Aung Thu Nyein had been detained for two days for refusing to sign a pledge that he would stop taking photos of flood damage in Magway Division.
(Mizzima/IFEX) – On 17 September 2010, Burmese authorities released an intern reporter for the “Weekly Eleven Journal” who had been detained for two days for refusing to sign a pledge that he would stop taking photos of flood damage in Magway Division, Burma.
Aung Thu Nyein, 28, who had been held in custody at the Magway Township chief’s office in the compound of the Magway Police Station No. 1, was released at 10:00 a.m. on 17 September, the journal’s website reported.
“Our intern has been released as the result of negotiations. He did not need to sign any pledge,” the website quoted the journal’s managing editor, Wai Phyo, as saying. Officials earlier told Aung Thu Nyein to sign a document promising that he would refrain from taking any more photos of the flood damage in the area. He was arrested for this offense, authorities said.
The officers seized his digital camera, deleted the photos on it and told him to report to the township chief’s office in the compound of the Magway Police Station No. 1 the following day.
Officials then attempted to force him to sign the pledge, but he refused and was subsequently detained.
After that, the Eleven Media Group sent two senior editors to Magway to conduct negotiations in the case, Wai Phyo told Mizzima.
