U Win Tin--Imprisoned: July 4, 1989

U Win Tin, former editor of two daily newspapers and vice-chair of Burma’s Writers Association, was arrested and sentenced to three years’ hard labor—a sentence that was subsequently extended. U Win Tin was active in establishing independent publications during the 1988 student democracy movement, and he also worked closely with Aung San Suu Kyi.

Authorities extended U Win Tin’s sentence by five more years o­n March 28, 1996, after they convicted him of smuggling letters describing conditions at Insein prison to Professor Yozo Yokota, the former U.N. Special Rapporteur for human rights in Burma.

In an October alert, Human Rights Watch cited reports that U Win Tin was seriously ill and perhaps close to death in Rangoon General Hospital.

Ma Myat Mo Mo Tun--Imprisoned: 1994

The daughter of imprisoned dissident Daw San San Nwe, Ma Myat Mo Mo Tun, was arrested in 1994 and sentenced to seven years in prison for spreading information injurious to the state. She is alleged to have recorded “defamatory letters and documents,” made contact with “illegal” groups and sent anti-government articles to a journal published by an expatriate group.

U Myo Myint Nyein, U Sein Hlaing--Imprisoned: September 1990

U Myo Myint Nyein and U Sein Hlaing were arrested for contributing to the preparation, planning, and publication of the satirical news magazine What’s Happening, which the government claims is anti-government propaganda. They were sentenced to seven years in prison. o­n March 28, 1996, they were among 21 prisoners tried inside Insein Prison, and given an additional seven years sentence under the Emergency Provisions Act for smuggling letters describing prison conditions to Professor Yozo Yokota, the U.N. Special Rapporteur for human rights in Burma.

U Maung Maung Lay Ngwe--Imprisoned: September 1990

U Maung Maung Lay Ngwe was arrested and charged with writing and distributing publications that “make people lose respect for the government.” The publications were titled, collectively, Pe-Tin-Tan.

Daw San San Nwe, U Sein Hla Oo--Imprisoned: August 5, 1994

Daw San San Nwe and journalist U Sein Hla Oo were arrested o­n charges of spreading information damaging to the state and contacting anti-government groups. San San Nwe and Sein Hla Oo were sentenced o­n October 6, 1994 to 10 years and seven years in prison, respectively. Three other dissidents, including a former UNICEF worker, were sentenced to between 7 and 15 years in prison o­n similar charges. Officials said the five had “fabricated and sent anti-government reports to some diplomats in foreign embassies, foreign radio stations, and visiting foreign journalists.” San San Nwe allegedly met two French reporters visiting Burma in April 1993 and appeared in a video they produced to spread propaganda about the government.

According to reports citing Burmese officials, authorities seized confidential Energy Ministry data, as well as documents and compact discs containing anti-government materials from o­ne of the dissidents. Both U Sein Hla Oo and Daw San San Nwe were previously imprisoned for their involvement in the NLD. As of December 1994, all five were being held at the Insein Prison in Rangoon.

Ye Htut--Imprisoned: September 27, 1995

Ye Htut was arrested o­n charges of sending fabricated news abroad to Burmese dissidents and opposition media. Among the organizations to which Ye Htut allegedly confessed sending reports was the Thailand-based Burma Information Group (BIG), which publishes the human rights newsletter The Irrawaddy.

Burma’s official media claimed that BIG had presented a false picture of the country to foreign governments and human rights organizations. He was sentenced to seven years in prison. In 1997, CPJ was unable to obtain new information o­n his status.

Song Win Lat

A famous short story writer detained since early 1997, Song Win Lat is serving a seven-year jail term. He was accused of violating the press act. In reality, he made a joke about the junta during a literature talk.

Ma Thida [Sanchaung] 

Ma Thida is a short story writer and physician who has worked with the NLD. She has been detained since August 1993.  She was accused of  printing and publishing materials which opposed the military’s National Convention. In reality, she was sentenced to twenty years’ imprisonment for possession of a copy of the Khit-pyine journal. She is in bad health.

Maung Hming

Maung Hming, a well-known poet, was arrested in  December 1991 and is serving a fifteen-year jail term. He is a member of the All-Burma Federation of Student Unions. He joined a peaceful demonstration o­n the campus of Rangoon University o­n 10 December 1991. He distributed many poems written about Aung San  Suu Kyi. He is now in Thayat prison. He is a student of Rangoon University.

Aung Gyan (Monywa)

Aung Gyan is a well-known poet detained since December 1991. He is serving a fifteen-year jail term. He is a final year agricultural student and a member of  ABFSU.

U Moe Thu 

A writer and journalist who worked closely with Aung San Suu Kyi, U Moe Thu has been detained since May 1996. He was charged under Section 10(A) of the State Protection Law of 1975. He was arrested before the sixth anniversary of the 1990 election. In 1989 he was sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment. His translation of Exodus is among his more well-known works.

Dr. Aung Khin Sint

A senior NLD leader, Dr. Aung Khin Sint contributed health, education and general knowledge articles to numerous magazines and journals. He has been detained since 1996. This is his third prison term under the junta.

Nyi Pu Lay

Nyi Pu Lay is a well-known short story writer who has been detained since November 1990. He is serving a ten-year jail term. His parents are well-respected writers Lu Du U Hla and Lu Du Daw Amar. According to the jail manual rules, he should have been released at the end of 1997.

Kyi Tin Oo

Kyi Tin Oo is a short story writer and poet detained since 1993. Accused of publishing documents against the junta, he is serving a twelve-year jail term.  He is now suffering from heart disease. During the junta’s March crackdown, Kyaw Zaw Oo, his son, was arrested and given 14 years. 

Aung Zin Min  

Aung Zin Min is a well-known poet and writer detained since early 1997.

Myat Hling

Myat Hling is a well-known poet and NLD Youth member detained since December 1991. He is serving a 15-year jail term. He participated in a peaceful demonstration  o­n the campus of Rangoon University o­n December 10, 1991,when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He is now in Myingyan prison. He was a  chemistry student in his final year.

Mg Thar Manya (or) Khin Maung Soe

Mg Thar Manya is a short story writer and philosopher detained since January 1993. Accused of violating the Press Act, he is  serving a  seven-year jail term.

Zarni

Zarni is a poet and former member of the Burmese Students’ Union. He has been detained since August 1992 and is serving a ten-year jail term. He was accused of publishing documents opposed to the mili-tary's National Convention. He is now in Myingyan prison. He is a student of Rangoon University.

U Tha Ban

U Tha Ban was arrested and given a 10- year prison sentence for helping Aung Htun compile information for a book o­n  the history of the student movement. This is his second prison term under the junta. In January1991, he was arrested and sentenced to 5 years.  A member of the CEC of the United Nationalities League for Democracy party, he is a former reporter for the daily Kyay-Mon. He compiled a well-known book o­n Araken culture.

Maung Wun Tha

Detained since 1996, Maung Wun Tha was charged under Section (A) of the State Protection Law of 1975. This is his second prison term under the SPDC. He was arrested in November 1990 and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in April 1991. In April 1992, he was released from prison under the limited amnesty order 11/92. He has written several books, including a translation of Watergate. He was forced to resign as editor of the Botahtaung daily after the 1998 uprising.

Ko Aung Htun

Ko Aung Htun is an activist and historian. He is currently serving a fifteen-year sentence for documenting the history of the student movement in Burma. He suffers  badly from aesthma. His family has not been able to see him since his arrest. In 1990, he was arrested and given a 5-year prison sentence.

[Sources: Committee to Protect Journalists, Burma

Information Group, The Nation, Radio Free Asia]