Follow us on Twitter International PEN warmly welcomes the positive developments in Burma that has led to the releases of poets, writers and journalists Win Maw, Nay Phone Latt, Zaw Thet Htwe and U Zeya in recent days, in addition to the 2011 release of Zarganar and the lifting of restrictions on Aung San Suu Kyi. However it remains deeply concerned for the continuing plight of at least five writers who remain detained in Myanmar, and continues to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those who remain detained in Myanmar in violation of Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, protecting the right to freedom of expression.
At least four writers are now confirmed to have been freed in a presidential amnesty announced on 12 January 2011 which according to Burmese state media included 651 prisoners. However, at least five writers are believed to be amongst an estimated one thousand political prisoners who remain detained for their peaceful dissident activities and writings. They include Aung Than, Zeya Aung, Maung Maung Oo and Sein Hlaing who were sentenced to between 7 and 19 yrs in prison for the publication of an ‘anti-government’ book of poems entitled Dawn Mann (The Fighting Spirit of the Peacock), and editor Nyi Nyi Tun who is serving a thirteen sentence for his critical reporting.
