Reporters Without Borders and the Burma Media Association called today for the immediate release of U Aung Shwe Oo and Daw Sint Sint Aung, two Burmese journalists working for the Japanese television news agency, Nippon News Network (NNN), who were arrested on 21 May when they went to a port near Rangoon to confirm the arrival of a North Korean ship.
"The arrest of these two Burmese journalists working for a foreign news media is a violation of international rules protecting accredited correspondents," the two organisations said. "We call on the Japanese government to intercede with the Burmese authorities to get them freed as soon as possible."
U Aung Shwe Oo and his daughter, Daw Sint Sint Aung, who are both employed by NNN’s Bangkok bureau, were arrested near the port in Thilawar, where several journalists working for foreign news media had gone to verify whether a North Korean cargo vessel had arrived in the port. North Korea and Burma established diplomatic relations last month.
An NNN spokesperson said the network was aware that they had been arrested and had been told they were in good condition.
Three journalists, of whom two worked for a Japanese news media, were arrested in Rangoon in February for covering a demonstration. At least five journalists are currently imprisoned in Burma, including U Win Tin, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
