On 12 March, U Win Tin (1930-) celebrated his 76th birthday in Burma’s Insein prison. He is one of the jailed journalists Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontières : RSF) has been campaigning to release from prison. Since his arrest in July 1989 by Burma’s military regime, U Win Tin has served 20-year sentence for charges against "anti-government propaganda". Renowned journalist for Burma’s daily paper and a founder of Burma’s National League for Democracy (NLD), U Win Tin has appealed against the militarization and corruption of the government. He was a leading figure during the development of democratic movements in 1988 and also served as a close advisor to the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi. The abusive prison forced him into kennels, and such inhumane treatments deteriorated his health overtime and triggered his two heart attacks.

With the support of over forty French and European print and broadcast media, RSF has incessantly informed the public about U Win Tin’s abuse, and it has long demanded the Burmese government to release him. RSF and Burma Media Association are also appealing internationally to sign their online petition for his release. Nevertheless, RSF requires even more robust international pressure to make his release possible, and strongly encourages Japanese media’s active involvement in strengthening the pressure worldwide

Reporters Sans Frontières
RSF (Reporters Without Borders)

Founded in 1985 by a French journalist, Robert Menard, RSF is an international non-governmental organization defending press freedom. With its headquarter in Paris, more than 110 correspondents and partner organizations create networks in over 140 nations worldwide. RSF protects journalists under threat, demands release of jailed journalists, provides financial support to their needy families, conducts rigorous research on violation of press freedom, publishes annual report on 3 May "World Press Freedom Day," and constantly keeps the media and public informed about press freedom issues. Currently, RSF is demanding release of 122 journalists in prison. These activities are supported by publishing photo albums twice a year by artists who support RSF.