Burmese in India call for release of veteran journalist U Win Tin

A statement issued by the Burmese  media group in India said the immediate release of journalists and political prisoners, including U Win Tin is the fundamental prerequisite to start a political dialogue, for national reconciliation, self determination and equal rights for all ethnic groups and to usher in peace and democracy in Myanmar.

Ko Zaw Htey, a Myanmar journalist in exile also said that the military regime restricts freedom of press and expression while their own mouthpiece media enjoy full freedom in criticizing what they dub as "anti-government activities.

U Win Tin, secretary of the central executive committee of Aung San Suu Kyi's party the National League of Democracy, has spent almost 18 years of a 20 year sentence in prison on baseless anti-military government charges. He was arrested in 1989.

The Burmese media group also expressed its concern over the deteriorating health condition of U Win Tin in Insein Jail in Yangoon. U Win Tin is physically weak, and is suffering from diabetes and an inflammation of the vertebrae and has had two heart attacks. He has almost lost all his teeth.

The joint call in the press release of the Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) issued on July 2 blamed the military government for its refusal to free U Win Tin even though the law in Myanmar allows it.

U Win Tin was awarded the Guillermo Cano World Press Prize by UNESCO and Golden Pen of Freedom Award by World Association of Newspaper in 2003 for his effort to defend and promote freedom of expression. Reporters Sans Frontieres also gave him other awards.

There are around 20 journalists and over 1,000 political prisoners languishing in jail for their struggle for peace and democracy in Myanmar.