From editor at burmanet.org Wed Feb 3 14:53:58 2010 From: editor at burmanet.org (Editor) Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 14:53:58 -0500 (EST) Subject: BurmaNet News, February 3, 2010 Message-ID: <18634.63.173.78.131.1265226838.squirrel@webmail2.pair.com> February 3, 2010, Issue #3889 INSIDE BURMA DVB: Monks sentenced for 2007 uprising BUSINESS / TRADE Irrawaddy: Western-sanctioned Kanbawza Bank buys airline REGIONAL Kachin News Group: Chinese Embassy reverts to anti-Irrawaddy dam activists IMNA: NLD-LA Malaysia representatives hold nationwide 2010 election seminar INTERNATIONAL Irrawaddy: Burma absent from UN Security Council's February agenda OPINION / OTHER Reuters: China takes risky step with Myanmar pipelines ? Ben Blanchard Irrawaddy: How to select a UN Special Envoy? ? Aung Zaw PRESS RELEASE BCUK: 3,000 Ethnic Karen refugees at risk of deportation from Thailand to Burma World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers: World?s press condemns sentencing of Burmese journalists ____________________________________ INSIDE BURMA February 3, Democratic Voice of Burma Monks sentenced for 2007 uprising ? Khin Hnin Htet and Aye Nai Three monks and two civilians in Burma have been handed lengthy prison sentences, some as much as nine years, for their role in the September 2007 uprising, lawyers say. After a lengthy trial inside Rangoon?s notorious Insein prison court, the five men were found guilty under the Unlawful Associations Act, as well as possession of foreign currency and illegal border entry. The three monks, U Waryama, U Yaywata and U Weithuda, all hail from Burma?s central Magwe division. Three other men were also involved in the trial, but have not yet been sentenced. ?The five [sentenced] were on trial without a lawyer so the verdict was quicker for them. They were given sentences from five to nine years,? said Kyaw Ho, lawyer for two of the co-defendants. ?A trial cannot be fair for someone without any lawyer. At least [authorities] should have allowed them to contact their families and hire lawyers.? Meanwhile, a woman in Rangoon previously sentenced in connection with the 2007 uprising was transferred on 19 January from a Mandalay prison to Kachin state?s remote Myitkyina prison. Mya Mya Theint, a private computer instructor, was arrested in October 2007 and sentenced to five years? imprisonment under charges of defaming Buddhist concepts and supporting an ?unlawful association?. As well as Mya Mya Theint, 16 other political prisoners have been recently transferred to remote prisons, many along the hostile China-Burma border. Family members complained that they were not told of the transferal. ?I think [authorities] intend to make lives of the families miserable as some old people will be unable to make visit to their loved one. I don?t think I stand a chance to see my son again,? said the 72-year-old mother of Myo Han, who was transferred to Burma?s northeastern Shan state. Burma?s revered monk community was the target of a government crackdown on the September 2007 uprising anniversary last year. According to the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma (AAPP), 251 monks are currently held in prisons across Burma. Analysts predict that the ruling junta will step up its intimidation of opposition groups in the run-up to elections this year, rumoured to be in October. ____________________________________ BUSINESS / TRADE February 3, Irrawaddy Western-sanctioned Kanbawza Bank buys airline ? Wai Moe The Burmese military junta continues to privatize businesses in the pre-election period as Myanmar Airways International (MAI), a state-owned joint venture, has been bought by Kanbawza Bank, owned by a close business associate of the junta. A Rangoon-based weekly, 7 Days News Journal, reported on Wednesday that Kanbawza Bank will buy up to 80 percent of the airline while state-owned Myanma Airways will hold a 20 percent stake. A Myanmar Airways International passenger jet prepares for take-off (Photo: MAI) A joint venture of the Ministry of Transportation and Myanma Airways, MAI currently flies from Rangoon to Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Gaya in India. Bank chairman Aung Ko Win, also known as ?Saya Kyaung,? and Kanbawza Bank are on the Western economic sanctions lists. A former school teacher, Aung Ko Win once taught Nandar Aye, the daughter of Junta No. 2 Vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye, when he was commander of the Eastern Regional Military Command based in Shan State. When Maung Aye was regional commander, Aung Ko Win reportedly became a supplier to regional command headquarters, a connection which helped him to become one of the richest men in Burma. Aung Ko Win also owns a soccer club, Kanbawza FC, in Taunggyi, Shan State. The sale of the airline to private owners is the latest in a string of decentralization deals leading up to the national election. In the past two months, the regime has sold businesses involving hydropower projects, mines, ports, distribution of fuel and government buildings across the country. Other business sources in Rangoon said Kanbawza Bank also might like to acquire government-owned Myanma Airways (MA) to challenge Air Bagan, owned by businessman Tay Za. Recently Air Bagan extended its route from Rangoon to Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand, which was previously serviced by MA?s other joint venture, Air Mandalay. Both MAI and Kanbawza Bank declined to comment on the deal when contacted by The Irrawaddy. ?We cannot confirm or provide information on the news because we are not authorized to speak,? said an MAI public relations official in Rangoon. Kanbawza Bank officials said they were too busy to answer questions. In 1993, MAI was formed as a joint venture between Myanmar Airways and Singapore business interests with the support of Royal Brunei Airlines. In February 2007, MAI was reorganized as a joint venture between Myanma Airways, which retained 51 percent, and Hong Kong-based Region Air with a 49 percent stake, according to MAI?s Web site. An MAI official, however, said the information on the Web site may be outdated, but she could not provide any other information about the airline's ownership. Most of the privatization has involved companies close to the junta that are on Western sanctions lists, such as Tay Za?s Htoo Group of Companies and Zaw Zaw?s Max Group of Companies. One of the latest deals involved the Htoo company's purchase of fuel outlets. Meanwhile, The Voice Weekly in Rangoon on Monday quoted an official at the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry that Burma?s port authority recently agreed to privatize three ports and port properties in Rangoon, the commercial capital. Since the early 2000s, Alone Port in Rangoon and Burma's largest port, Thilawa in Kyauktan Township, have been operated by Asia World Co. Lt, a company on Western sanctions lists owned by businessman Tun Myint Aung, also known as Steven Law, who is also a close associate of the ruling generals. ____________________________________ REGIONAL February 3, Kachin News Group Chinese Embassy reverts to anti-Irrawaddy dam activists In a surprise gesture, the Chinese Embassy in Singapore reverted to anti-Irrawaddy-Myitsone dam project activists yesterday and informed them by email that it had forwarded their appeal letter demanding a halt to the construction in Burma?s Northern Kachin State, to relevant authorities in China. This was the first such letter to the Chinese government by Kachins in Singapore. Interestingly, the response came within a week, much to the surprise of many. Cheng Hong Bo, the Second Secretary of the Political and Press Section of the Embassy of the People?s Republic of China in Singapore, officially informed one of anti-dam activist leaders yesterday at 5:16 pm Singapore time that he had forwarded the appeal letter of the ethnic Kachin community in the city-state. On being contacted by the KNG reporter Solomon in New Delhi, Cheng Hong Bo refused to comment on his response to the activists but agreed to field questions through email. The Singapore-based Kachin Literature and Culture, also called Jinghpaw Laili Laika hte Htunghking Hpung (JLH) in Kachin, organized the signature campaign-cum-appeal letter. It was signed by 110 ethnic Kachins from northern Burma and submitted to the Chinese Embassy on January 28. ?We have forwarded your appeal letter concerning the issue of the construction of Irrawaddy/Myitsone Dam in Kachin state, Myanmar to the relevant authorities in China,? Cheng Hong Bo ( cheng_hongbo at mfa.gov.cn) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. Two JLH leaders met Cheng Hong Bo in his Embassy office on January 28 and explained at length about the negative impacts of the Irrawaddy Myitsone hydropower project, which is threatening local people and millions downstream of the dam. Their livelihood is at stake as is their lives should the dam collapse, following flooding because it is not very far from a Sagaing fault line. ?We are happy and encouraged with the response. We hope the Chinese government will take into account the wishes of the Kachin people,? said Awng Di, general secretary of the JLH in the city-state, who handed over the appeal letter to Cheng Hong Bo. Awng Di told KNG, they will try to lobby in the Chinese media so as to garner support from the Chinese people against the dam construction in Kachin State. ?We will seek the help of our friends in China to publish this issue in well known newspapers in the country. We want more Chinese people to become aware and want them to be involved in the movement against the dam project,? he added. ____________________________________ February 3, Independent Mon News Agency NLD-LA Malaysia representatives hold nationwide 2010 election seminar ? Khatter Non The National League for Democracy-Liberated Area (NLD-LA) Malaysia is currently in the midst of a cross-country educational campaign targeted at Burmese migrant workers living in the country, regarding the upcoming 2010 Burmese elections and the 2008 constitutional referendum. NLD-LA representatives began leading seminars on January 15th of this year at various locations around peninsular Malaysia, meeting with groups of Burmese migrant workers at township halls in strategic locations. Group members informed IMNA that the seminars are aimed at educating Burmese citizens about the Burmese political process, and preparing them to make informed decisions in the 2010 elections. ?When we go to a place to hold a meeting, an NLD-LA member in the region begins preparing 2 or 3 weeks before we come. This member is in charge of getting the meeting hall, telling people about the date and time of the discussion about the 2010 election, and distributing brochures. If there are no NLD-LA members in an area, we ask a well-know worker in the community, and ask him to be in charge of the preparations,? NLD-LA Malaysia chairman U Kyaw Kyaw told IMNA in a phone interview. U Kyaw Kyaw explained to IMNA?s reporter that when MND-LA representatives hold the discussions, they explain to attendees why the 2010 elections likely will not be free and fair. Representatives cite the example of the 1990 Burmese elections, when the National League for Democracy (NLD) won the popular vote but the Burmese government refused to transfer power to the party. Reportedly, the discussions also includes an explanation about why the 2010 elections do not guarantee increased rights for the Burmese people, and information about the 2008 constitutional referendum. According to U Kyaw Kyaw, roughly 500,000 from Burma currently live in Malaysia. At the beginning of the campaign, attendance at the seminars was relatively low; turnout has upped over the last two weeks, and currently the NLD-LA claims that 20,000 Burmese migrant workers across Malaysia have attended the meetings. According Ko Zaw Myo, a Burmese worker who attended the NLD-LA meeting in Parsigutan Township, in Malaysia?s Jahor State, ?On the 24th of January, the NLD-LA Malaysia chairman came, and he discussed the 2008 constitution and the 2010 elections. There was some information that we [the migrant workers] did not know about, for example that in democratic countries, the government?s power comes from the people; [we also didn?t know that] in Burma?s parliament, 25% of the seats are for the arm, and that the government will manipulate the remaining 75% to win the election. [We learned that] if we want to redo the constitution, we need that 75% of the votes.? Reportedly, 120 of the 400 Burmese migrant workers living in Jahor State attended the Parsigutan Township meeting. According to Ko Zaw Myo, many attendees left the seminar resolving to share their newfound knowledge with their fellow workers. ?We are supposed to inform other workers who don?t know about this [the information about the 2010 elections and the constitution] through mail and online, and we will distribute brochures with this information to workers starting on the 7th of February, but right now we do not know which newspaper we will use to advertise information about this.? he said. The NLD-LA informed IMNA that the organization has worked hard to accommodate the work schedules of their migrant worker audience, holding meetings at night when necessary. Meetings held on Sunday, during workers? small amounts of free time, are held in a more leisurely manner; the attendee group is often divided into 4 smaller sub-groups, and discussions are moved to more pleasant locations. U Kyaw Kyaw explained ?The main reason [we want to have these meetings now] is that some workers must leave the country and go back to Burma in August, when their work permits expire. When they arrive there [Burma] they can discuss what they have learned [at these seminars] about the 2008 constitution with their families and neighbors, this is how understanding [about Burmese politics] can come to the people.? He informed IMNA that the NLD will act in accordance with the Statement of Shawgonethine issued in April 2009, which states that if the Burmese government alters the 2008 constitution and makes Burma?s political system democratic, the NLD will consider joining the 2010 elections; without any constitutional changes, the NLD will boycott. ?In Thailand we can?t do [meetings] like they do in Malaysia, because in Thailand we have more Burmese workers than Malaysia. But the constitution of 2008 does not help the people, this constitution is just for the SPDC, even if the constitution is amended it will still be for the Burmese generals. We also have ethnic cease-fire groups in Burma, we should see what they think. Whatever they say, the 2010 election is for the government, it is very clear,? U Nyo Ohn Myint, NLD secretary of foreign affairs in Thailand, said to IMNA. ____________________________________ INTERNATIONAL February 3, Irrawaddy Burma absent from UN Security Council's February agenda ? Ba Kaung Burma is not on the February agenda of the United Nations Security Council because no member has raised the issue, according to Ambassador G?rard Araud of France, the country holding the council?s rotating presidency this month. ?As for Myanmar (Burma), for the moment really, no security council member has raised the issue in our contacts I had yesterday with most of them,? Araud told a press conference on Tuesday following consultations among members on the council?s February program of work. G?rard Araud, the French ambassador to the UN and current president of the UN Security Council (Photo:UN) On Monday, the French Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning Burma for violations of freedom of expression and lack of media freedom. The statement followed a Rangoon court's sentencing of two Burmese reporters to long prison terms. Commentators say that after the attention given by the Security Council to the Burma question following the 2007 demonstrations and the 2008 cyclone, Burma has become a side issue within the UN chamber. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited Burma last year, but his repeated requests to the regime chief Snr-Gen Than Shwe for a meeting with the detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi were ignored. Ban said last month that he was still searching for a replacement for Ibrahim Gambari as the new special UN envoy for Burma, while his chief of staff, Vijay Nambiar, has been temporarily assigned to coordinate Burma's affairs for him. The 14-member ?Group of Friends on Myanmar [Burma]? established by the secretary-general in Dec 2007 last met in Sept 2009. Meanwhile, the US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, who is visiting South Korea this week, is to raise the issue of human rights abuses in Burma in talks with South Korean officials, according to news reports from Seoul. According to one report, the US administration wants South Korea to actively join its campaign to address human rights abuses by the Burmese military junta, hoping Seoul's participation will help encourage other nations to join the initiative. As part of Washington's direct engagement policy with Burma, Campbell visited Burma late last year and met with Aung San Suu Kyi and Burmese Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein. Showing signs of frustration with the Burmese regime, Campbell recently told senators at a congressional briefing: ?We are attempting to take that first step...but I do want to underscore that one can't dance on the dance floor alone.? Analysts say that the relatively subdued UN approach on Burma is probably because the US administration wants to resolve the Burmese issue by means of its direct engagement policy with the regime. ____________________________________ OPINION / OTHER February 3, Reuters China takes risky step with Myanmar pipelines ? Ben Blanchard Beijing ? China will soon be burning oil and gas piped in through Myanmar, but putting some of its energy security in the hands of a pariah state beset by international sanctions and civil strife could be a risky gamble. A gas pipeline with annual capacity of 12 billion cubic metres is due to come onstream within the next two years, carrying the fuel from military-ruled Myanmar's rich offshore deposits into southwestern China. If all goes to plan, China at some point in the near future will start also receiving 12 million tonnes of oil a year via a separate pipeline, about as much as it imported from Sudan last year, its fifth-largest supplier. There is no exact date for its opening yet. The former Burma is a friend of China, which has stood by the country's ruling generals, selling arms and providing diplomatic cover when needed -- with an eye firmly on Myanmar's natural resources and access to the Indian Ocean. But the relationship is more a practical partnership than a meeting of minds, despite the parallels between the two authoritarian governments. Myanmar's military harbours a profound mistrust of its powerful northern neighbour, while China worries instability in Myanmar could spill over into its territory. Those fears came to the fore last August when fighting between Myanmar's military and the Kokang rebel group pushed thousands of refugees into China. Myanmar's army ended up firing across the border, provoking irritation in Beijing. "If Beijing thinks that the pipeline in Burma is going to be relatively trouble-free then they ought to rethink," said Maung Zarni, a Myanmar expert at the London School of Economics (LSE) Centre for the Study of Global Governance. "Even a regime that is currently in a marriage of convenience with them would fire into Chinese territory," he added. MALACCA STRAIT PROBLEM China, the world's second-largest oil user, sees the pipelines as a way to get around what in domestic energy strategy circles is known as the "Malacca Strait dilemma". The fear is that during a conflict, a hostile power could choke off energy supplies that are taken on supertankers through the narrow Strait of Malacca between Malaysia and Indonesia. Some 80 percent of China's oil imports arrive this way. The area already has a piracy problem. In 2005, the Joint War Committee of the Lloyd's Market Association added the area to its list of war risk zones. Bringing energy supplies through Myanmar is a handy way to avoid the Strait, and expands efforts to diversify supply routes with crude and gas pipelines from Central Asia. "One of the pipelines will be purely for oil, and that oil isn't coming from Burma. It will be offloaded from tankers coming from the Middle East and then piped to Yunnan and on. It's very important," said Ian Storey, a fellow at Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. "One way of looking at the Kokang incident is the Burmese were actually just clearing the border in preparation for that pipeline. So China couldn't be too critical of that incident because it's in their own interests." But the benefits may be more than offset by two major risks -- the many disparate rebel groups who have fought Myanmar's central government for decades, and popular mistrust at an influx of Chinese migrants and traders into Myanmar. "Think of a population that is seething with resentment towards the Chinese that borders on hatred," said LSE's Maung Zarni. "An 800-km pipeline is too good a target if the Burmese want to harm Chinese interests." Already, residents along the pipelines' route have attacked Chinese workers and offices, angry at the seizure of their land and property, said Wong Aung, a spokesman for the Shwe Gas Movement, which is campaigning against the project. "We can only imagine people's anger at the Chinese," he said by telephone from Thailand. "That kind of social unrest, or attacks, could take place at any time." Factor in India's jockeying for influence in Myanmar, driven by Delhi's fears that China is surrounding it with pro-Beijing states, and the potential for problems rises further. "If at any time India feels they have lost Burma to China, you can easily imagine a scenario where India quietly assists disgruntled military units or dissident groups which may become radicalised to target Chinese assets," Maung Zarni said. But Myanmar is keeping India in the game by offering stakes in the pipeline to two Indian gas companies. State-run Gail India will pick up a 4 percent stake and Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) will take another 8-8.5 percent, Indian media reported last month. PUBLIC RELATIONS DISASTER The project could become another international public relations disaster for China, coming hot on the heels of the opprobium Beijing attracted ahead of the 2008 Olympics for its oil investments in Sudan. Rights groups have repeatedly expressed concern that pipeline construction will bring abuses against local peoples, mainly by Myanmar's army which will be tasked with protecting the project. Yet desire for the oil and gas is such that the risk of another unhappy round of poor global public relations for China is one Beijing will be happy to take, said David Mathieson, Myanmar researcher for New York-based Human Rights Watch. "Potentially that pipeline project could really become a touchstone for all the other things China does in Burma, and it could be immensely embarrassing to them," he said. "(But) I actually don't think that's enough to stop the project. They've wanted that gas for a very long time." (Editing by Emma Graham-Harrison and Bill Tarrant) ____________________________________ February 3, Irrawaddy How to select a UN Special Envoy? ? Aung Zaw UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is still reportedly searching for a new special envoy to Burma to succeed the Nigerian diplomat Ibrahim Gambari. Ban has said that his chief of staff, Vijay Nambiar, has been continuously engaging himself with the Burmese authorities. More consultations would be held as soon as a clearer picture emerged of regime intentions, he said. It's doubtful, however, that the regime leaders, in this election year, will be ready to accommodate a new UN envoy, who is unlikely to achieve any meaningful breakthrough in the absence of political will on the part of junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe. A ceremonial welcome at Naypyidaw is as much as can be expected. Some political analysts have suggested holding up the appointment of a new envoy until after the election. If the UN wants to continue to engage Burma before the election, it should keep open a line of communication there and perhaps send a mid-level fact-finding UN delegation to Burma and neighboring countries. Analysts suggest that UN officials need public consultation to appoint a new UN envoy. They say that before appointing an envoy, the UN needs to identify its own strength, leverage, pressure and opportunity in Burma and to make a thorough analysis and map out a strategy. It will be a failed mission again unless the UN conducts a thorough analysis and engages in some soul- searching over failed missions of the past. After the 1988 uprising, the UN dispatched several UN envoys to Burma, but they all failed miserably. Burma has become a graveyard for UN envoys. In view of these failures, some do's and don'ts are perhaps in order when selecting a new envoy: * Do appoint someone with in-depth knowledge of Burma, who understands the political landscape there and who respects the dignity of the people of Burma and Southeast Asia. * Do select a person who has a solid background on the reconciliation process in conflict zones. * Do select a person who could gain the trust and confidence of the regime, the opposition, ethnic leaders and Burmese activists. * Do appoint a person who will not become a spin doctor of the UN and the regime. * Do select a person who is willing to listen to all sides and who is willing to engage with all stake-holders inside and outside Burma. * Do select a person who is honest and willing to admit failure instead of keeping the process in limbo. * Don't select a person who will become a mouthpiece of the regime, aid groups and business people. * Don't select a person who will not do the necessary homework and conduct thorough analysis. * Don't select someone who stands to reap personal gain from the job and who has a conflict of interests in Burma. * Don't select someone who will allow the regime to organize visits and arrange schedules to include attendance at regime-organized rallies, where the opposition and ethnic groups are denounced. * Don't select someone who will spend his time at Rangoon's Traders Hotel nursing hangovers after late-night drinking sessions with Burmese girls * Don't select someone just for the sake of filling the UN musical chairs. And don't, under any circumstances, appoint anyone from Nigeria. Aung Zaw is founder and editor of the Irrawaddy magazine. He can be reached at aungzaw at irrawaddy.org ____________________________________ PRESS RELEASE February 3, Burma Campaign UK 3,000 Ethnic Karen refugees at risk of deportation from Thailand to Burma The Burma Campaign UK today called on the government of Thailand not to go ahead with forcing around 3,000 ethnic Karen refugees back to Burma. The refugees fled into Thailand in June 2009 following a military offensive by the Burmese Army and their allies, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), in Karen State, Eastern Burma. Latest reports are that so called ?voluntary? repatriation will start on February 5th. Although the Royal Thai Government and local and military representatives have officially stated that they will not force people to return, in practice they are applying significant pressure on the refugees to return. Until now they have been kept in two temporary camps, Nong Bua, (also called No Bu), and Mae U Su, in Tha Song Yang close to the Thailand-Burma border. Many of these refugees have already been forced to flee their homes four or more times. The area in Karen State to which the refugees would be made to return to has many landmines. On January 18th a pregnant women who had returned stepped on a landmine and was seriously injured. In addition, the area is now under the control of the DKBA, an organisation which is guilty of committing horrific human rights abuses against civilians, including widespread use of forced labour, executions, torture and mutilations, forced recruitment of soldiers, including child soldiers, theft and extortion, and forced taxation at extremely high levels, making survival very difficult. The refugees say that they would return if they could, but it is not safe to do so. Only one family out of the 3,000 people has said they wish to return. ?Sending these refugees back to Burma is sending them back to possible death, slave labour or forced recruitment as soldiers,? said Zoya Phan, International Coordinator of Burma Campaign UK. ?Over the past 25 years Thailand has earned the respect of the international community by giving shelter to refugees fleeing abuses in Burma. If refugees are now forced to return it will not only be morally unacceptable, it will also damage the reputation of Thailand in the eyes of the world.? The Burma Campaign UK is also calling on the British and other governments to ask the Royal Thai government to allow them to remain in Thailand. A full briefing is available at: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/news-and-reports/reports/title/thailand-to-force-3000-karen-refugees-back-to-burma For more information contact Zoya Phan on 447738630139. ____________________________________ February 3, World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers World?s press condemns sentencing of Burmese journalists The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum have condemned the sentencing of two Burmese journalists to long prison terms and called on the country?s military junta to immediately release them and end its continuing attacks on the media. "We are seriously concerned that the crackdown on sending reports, photos and videos abroad that began in 2007 is intensifying in the run-up to this year?s elections," said the global press organisations in a letter to General Than Shwe, Chairman of the Burmese State Peace and Development Council, as the ruling junta is known. "Around 20 journalists and bloggers have been arrested since then and at least 14 are currently in jail, most of them in very harsh conditions," said the letter. "Under current law, anyone who uses the internet to send information abroad faces prosecution." Burmese journalist Ngwe Soe Lin was sentenced to 13 years in prison on 28 January for providing reports to the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), a broadcaster based in Norway. Mr Lin?s case follows the sentencing late last year of Hla Hla Win, another alleged DVB reporter, to 20 years in jail for sending reports abroad, and another seven years for using an "illegally" acquired motorcycle. WAN-IFRA represents more than 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and over 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries. WEF is the organisation within WAN-IFRA that represents editors-in-chief and other senior newsroom personnel. The full letter said;: "We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers and the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and over 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries, to express our serious concern at the jailing of journalist Ngwe Soe Lin. "According to reports, on 28 January the Rangoon Western District Court sentenced Ngwe Soe Lin to 13 years in jail for providing reports to the Myanmar exile broadcaster Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), based in Norway. He was arrested on 26 June 2009 and charged under the Electronic Act and Immigration Emergency Provisions Act, receiving terms of 10 and three years imprisonment, respectively. "This follows the sentencing late last year of another alleged DVB reporter, Hla Hla Win, to 20 years? imprisonment for violating the Electronic Act and seven years in jail for using an illegally acquired motorcycle. "We are seriously concerned that the crackdown on sending reports, photos and video abroad that began in 2007 is intensifying in the run-up to this year?s elections. Around 20 journalists and bloggers have been arrested since then and at least 14 are currently in jail, most of them in very harsh conditions. Under current law, anyone who uses the internet to send information abroad faces prosecution under article 33 (A) of the Electronic Law. "We respectfully remind you that imprisoning journalists for carrying out their professional activities constitutes a clear breach of the right to freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by numerous international conventions, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 19 of the Declaration states: ?Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes the freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers.? "We respectfully call on you to ensure that Ngwe Soe Lin, Hla Hla Win and all others held in detention for exercising their right to freedom of expression are immediately released and that the government?s crackdown on the media is halted. We also urge you to take all necessary steps to ensure that in future your country fully respects international standards of free expression." More WAN-IFRA press freedom protests can be found here. WAN-IFRA, based in Paris, France, and Darmstadt, Germany, with subsidiaries in Singapore, India, Spain, France and Sweden, is the global organisation of the world?s newspapers and news publishers. It represents more than 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and over 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries. The organisation was created by the merger of the World Association of Newspapers and IFRA, the research and service organisation for the news publishing industry. Learn more about WAN-IFRA at www.wan-ifra.org or through the WAN-IFRA Magazine. Inquiries to: Larry Kilman, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, WAN-IFRA, 7 rue Geoffroy St Hilaire, 75005 Paris France. Tel: +33 1 47 42 85 00. Fax: +33 1 47 42 49 48. Mobile: +33 6 10 28 97 36. E-mail: larry.kilman at wan-ifra.org.