Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10RANGOON59
2010-01-29 08:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMA: REPORTER SENTENCED TO 13 YEARS
how-toVZCZCXRO1159 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHGO #0059 0290830 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 290830Z JAN 10 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9788 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2392 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 5887 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9450 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 7077 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 2405 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2821 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000059
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: REPORTER SENTENCED TO 13 YEARS
Classified By: Political Officer Marc Shaw for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000059
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: REPORTER SENTENCED TO 13 YEARS
Classified By: Political Officer Marc Shaw for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) Opposition lawyer Aung Thein verified a January 28
press report stating that the Rangoon Western District Court
sentenced reporter Ngwe Soe Lin to a total of 13 years
imprisonment for violating the Electronics Transactions Act
and the Immigration Emergency Provisions Act. Although press
reports link Ngwe Soe Lin to the Democratic Voice of Burma
(DVB) -- a Norway-based pro-democracy, non-profit media
organization -- Aung Thein told us Ngwe Soe Lin is not
officially a DVB reporter; rather, he is a stringer who sent
DVB a video of those orphaned after Cyclone Nargis in 2008.
2. (C) According to the press, Special Branch police
arrested Ngwe Soe Lin in June 2009 at an internet cafe and
reportedly seized a video camera at his home. Ngwe Soe Lin's
brother, Aung Tun Myint (aka Aung Aung) is also in jail; he
was arrested for photographing a voting booth in Rangoon
during the May 2008 constitutional referendum. Aung Thein
told us Aung Tun Myint has been serving a three-year term
since July in Sittwe prison, Rakhine State.
DINGER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: REPORTER SENTENCED TO 13 YEARS
Classified By: Political Officer Marc Shaw for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) Opposition lawyer Aung Thein verified a January 28
press report stating that the Rangoon Western District Court
sentenced reporter Ngwe Soe Lin to a total of 13 years
imprisonment for violating the Electronics Transactions Act
and the Immigration Emergency Provisions Act. Although press
reports link Ngwe Soe Lin to the Democratic Voice of Burma
(DVB) -- a Norway-based pro-democracy, non-profit media
organization -- Aung Thein told us Ngwe Soe Lin is not
officially a DVB reporter; rather, he is a stringer who sent
DVB a video of those orphaned after Cyclone Nargis in 2008.
2. (C) According to the press, Special Branch police
arrested Ngwe Soe Lin in June 2009 at an internet cafe and
reportedly seized a video camera at his home. Ngwe Soe Lin's
brother, Aung Tun Myint (aka Aung Aung) is also in jail; he
was arrested for photographing a voting booth in Rangoon
during the May 2008 constitutional referendum. Aung Thein
told us Aung Tun Myint has been serving a three-year term
since July in Sittwe prison, Rakhine State.
DINGER