Another Burmese journo still held in KL

Following the ordeal suffered by Burmese journalist Minn Kyaw in Kuala Lumpur last week, Reporters San Frontieres and the Burma Media Assocation (BMA) have reminded us of another Burmese journalist who has been detained in Kuala Lumpur since the middle of last month.

The two groups said: "Journalist Sein Mar, editor of the newsletter Yaung Chee Oo, has been held in Kuala Lumpur since 17 May. She was arrested after demonstrating in front of the Burmese embassy against the 'national convention' staged by the Burmese regime. She has UN refugee status in Malaysia and her seven-year-old daughter has been taken in by a local UN centre. Reporters Without Borders and the BMA have called for her release, pointing out that she was simply protesting peacefully in favour of free expression."

To this, we at Charter 2000-Aliran would also like to add our voice calling for the immediate release of Sein Mar and all those held during the demonstration. We are appalled that the Malaysian government should take the side of the oppressive Burmese governent against ordinary people protesting for greater democracy and freedom.