Burmese journalist sentenced to ten more years in prison

In Burma, independent journalist Sithu Zeya was given a 10-year prison term, after he had already received an 8-year sentence for photographing the aftermath of a grenade attack in the country's main city of Yangon. The most recent sentence was based on a new charge of circulating material online that could “damage tranquillity and unity in the government” under the country’s Electronic Act. International watchdog groups have condemned the sentence, saying the move showed that the new government was not sincere about reform.

“The reality is that the human rights situation on the ground is actually getting worse,” said Anna Roberts, Executive Director of Burma Campaign UK. “As we seen, the regime continues to arrest and detain human rights activists and journalists.”

She said that despite government efforts to improve its image, events like Wednesday’s sentence show the government is not serious about reform. “It’s very important for the international community to maintain pressure on the regime until they start taking real, concrete steps on reform and that hasn’t happened yet,” she said.


Listen to the full interview by Anna Roberts with Christopher Wells: