UNION OF MYANMAR：
FIVE MYANMAR MEDIA WORKERS RELEASED

Detained journalist Lu Maw Naing is in ill-health in a Myanmar prison. He and four others are on trial in connection with their journalistic activities, and are facing lengthy prison sentences. Amnesty International considers them to be prisoners of conscience.

Information has recently been received indicating that Lu Maw Naing is unwell in Pakokku prison, Magwe Division, where he has been detained since his arrest on 31 January. According to reliable sources, he is suffering from back and stomach pain and there are concerns he has yet to receive adequate medical treatment. A reporter for Myanmar newspaper Unity, Lu Maw Naing was arrested without a warrant by Special Branch police in Pauk Township, in Magwe Division’s Pakokku District, and taken to Pakokku prison.

On 1 February three other Unity reporters – Yarzar Oo, Paing Thet Kyaw and Sithu Soe – and the newspaper’s chief executive officer (CEO) Tint San were also arrested without a warrant at their office in Myanmar’s capital Yangon. They were initially taken to Yangon’s Insein prison, but were later transferred to Pakokku prison.

The five men were arrested after Unity published an article on 25 January about an alleged secret chemical weapons factory in Pauk Township. The article reported that the factory was built in 2009 on land confiscated from farmers and that former army chief Than Shwe had visited it that same year. The government has denied the allegations and the authorities reportedly seized copies of Unity across the country.

The four journalists and Unity CEO are facing charges under Article 3(1) A/9 of Myanmar’s Official Secrets Act 1923, which carries a 14-year prison sentence in cases involving military installations. They have been charged with “disclosing State secrets, trespassing on the restricted area of the factory, taking photographs and the act of abetting”. The trial began on 17 March and is continuing at the Pakokku District Court on 8 April.

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Five media workers in Myanmar have been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour in connection with their journalistic activities. All five are prisoners of conscience who must be immediately and unconditionally released.

On 10 July a court in Pakokku District, Magwe Region sentenced Unity journalists Lu Maw Naing, Yarzar Oo, Paing Thet Kyaw, Sithu Soe and the newspaper’s chief executive officer Tint San to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour under Myanmar’s Official Secrets Act. They had been arrested between 31 January and 1 February 2014 after Unity published an article on 25 January about an alleged secret chemical weapons factory in Pauk Township, Pakokku District. According to state media, the five were charged with “disclosing State secrets, trespassing on the restricted area of the factory, taking photographs and the act of abetting” under Article 3(1) A/9 of Myanmar’s Official Secrets Act. All five are reportedly planning to lodge an appeal against their conviction.

The five are currently detained at the Pakokku prison, however there are concerns they may be transferred to remote prisons, far away from their family members. The transfer of prisoners of conscience to remote prisons was a hallmark of the previous military government.

Lu Maw Naing has received some medical treatment after suffering from back and stomach pain. However, conditions in detention in Myanmar are poor, and all are at risk of torture or other ill-treatment and a lack of access to adequate medical treatment.

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Five media workers from Unity newspaper in Myanmar had their sentences reduced on appeal to seven years’ imprisonment. They were jailed in connection with their journalistic activities and are prisoners of conscience who must be immediately and unconditionally released.

On 2 October 2014 the Magwe Regional Court in central Myanmar reduced the sentences of Unity journalists Lu Maw Naing, Yarzar Oo, Paing Thet Kyaw, Sithu Soe and the newspaper’s chief executive officer Tint San to seven years’ imprisonment each. They will all lodge an appeal against their convictions at the Supreme Court in Myanmar’s capital, Nay Pyi Taw.

The media workers had been arrested between 31 January and 1 February 2014 after Unity published an article on 25 January about an alleged secret chemical weapons factory in Pauk Township, Pakokku District in Magwe Region. They were all charged with “disclosing State secrets, trespassing on the restricted area of the factory, taking photographs and the act of abetting” under Article 3(1) A/9 of Myanmar’s Official Secrets Act. On 10 July the Pakokku District Court sentenced them each to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

All five men are currently detained at the Pakokku prison in Magwe Region.

Five media workers from the Unity journal were released from prison on 17 April following a Presidential pardon in Myanmar.

Unity journalists Lu Maw Naing, Yarzar Oo, Paing Thet Kyaw, Sithu Soe and the newspaper’s chief executive officer Tint San were released from Pakokku prison in Myanmar’s Magway Region on 17 April. They were released as part of a Presidential pardon which saw the release of 83 prisoners, including prisoners of conscience Amnesty International has campaigned for.

The five men had been arrested between 31 January and 1 February 2014 after the Unity newspaper published an article on 25 January 2014 about an alleged secret chemical weapons factory in Pauk Township, Pakokku District in Magway Region. They were all charged with “disclosing State secrets, trespassing on the restricted area of the factory, taking photographs and the act of abetting” under Article 3(1) A/9 of Myanmar’s Official Secrets Act. On 10 July 2014 the Pakokku District Court sentenced them each to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour, which on appeal was later reduced to seven years with hard labour.

While Amnesty International welcomes the five media workers’ release, the fact remains that they should never have been arrested and imprisoned in the first place.

Thank you to all those who sent appeals. No further action is requested from the UA network.

This is third update of UA 82/14. Further information: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/ASA16/023/2014/en/

Further information on UA: 82/14 Index: ASA 16/3865/2016 Issue date: 19 April 2016