Friday, August 7, 2015

Good News - Myanmar: Media workers Kyaw Zaw Hein, Ko Win Tin, Thura Aung, Yin Min Htun and Kyaw Min Khaing RELEASED!

Amnesty International

     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, Mizzima
    Prisoners 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
    Prisoners 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