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Link to: Police arrest dissident blogger at Rangoon Internet café; poet moved to notorious Insein prison

Police arrest dissident blogger at Rangoon Internet café; poet moved to notorious Insein prison

(Mizzima/IFEX) – Writer and blogger Nay Phone Latt (a.k.a. Nay Bone Latt) was picked up by police at an Internet café in the Thingan Kyun Township of Rangoon, the former capital of Burma, on the morning of 29 January 2008, friends told Mizzima. The reason for his detention is not yet clear. In addition to […]

Link to: Poet arrested, journal reprimanded, over poem allegedly insulting senior junta member

Poet arrested, journal reprimanded, over poem allegedly insulting senior junta member

(Mizzima/IFEX) – On 22 January 2008, Burmese authorities arrested veteran poet Saw Wai over a Valentine’s Day poem carried in that week’s issue of the Rangoon-based Burmese weekly “Love Journal”, according to sources in the literary community. Sources said Saw Wai was arrested and is being interrogated because, when the initial letters of the lines […]

Link to: Another website blocked as junta continues to restrict Internet access

Another website blocked as junta continues to restrict Internet access

(Mizzima/IFEX) – The Burmese military junta has put up another hurdle for Internet users in Burma by blocking the website http://www.blogger.com Following the ‘Saffron Revolution’ in September 2007, the Internet Service Provider (ISP), Myanmar Teleport had restricted surfing to http://www.blogger.com. Soon afterwards, the site was also inaccessible via the other ISP in Burma, Myanmar Post […]

Link to: Military junta bans 19 writers and performers; poet questioned by authorities

Military junta bans 19 writers and performers; poet questioned by authorities

(Mizzima/IFEX) – The Burmese regime has banned the work of 19 artists and writers, and some writers and poets are hiding from authorities because they are being pursued for taking part in the September 2007 uprising. Among those whose works have been banned is the renowned cartoonist Awpikye, whose three-decade-long career was brought to a […]

Link to: Member of banned comedy group released from prison

Member of banned comedy group released from prison

(Mizzima/IFEX) – After more than a month in Mandalay’s Ohbo prison, Par Par Lay is a free person again. Burmese authorities released the prominent comedian on 30 October 2007. The eldest among the three famous siblings of the Moustache Brothers vaudeville act, known widely for their criticism of the ruling junta, Par Par Lay was […]

Link to: Internet service restored but access slow

Internet service restored but access slow

(Mizzima/IFEX) – Internet service has been restored in Burma but access is at a snail’s pace. The service, which has been sporadic since the September protests, is again accessible, but Internet surfers in Burma said they are forced to wait hours before they are able to send an e-mail. In late September, Internet service was […]

Link to: Internet access once again cut off

Internet access once again cut off

(Mizzima/IFEX) – After about two weeks of slow Internet line recovery, users in Rangoon said on 1 November 2007 that access to the World Wide Web has been cut off once again. Internet users in Rangoon said the Internet lines, which have been accessible for 24 hours a day since mid-October, once again went off […]

Link to: Intelligence services tell Burmese media outlet to close temporarily as authorities allegedly plan crackdown on exile organisations

Intelligence services tell Burmese media outlet to close temporarily as authorities allegedly plan crackdown on exile organisations

(Mizzima/IFEX) – Thai intelligence services told at least one Burmese media outlet based in Thailand to temporarily close its offices, allegedly because the Thai government is planning to launch a nation-wide crackdown on “illegal” Burmese groups based in Thailand. Informed sources told Mizzima that the offices of pro-democracy Burmese opposition groups in Thailand will be […]