(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release: **Updates IFEX alert of 18 October 1999** Paris, 4 November 1999 For immediate release WAN Calls for “Full Disclosure” in Myanmar Newspaper Case The World Association of Newspapers has called for “full disclosure” of events surrounding the alleged murder, torture and imprisonment of journalists of a […]
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release:
**Updates IFEX alert of 18 October 1999**
Paris, 4 November 1999
For immediate release
WAN Calls for “Full Disclosure” in Myanmar Newspaper Case
The World Association of Newspapers has called for “full disclosure” of
events surrounding the alleged murder, torture and imprisonment of
journalists of a state-owned newspaper in Myanmar, and it called on the
ruling junta to punish those responsible and free those still in jail.
According to reports, 27 employees of the state-owned newspaper Kye Mon
were interrogated after the publication of an article critical of Lieutenant
General Khin Nyunt. “We understand that the State Peace and Development
Council authorities physically abused those believed to be responsible for
the article, and that U Hia Han and U Thar Win were tortured to death,” WAN
said in a letter to General Than Shwe, head of the ruling junta.
Seven Kye Mon employees were still in prison, according to reports.
“The illegal detention, torture and murder of newspaper employees represents
a terrible blow to the press and the worst affront to the right to freedom
of expression, which is guaranteed by numerous international conventions,”
said the letter, signed by WAN President Bengt Braun. “We call on you to
make a full disclosure of the circumstances, to punish those responsible and
to release any employees from Kye Mon who are still being held by SPDC
authorities.”
WAN also asked Myanmar to release seven other journalists it was still
holding in prison — Win Tin, Ohn Kyaing, Sein Hlaing, Myo Myint Nyein, Sein
Hia Oo, Sans San Nweh and Khin Maung Win.
“We urge you to secure their immediate release as we understand they were
all imprisoned merely for exercising their right to inform,” WAN said.
The Paris-based WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry,
defends and promotes press freedom world-wide. It represents 17,000
newspapers; its membership includes 61 national newspaper associations,
individual newspaper executives in 93 countries, 17 news agencies and seven
regional and world-wide press groups.
