(RSF/IFEX) – RSF and the Burma Media Association have condemned the arrests of dozens of dissidents for their involvement in distributing newspapers that have been banned by the junta. Some of the dissidents have been held in undisclosed locations for more than ten days. “Although 18 political prisoners were released in September, this new crackdown […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF and the Burma Media Association have condemned the arrests of dozens of dissidents for their involvement in distributing newspapers that have been banned by the junta. Some of the dissidents have been held in undisclosed locations for more than ten days.
“Although 18 political prisoners were released in September, this new crackdown is evidence of the military regime’s hostility towards the pluralism of information. It is intolerable that dozens of Burmese people should be imprisoned simply for having read or distributed a newspaper,” stated RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard and Burma Media Association President U Thaung in a joint letter to the Burmese home affairs minister, Colonel Tin Hlaing.
The two organisations called for the release of all those imprisoned for possession of opposition publications. “The ending of censorship and restrictions on opposition publications would be an unprecedented gesture of openness in Burma,” Ménard and U Thaung emphasised.
RSF and the Burma Media Association have also asked the home affairs minister to do all he can to persuade the government to allow the National League for Democracy (NLD) to launch a newspaper. The military junta has never responded to the request made in May 2002 by NLD General Secretary Aung San Suu Kyi for a licence to publish.
On 25 September, about 30 activists, mostly former political prisoners, were arrested and interrogated by intelligence services for possessing opposition publications, notably the newspaper “Khit Pyaing” (“New Era”, published in Thailand). According to “Irrawaddy” magazine (based in Thailand), this is an intimidation strategy by the Military Intelligence Service (MIS), aimed at preventing opponents from gaining access to banned publications. To date, more than a dozen people are still being held in undisclosed locations.
According to RSF and the Burma Media Association, almost 40 persons have been arrested over the last two years for having distributed or read opposition newspapers printed in Thailand. Some of them have been tortured or given heavy prison sentences for this offence alone.
In July, Aung Thein and Kyaw Naing Oo, two members of the NLD’s youth section, were arrested and sentenced to three years in prison for having copies of “Khit Pyaing” in their possession. They were apparently badly beaten up when they were arrested.
On 12 February, Ko Tin Saw, alias Tharkhan, was arrested at Bayintnaung market in Kawthaung (eastern Burma) on his way back from Ranong, Thailand. In possession of a mobile phone and the February issue of “Khit Pyaing”, he was accused of sending information to radio stations abroad. That same day, Ko Tin Saw was taken to the intelligence service’s Base No. 3 in Kawthaung, where he was tortured under interrogation.
In 1999 and 2000, seven members of the underground network that distributed the banned magazine “Mojo”, a publication linked to the NLD, were arrested. The seven include Mg Hla Soe, Ko Win Naing, Mg Kyaw Wae Soe, Joseph, Tint Wae, Ko Myo and Ma Htay Htay. Most of them have been sentenced to seven years in prison for distributing the monthly opposition publication, printed in Thailand, which has now ceased publishing. 3,000 copies used to be sent to Burma on a regular basis.
