter
Organization: None
Prison term: 3 years
Convicted under: section 13(1) of Immigration Emergency Provisions Act
Date of sentence: Auguest 27,2008
Current prison: Sittwe, Arakan State
Address: South Dagon Township, Rangoon
