Media workers Kyaw Zaw Hein, Ko Win Tin, Thura Aung, Yin Min Htun and Kyaw Min Khaing
from the Bi Midday Sun newspaper were released on 30 July 2015 from
Insein prison in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city. They were among at
least 11 prisoners of conscience released as part of a presidential
prisoner amnesty.
The
five men had each been sentenced to two years in prison on 16 October
2014, after the Bi Midday Sun published false claims on 7 July 2014 that
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic leaders had been elected
to an interim government. They were charged under Section 505(b) of the
Penal Code, a vaguely worded law which is often used to criminalize
peaceful human rights activists and government critics.
Amnesty
International welcomes the release of Kyaw Zaw Hein, Ko Win Tin, Thura
Aung, Yin Min Htun and Kyaw Min Khaing, but they should never have been
imprisoned in the first place.
Click here for more information about this URGENT ACTION UPDATE.
For more information:
- "Two Year Jail Sentences for Media Workers in Myanmar," October 21, 2014
- "Prisoners of Conscience Released but Scores Remain Behind Bars," July 31, 2015, MizzimaPrisoners of conscience released but scores remain behind bars - Amnesty - See more at: http://mizzima.com/news-domestic/prisoners-conscience-released-scores-remain-behind-bars-amnesty#sthash.VvJKzrjk.dpufPrisoners of conscience released but scores remain behind bars - Amnesty - See more at: http://mizzima.com/news-domestic/prisoners-conscience-released-scores-remain-behind-bars-amnesty#sthash.VvJKzrjk.dpuf
