CPJ and other Burma watchers are monitoring the announcements of the unfolding prisoner release closely. As a press freedom organization, we've focused most closely on the fate of the 14 journalists we counted in jail in Shawn Crispin's report, "In Burma, transition neglects press freedom" that we posted on September 20. In our alert today we welcomed the release of Burmese blogger and comedian Maung Thura, bringing that number down to 13, and there's a chance the number might even be lower.

136 journalists jailed worldwide

As of December 1, 2009    |   » Read the accompanying report: "FREELANCERS UNDER FIRE"

Journalists in prison as of December 1, 2008

Read the accompanying report: "Online and in jail"

New York, February 19, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns Friday’s arrest of journalists Thet Zin and Sein Win Maung, respectively the editor and office manager for the Myanmar Nation weekly news journal.

Both journalists were taken after police raided the publication’s office in Rangoon. As of this afternoon, Thet Zin and Sein Win Maung, alias Ko Soe, were being held at Thingangyun Township police station, according to a Burmese exile source in Thailand and the Mizzima News service, based in New Delhi.