Detained editor, reporter of Rangoon-based journal acquitted - Khin Maung Aye

By Nem Davies

New Delhi (Mizzima) – The Editor and a reporter of Rangoon-based 'News Watch' weekly journal, have been acquitted, after being detained for over two months in the notorious Insein prison.

Editor Khin Maung Aye and reporter Manaw Tun of the 'News Watch' weekly were both charged at the Pabedan Township Court in early November, for publishing a report on the corruption of judges, which allegedly mentioned wrong articles of the Criminal Code Acts.

A source close to the weekly said, both the editor and reporter were arrested on charges of insulting the court with their report, which allegedly mentioned wrong articles of the criminal codes.

"They published a report on the corruption of judges. In the story they used a quote from a legal journal to cite the article with which the judges can be charged. And authorities said the articles were wrong, and charged them for insulting the court," the source said.

"But since the charges were not acceptable they were produced a number of times in the court, but finally they were acquitted," the source added.

Editor Khin Maung Aye and Manaw Tun have been working with the weekly since its inception. According to the literary community in Rangoon, the weekly is considering re-hiring both the editor and reporter for their original posts.