Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Reporter Eint Khaing Oo and Editor Kyaw Kyaw Thant, arrested for reporting about victims of Cyclone Nargis, were among those freed from Insein prison on Friday.
The Editor of the Weekly Eleven Journal Kyaw Kyaw Thant (30) and reporter of the Econvision Journal Eint Khaing Oo (24) were charged with instigating riots and were sentenced to two years in prison in 2008.
"We were released as part of the amnesty. Ma Eint Khaing Oo is also among the freed. We didn't know in advance that we would be released. We knew only at about 10 a.m.," Kyaw Kyaw Thant told Mizzima.
Kyaw Kyaw Thant, who earned his Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from the Rangoon Technical Institute (RIT), was charged under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, punishment for inducing disrespect of the State and illegally crossing the border under section 13 (a) of the Immigration Act. He was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Eint Khaing Oo was charged under section 505(b) of the Penal Code and was sentenced to two years in prison.
Kyaw Kyaw Thant is reportedly suffering from a nerve disease and headaches and is said to be in need of urgent medical treatment. Despite being banned from writing inside the prison, he said he had used his brain as his pen and paper to record his experiences in the prison.
"We could read the state-run 'New Light of Myanmar' in prison if we paid Kyat 4,000 per month. As for other journals, we could read when our families brought them for us. I always wrote in my mind though we were not allowed to write in prison," he added.
Both the journalists were arrested while covering news of 30 victims of Cyclone Nargis, who marched to a UN office in Rangoon to request for aid.
While in prison, Alicia Paterson Foundation (APF) named Eint Khaing Oo as the first recipient of the Kanji Nagai Press Freedom Prize award, which was set up in memory of the Japanese photojournalist Kanji Nagai, killed by the Burmese Army while cracking down on the September 2007 monk-led protests.
The award was given in Thailand on 21 February this year at the Burma Media conference (BMC) and was accepted by a journalist friend in exile on her behalf.
San Moe Wai, Secretary of the BMA welcomed the amnesty to political prisoners, including journalists Eint Khaing Oo and Kyaw Kyaw Thant.
"We are happy and we welcome this news. We will be happier if they release all journalists and bloggers as they can release even criminals. These journalists are innocent and are not criminals," he said.
Burma on Thursday announced amnesty for 7,114 prisoners from prisons across the country.
