(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders and the Burma Media Association condemn the Mandalay regional court’s decision on appeal to uphold three-year prison sentences for photojournalist U Thaung Sein, also known as U Thar Cho, and columnist Ko Moe Thun, also known as Ko Kyaw Thwin, who writes for the religious magazine “Dhamah-Yate” (Dhamah’s Shadow). The […]
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders and the Burma Media Association condemn the Mandalay regional court’s decision on appeal to uphold three-year prison sentences for photojournalist U Thaung Sein, also known as U Thar Cho, and columnist Ko Moe Thun, also known as Ko Kyaw Thwin, who writes for the religious magazine “Dhamah-Yate” (Dhamah’s Shadow). The court issued its ruling on 21 June 2006, reportedly without hearing any witnesses.
“These long prison sentences for two journalists who just took photos of the new capital, Pyinmana, show how dysfunctional the Burmese judicial system is,” the two organisations said. “We call for their release and the release of the nine other journalists imprisoned in Burma.”
The sentences were imposed in March by a court in Yamaethin, which found them guilty of violating article 32 (A) of the Television and Video Act for taking still photographs and video footage of Pyinmana.
Their lawyer, U Khin Maung Zaw, initially appealed to the Yamaethin district court in April. But it immediately rejected the appeal, also without summoning witnesses.
