All journalists detained in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State, were released on Wednesday, 19 October, in a mass amnesty that saw thousands freed across Burma.
Myitkyina News Journal reporters Aje and Christopher, who were arrested on 13 April, and Myo Myat Pan, who was arrested on 14 April, went home yesterday. Chan Bu of The 74 Media and La Raw of Kachinwaves, both arrested while covering a protest on 29 March were among those released.
On the same day, authorities also freed activists Hseng Nu Pan and U Lum Zawng, Maung Myo Htet Naing Lin of the Myitkyina University Students’ Union, Lisu artist Yaw Te Hper and Bawk Ja. Others from Putao and Bhamo prisons were released.
The amnesty came after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations didn’t invite Burmese army chief Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing to its annual summit happening later this month after he failed to end the regime’s violence against the people and allow dialogue. The 10-member bloc will accept only one non-political representative from Burma.
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, 7,190 people have been arrested, charged or convicted since the February 1 coup. The regime has convicted 317 people and 1,181 have been killed.
