Reporters released after five-hour detention
Reporters released after five-hour detention
Three reporters arrested yesterday by the police in Rangoon were released
after about five hours in detention.
Two local correspondents Myat Thura of the Kyodo news agency, Sint Sint
Aung of Nippon TV and May Thagyan Hein of Myanmar Dhana economic magazine,
were detained in the Aung Tha Pyay police guest house or detention camp in
Kyaikwine following their arrest by the police while they were covering a
demonstration by a group against the military junta.
The police reportedly interrogated the reporters as to how they knew about
the demonstration prior to it taking place.
Meanwhile, two demonstrators Htin Kyaw, a mechanical engineer and the
Myint Shwe are still in detention though Aye Min Win released on yesterday
evening.
About 20 people staged a demonstration against the junta in downtown
former capital demanding it solve the problems which were responsible for
the hardships of the people in their day to day life.
The statement released by the group addressed to Senior General Than Shwe
urged him to solve the problems of soaring inflation leading to rising
prices of essential commodities, children’s parents being unable to afford
education, rampant corruption and illegal gambling, the state’s apathy
towards basic health care, non-existence of human rights and lack of
freedom of speech.
Moreover, it also wished that military generals and all soldiers including
Than Shwe stay in good health and in wealth.
Although the junta allowed demonstrations against the United States and
the United Kingdom outside their embassies recently, where pro-regime
protestors accused the countries of interfering in domestic politics,
there was a crack down on yesterday’s demonstration after 30 minutes of a
silent walk from 30th street to the City Hall with protestors holding
aloft placards.