Kaung Sett Lin, a photojournalist who was released today, in a white shirt / Photo: SHH
Mizzima
Kaung Sett Lin, a photojournalist with the Myanmar Pressphoto Agency, was released from Insein Prison today as part of a Myanmar junta amnesty for Independence Day.
His father confirmed the news said: “Kaung Sett Lin has been released. He has come out of prison.”
Kaung Sett Lin had been held at Yangon’s Insein Prison since his arrest on 5 December 2021, while covering an anti-coup protest in Yangon’s Kyimyindaing Township, during which several protesters were shot and killed by soldiers.
He sustained serious injuries when authorities drove a military vehicle into the anti-coup protest.
Subsequently, a court under the military junta sentenced him to three years in prison under Section 505 (a) of the penal code. However, he was released almost two months prior to completing his sentence due to today’s amnesty.
Mizzima is actively investigating the status of TV journalist Mhu Yadanar Khet Moh Moh Tun, who was arrested alongside Kaung Sett Lin and is currently serving a prison sentence, to determine whether she has been released or not. She was reported to have been badly injured by the military vehicle, suffering from broken legs and forced to use crutches.
On 26 May 2023, the Thingangyun District Court in Yangon pronounced Mhu Yadanar Khet Moh Moh Tun, a TV journalist affiliated with the Myanmar Pressphoto Agency, guilty and sentenced her to 10 years in prison with hard labour. The conviction was made under Section 50 (j) of the Counter-Terrorism Law, a provision related to terror financing.
Following the coup, the Military Council intensified its scrutiny of the news media, resulting in the arrest and imprisonment of journalists.
As per the Detained Journalists Information Group, which documents arrested journalists, approximately 50 journalists remain imprisoned in various prisons.
In commemoration of the 76th Independence Day on 4 January, the Military Council declared the pardon of 9,652 prisoners. The specific number of political prisoners among them has yet to be disclosed.
