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"Despite the UN General Assembly's condemnation and the reactions of many governments, the generals still refuse to release hundreds of detained protesters," the press freedom organisation said. "We call in particular for the immediate release of all detained journalists."

Ko Thu Ya Soe, a 30-year-old photographer who works for the German agency EPA, has been missing since the start of October. He was last seen taking photos near the Sule pagoda in Rangoon. No one, not even his family, has any idea where he is.among the journalists still held are Win Ko Ko Latt, a reporter for Weekly Eleven Journal who was arrested on 27 September, Win Saing, a photographer arrested on 28 August, and Nay Linn Aung, a reporter for 7-Days Journal.

Writer Maung Yan Paing, cameraman Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi, actor Kyaw Thu and his wife, poet Ye Lwin, who is also the singer of the MizzimaWave Band, and the comedian Zargana, also known as the "Burmese Charlie Chaplin," have all been released. Zargana, who was arrested in Rangoon on 25 September after openly supporting the monks, was freed on 17 October.

Khin Mar Lar, the wife of journalist and documentary filmmaker Nyein Thit (also known as Thaung Tun), was released on 19 October. She had been arrested on 25 September in the Mandalay suburb of Amarapura. Nyein Thit has been in hiding since the start of the demonstrations. When the security forces went to arrest him, they found only his wife and children. Although she had not taken part in any demonstration, they took his wife, leaving the children to fend for themselves. Nyein Thit was jailed in 1999 after writing about press freedom violations, and was not freed until 2004.

Pieces written under pseudonym by various Burmese writers - including Mar-J, Than Myint Aung, Soe Win Nyien, Oo Swe, Zaw Thet Htwe, Poe Phyu, Awpikye and Ludu Daw Amar - have been barred from publication, after several of these writers participated in the Swan offerings led by veteran politician U Win Naing on 24 September.

"As for Mar-J, they said they found his picture among the people offering Swan, and that's why he was banned," said a Burmese writer in Rangoon.

Although the writers have not been officially informed of any ban on their works, writings they have submitted under their pen-names have been rejected by the Burmese censorship board without any reason given.

"Even stories on football, which are not even domestic but fall in the international sports news category, are being rejected. The writers were just analyzing how international players are performing. These pieces were not returned by the censorship board," the editor of a weekly sports journal told Mizzima.

An editor of a Rangoon based magazine said that the banning of writers using pen-names not only affects their writing skills, but is like "murdering" the writers.

"In order to get make a pen-name well-known and recognised, we have to work really hard and it is not easy. Banning work written under an established pen-name is as good as murdering the writer," added the magazine editor.

Meanwhile, the government made Internet accessible 24 hours a day again on

14 October. However, the junta has not left Internet usage unguarded, but has put in place policemen who are trained in Information Technology to monitor users in cyber cafés, local net surfers told Mizzima.

Internet cafés are also required to install a system that will automatically take a screen-shot of the computers every five minutes to make sure users do not visit political and other banned sites.

The G mail website has been barred by bagan.net and users cannot receive mails in their in box even though they can use Google talk, said an internet user.

Normally, e mails can reach g mail inbox through G-talk by clicking the icon (M) underneath. However, this does not work in Burma.

Google talk is available and it can be used to get voice mail but it cannot open the mail box in Moulmein, the capital of Mon State.

An internet user in Mon State said, "We use www.hoooe.com to get in g mail. But, it is banned now and it says the page is accessed by Bagan net."

Internet access in Burma had been stopped after information began flowing to foreign countries about the State Peace and Development Council's soldiers killing and arresting monks and civilians during last month's protests in Rangoon the former capital of Burma and other big cities.

Tun, also known as Nyein Thit, had gone into hiding after taking part in anti-government protests.

Mandalay security forces arrived at the journalist’s home in Amarapura in Mandalay last month, and after failing to locate and arrest Tun decided to arrest his wife, according to the United States Campaign for Burma (USCB).

Khin Mar Lar has been in detention since September 25 and her children have been left without supervision.

IFJ Asia-Pacific director Jacqueline Park said that Khin Mar Lar is an innocent victim of the crackdown on anti-government protesters in Burma and must be released immediately.

“The IFJ calls upon the authorities to stop this brutal crackdown and will continue to monitor the journalists affected by the junta’s attack on freedom of expression,” said Park.

Thaung Tun was honoured by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in 2004 with an International Press Freedom Award. He was imprisoned for releasing information about human rights violations in Burma to international groups in 1999 and was released on January 4 2007.

Also in Burma, Mizzima news reported that the military junta has banned the use of pseudonyms of several journalists and authors who were involved in last month's protests. Work by the writers under their pseudonyms has been rejected by the Burmese censorship board without cause being shown.

Recent media reports have revealed that over 2,000 people have been arrested by the Burmese police since anti-government protests were suppressed by security forces last month.

Khin Mar Lar was arrested on September 25 in her family home in Amarapura, a suburb of Mandalay, by police looking for Thaung Tun, according to the U.S. Campaign for Burma (USCB). Tun, who is also known as Nyein Thit, had gone into hiding after participating in antigovernment protests, the organization said. The arrest left the couple’s four children in grave difficulty, UCSB said. Other exile groups reported that the couple had three children.

“Khin Mar Lar must be released immediately,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. “Thaung Tun’s family members are innocent victims of the brutal crackdown on journalists and antigovernment protesters in Burma.”

According to widespread media reports, more than 2,000 people have been detained by police in Burma since popular antigovernment protests were suppressed by security forces in September. CPJ continues to monitor journalists affected by the crackdown.

October 15, 2007 - The Burmese military junta has banned the use of pseudonyms of several writers and authors, who were involved in Swan offerings to monks during last month's protests.

Burmese writers and authors including Mar-J, Than Myint Aung, Soe Win Nyien, Oo Swe, Zaw Thet Htwe, Poe Phyu, Awpikye and prominent writer Ludu Daw Amar, have been barred from using their pen-names, after several involved themselves in the Swan offerings led by veteran politician U Win Naing on September 24.

"As for Mar-J, they said they found his picture among the people offering Swan and that's why he was banned," a Burmese writer in Rangoon said.

Though the Burmese writers have not been officially informed, any writing in their pen-names have been rejected by the Burmese censorship board without any reason being cited.

"Even stories on football, which are not even domestic but fall in the international sports news category, are being rejected. The writers were just analyzing how international players are performing. These write ups were not returned by the censorship board," a weekly sports journal editor told Mizzima.

An editor of a Rangoon based Magazine said banning the writers using pen-names does not only affect their writing skills but is like murdering the writers.

We, members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), meeting in Montevideo, Uruguay, come together to express grave concern over the increasingly perilous media situation in Burma that is exacerbating a looming and ongoing humanitarian crisis.

In line with a vicious crackdown against citizens, religious leaders and pro-democracy activists, the military junta in Burma has arrested Burmese journalists, restricted telecommunications facilities, shut down the Internet and denied foreign media representatives entry into the country.

A Japanese photojournalist, Kenji Nagai from the Tokyo-based APF news, was among 200 civilians reported slain in recent protests in the country.

These developments only serve to further worsen a media environment that already consistently ranks among the world's worst.

We note that Win Ko Ko Lat of Rangoon-based journal "Weekly Eleven", radio producer Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi and photojournalist Win Saing are still being held by state authorities. Journalists who have been covering the street protests, which started in August because of a sudden nine-fold increase in fuel prices, have experienced censorship, violence and detention by government authorities.

In reaction to the sweeping street demonstrations across the country, the junta imposed a curfew period of 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. and has prohibited public gatherings of more than five individuals. Lines of communication such as the Internet and mobile phones have also been very restricted, even after the junta recently opened access to some parts of Rangoon during the curfew period.

Prior to these recent events, the Burmese regime was already known to be unaccommodating and oppressive to the practice of free expression.

Nobel Peace Prize Awardee Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained by the junta since 1990, when her political party, the National League for Democracy, won a landslide victory in the election.

We members of IFEX call on Burmese authorities, and all countries worldwide, to push for a more open environment and dialogue to restore democracy and reconciliation in Burma. We urge the reopening of all lines of communication and media within and into Burma, as a sign of commitment and respect to universal principles of human rights and freedom of expression.

Organizations that signed the statement:

Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), Indonesia

Arab Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo), Egypt

ARTICLE 19, United Kingdom

Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Bahrain

Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), Canada

Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES), Nepal

Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), Philippines

Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP), Liberia

Centro de Periodismo y Etica Publica (CEPET), Mexico

Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Nepal

Free Media Movement (FMM), Sri Lanka

Freedom House, United States of America

Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa (FLIP), Colombia

Globe International, Mongolia

Index on Censorship, United Kingdom

Instituto Prensa Y Sociedad (IPYS), Venezuela

International Press Institute (IPI), Austria

Institute for Reporter Freedom and Safety (IRFS), Azerbaijan

IPS Communication Foundation (BIANET), Turkey

Mizzima News, India

Norwegian PEN, Norway

Sindicato de Periodistas del Paraguay (SPP), Paraguay

Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), Thailand

West African Journalists Association (WAJA), Mali

The country's censorship board has once again banned caricatures by the famous cartoonist Awpikye after he joined a group of Burmese celebrities in offering "Swan" (food) to monks leading the protests in September 2007.

"Newspaper publishers told us that the censorship board has banned cartoons drawn under his pen-name," Awpikye's wife told Mizzima.

As is normal, Burma's Press Scrutiny and Registration Board, under the Ministry of Information, has not provided any reason for banning Awpikye's caricatures.

Burmese literary circles believe that Awpikye's work has been banned because of his involvement in the Swan offering by veteran politician U Win Naing to protesting monks at Shwe Dagon pagoda in September. A few celebrities, including the actor and critic Zarganar, who joined the Swan offering, have been arrested.

The Burmese censorship board has long been in the habit of banning writers and artists known to be critical of the authorities, and Awpikye is no exception.

"He has been banned several times by the board and he is not surprised.

Even when he is permitted, the board will find faults in his caricatures and not allow them to be published," his wife added.

Awpikye, a veteran cartoonist, has been publishing cartoons and caricatures in magazines for over two decades.

Meanwhile, the Burmese video censorship board is using delaying tactics to block the release and screening of an HIV awareness film, in which prominent Burmese actor Kyaw Thu plays the lead role, sources said.

On 8 October, the board denied permission when PSI Myanmar, a non-governmental organisation, applied for permission to distribute the 45-minute awareness-raising film, entitled "Ahkyuanmeh Hlonegyoneyar"

("Total Security")

"We sought permission from the censorship board to distribute and screen it. We wanted to know whether we could start screening it. But they refused and told us not to screen the film. We don't know the reason," Shwe Zin Htike from PSI Myanmar told Mizzima.

The video censorship board told Mizzima that the film has been "temporarily suspended" from release.

The film depicts how a married man, played by Kyaw Thu, working as a boatman, is infected with HIV after visiting a Karaoke club. He, in turn, passes the virus onto his wife.

The film, shot in 2002 by PSI Myanmar, aims to create HIV awareness among boaters working on the Irrawaddy River.

Kyaw Thu had joined veteran politician U Win Naing's Swan offering to monks on 24 September, along with several other Burmese celebrities. Following the Swan offering, on 25 September U Win Naing and actor and critic Zarganar were arrested by the authorities, but Kyaw Thu remained at large.

While rumours circulated in Rangoon that Kyaw Thu, who heads the free funeral service association, and his wife, Shwe Zikyuat, were arrested on

11 October, no independent verification has been possible so far.

According to an Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) report, at least 12 were killed and thousand of monks, students and activists were arrested following September's anti-government protests against a fuel price hike in Burma. At least 40 people have been missing since the brutal 28 September crackdown on peaceful demonstrators. The military destroyed much of the evidence of the killings and over 40 detainees were sent to very remote areas of the country without any legal provision.

Meanwhile, the regime keeps monitoring Internet connections for information outflow and public access Internet cafes have been strictly limited since the first week of October. Internet access is only available after 10:00 p.m. (local time), the hour of the curfew, and is thereby limited to those with a connection at home.

The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN welcomes the release of poet and comedian Zargana, who is said to be well though exhausted after his three-week detention. Zargana is among many pro-democracy activists reported to have been arrested in the ongoing government crackdown in Burma, including fellow comedian U Par Par Lay, who is believed to remain detained. International PEN reiterates its concern for the safety of Burmese writers and that their works continue to be censored. PEN calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all those currently detained in Myanmar in violation of Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

According to PEN's information, Maung Thura ("Zargana"), leading comedian, poet and opposition activist, was arrested on 25 September 2007 for his support to the monks demonstrating in the capital, Rangoon. His release was reported on 18 October, although he remains under heavy surveillance and restriction, as he has been for many years. For further information, see the following link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7050018.stm . Also, for an informative article on his case and on censorship of Burmese writings in general, go to http://books.guardian.co.uk/poetry/features/0,,2189772,00.html

Maung Thura, more commonly known by his nick-name "Zargana", is Burma's leading comedian, popular for his political satires. Zargana spent several years in prison in the early 1990s for his opposition activities. During that time he was taken up as a main case by the Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN. Zargana, whose pseudonym means "tweezers" and refers to his years spent training as a dentist, was first arrested in October 1988 after making fun of the government, but freed six months later.

However, on 19 May 1990, he impersonated General Saw Maung, former head of the military government, to a crowd of thousands at the Yankin Teacher's Training College Stadium in Rangoon. He was arrested shortly afterwards, and sentenced to five years in prison. He was held in solitary confinement in a tiny cell in Rangoon's Insein Prison, where he began writing poetry.

One of his prison poems was published in the International PEN anthology "This Prison Where I Live".

The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is gravely concerned for the well-being of comedian U Par Par Lay , who is among many pro-democracy activists reported to have been arrested as part of the ongoing government crackdown in Burma. International PEN seeks immediate assurances of U Par Par Lay’s well being, and calls for his immediate and unconditional release, as well as of all those currently detained in Myanmar in violation of Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

According to PEN’s information, U Par Par Lay was arrested on 25 September

2007 in Mandalay. He is among several leading pro-democracy activists and public figures to be detained in the crackdown, including fellow comedian Zargana (see RAN 36/07). Amnesty International has the following further information (http://web.amnesty.org/pages/mmr-051007-feature-eng):

‘’Par Par Lay, also known as U Pa Pa Lay, was arrested on 25 September 2007 in the city of Mandalay during the crackdown by security forces on anti-government protestors. He was arrested after leading a group of opposition party members in offering donations to Buddhist monks. It is not known where he is now detained.

Par Par Lay is a popular comedian in Myanmar. This is not the first time that he has been imprisoned.

On 4 January 1996, the 48th anniversary of Myanmar’s independence from the UK, a group of entertainers including Par Par Lay performed for a celebration at the home of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). In their routine, Par Par Lay had joked that government cooperatives were thieves, and sang a comic song about Myanmar’s ruling Generals.

Following the performance, he and other entertainers from the group, known as the Moustache Brothers, were arrested. Most were released after a month but Par Par Lay, another comedian and two NLD members were charged with causing or intending "to spread false news, knowing beforehand that it is untrue". When NLD party members and their lawyers tried to attend the trial, they found the courtroom closed. They later learned that a judge and a prosecuting lawyer had gone to Mandalay prison to conduct the trial there. The defendants were not allowed any legal representation.

On 18 March 1996, Par Par Lay was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment.

For part of his sentence, he was held in a labour camp, where he was forced to work with iron bars across his legs...

Par Par Lay was released on 13 July 2001, though he was kept under close surveillance thereafter by Military Intelligence.’’

Please also see Amnesty International’s recent Urgent Action (ASA

16/008/2007) :

http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA160082007

U Par Par Lay was a Main Case of International PEN from March 1996 to July

2001 when he was imprisoned for, among other things, scripting and performing comedies that criticised the Burmese authorities.

Appeals to Myanmar (Burma) Embassies:

While the situation in Burma is still critical, letters sent to the country may not be received or taken as a priority. It is therefore recommended that appeals be sent to the diplomatic representative of Myanmar (Burma) in your own country.

- protesting the detention of comedian and pro-democracy activist U Par Par Lay, and expressing grave concern for his well-being;

- demanding his immediate and unconditional release and that of all those currently detained in Myanmar in violation of Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Letters to the press

PEN members may consider writing letters to their national newspapers expressing alarm at events in Burma, and highlighting U Par Par Lay ’s case to illustrate the many years of repression in the country.

The following advisory was sent to PEN members on 26 September 2007:

Background

• International PEN is watching with alarm the unrest unfolding in Myanmar (Burma), where demonstrations led by monks and pro-democracy activists are being violently suppressed by the military government. The protests began on 19 August 2007 following a huge increase in the price of oil which sparked an economic crisis, and were initially led by small groups of pro-democracy activists. Monks joined the protests in early September, and increasing numbers of civilians have supported them in recent days. Arrests and violence are being reported, but details remain sketchy and the situation is rapidly unfolding. All the major international news agencies are monitoring the events. Please refer to them for updates.

• PEN has long been concerned about freedom of expression in Myanmar. Since the 1988 crackdown on the National League for Democracy (NLD) in which thousands were killed and thousands more arrested, the numbers of detained writers known to PEN has remained largely unchanged. The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), that seized power in a military coup on 18 September 1988, have remained apparently impervious to the considerable and sustained international pressure for its gross human rights violations)

• PEN is currently campaigning for the release of nine writers serving sentences ranging from seven to twenty-one years imprisonment in Myanmar.

All are detained for their peaceful opposition activities. They include Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the NLD and writer, who has spent the large part of the past eighteen years in detention. .(To download PEN’s latest caselist click here:

http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/index.php?pid=33&aid=669&query=caselist

Click here for more details about PEN’s work for Aung San Suu Kyi:

http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/index.php?pid=33&aid=3&query=burma

• Vaclav Havel writes in a letter published in April 2004 and signed by fourteen other Nobel Laureates: ‘We are profoundly disturbed by the open, unchecked, and accelerating suppression of the internationally-acclaimed peaceful movement for democracy in the Union of Myanmar…’ (For full text

see:

http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/index.php?pid=33&aid=72&query=burma)

International PEN joins the international community in urging restraint by the military government of Myanmar in its handling of the current crisis.

"The announcement today of the death under torture of a pro-democracy activist, makes us fear the worst for the 10 reporters, video-makers and comedian-columnists, some of whom have been secretly held for several weeks in Burma. The UN Security Council statement which deplored the crackdown is to be welcomed, but it did not go far enough. We regret that the Security Council did not call for the immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners. " the worldwide press freedom organisation said.

Several Burmese journalists confirmed that the security services are circulating photos of demonstrators taken by citizen journalists or foreign reporters in police stations and among police informers. Scores of people have reportedly been arrested on the basis of these photos.

Burmese Internet-users say that the Internet worked on 10 October, from midday to 4pm, but very slowly. The previous day, it worked from 2pm to 4pm then from 10pm to 1am, during a curfew which is still in force in Rangoon.

Journalists, video-makers and poets arrested during the demonstrations:

- Maung Yan Paing, writer living in North Okkalapa,

- Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi, writer and broadcast director,

- Ye Lwin, poet, writer and singer with the group Mizzima Wave Band,

- Win Ko Ko Lat, reporter on the Weekly Eleven Journal,

- Win Saing, photo-journalist,

- Nay Linn Aung, reporter on 7-Days newspaper,

- Shin Devi, video-director,

- Ko Ko Oo, cameraman, husband of Shin Devi,

Contrary to what was reported earlier, Nay Linn Aung has still not been released.

Two actors who write columns on Burmese society and the junta, have been imprisoned:

- Par Par Lay, A member of the Moustache Brothers troop in Mandalay, central Burma, has been secretly held since 25 September. He had previously been imprisoned from 1994-2001.

- Zarnagar, actor nicknamed the Burmese "Charlie Chaplin", was arrested in Rangoon after openly supporting the monks. He has already been imprisoned twice in 1988 and 1990. The magazine Irrawaddy quoted his wife as saying that his health is poor.

Several other journalists have disappeared, but they could have gone underground or tried to reach the Thai border.

Journalists detained before August 2007:

- U Thaung Sein, freelance photo-reporter

- Ko Moe Htun, Dhamah-Yate

- Ne Min, independent

- Monywa Aung-Shin, Sar-maw-khung

The Internet came back on at 2 p.m., and some Rangoon Internet cafés opened for the first time in nearly two weeks. But it was cut again a few hours later. Burmese sources said that the Internet, when in came back on, was very slow and that all email messages sent to Burmese (.mm) addresses during the crisis, had been deleted. It was impossible to access news websites and blogs.

Kenji Nagai was covering the Yangon protests for Japanese video agency APF News, and the company's president, Toru Yamaji, brought the journalist's body back from Myanmar, arriving at Tokyo's main international airport on Thursday.

In a citizens' meeting at the Guwahati Press Club with JFA president Rupam Baruah in chair, the newsmen's body asked the Union Government not to remain silent on the happenings in the neighbouring country and do the needful within its powers to facilitate a peaceful transition to democracy.

Extending its whole-hearted support to the movement, the Forum demanded that Aung San Suu Kyi, the globally recognized pro-democracy leader, be immediately released from the prolonged detention she is being made to undergo. It deplored the brutal killing of protesting citizens including one foreign journalist.

The meeting expressed its solidarity with the proposed Global Action Day for Free Burma to be
observed on October 6.

New York — The Committee to Protect Journalists is increasingly concerned about the welfare of at least three Burmese reporters who went missing during the government’s crackdown on street protesters last week. A fourth reporter, Tokyo Shimbun’s Min Zin, was released from government custody on Wednesday. CPJ calls on the Burmese authorities to immediately release all journalists they are holding.

CPJ is investigating whether the three missing journalists were detained when the government rounded up more than 1,000 people in its crackdown on street protests. The three are Kyaw Zeya Tun from The Voice journal, Nay Lin Aung from the Seven Day News journal, and an unidentified journalist from the Weekly Eleven News journal.

“While we welcome the release of Min Zin, he never should have been detained in the first place,” said, CPJ’s executive director, “CPJ calls on the Burmese authorities to properly account for and immediately release any other journalists in detention.”

According to news reports, a military official brought Min Zin back to his home in Rangoon on Wednesday. He had been held in detention for six days and was questioned about a trip that Koji Hirata, Tokyo Shimbun’s Bangkok-based bureau chief, made to Rangoon on September 24 to cover the anti-government protests. Hirata was forced to leave the country on September 26 after government officials tracked him down at his hotel.

It was unclear if authorities intend to press charges against Min Zin, who is a Burmese national. He suffers from a diabetic condition and requires treatment for an ulcer that was aggravated in detention, according to his wife, who was quoted in news reports.

Before last week’s crackdown, there were at least six journalists imprisoned in Burma, according to CPJ research. In recent weeks, plainclothes agents have physically harassed and intimidated reporters trying to cover anti-government street demonstrations. 

Kyaw Thu had been running from authorities after a public show of support for the protesting monks. Along with the Burmese comedian Zarganar, he had gathered together celebrities to supply the monks at the Shwedagon pagoda with food and water.

"We are Buddhist. All Buddhists have to support this movement," the movie heart-throb said. Zarganar has been arrested, but Kyaw Thu (above, far left with Zarganbar next to him) got away before security forces raided his and his parents' homes.

The actor, star of the 2005 film True Love, is renowned for his social work. He helps run the Free Funeral Services Society, which allows the poor to arrange a decent burial for their loved ones. He has donated large sums to the charity and even volunteered as a hearse driver and gravedigger.