Photo: Reporters without Borders |
LEIPZIG, 23 September, 2008. Journalist and writer U Win Tin is free. Today the 79-year-old, having spent more than 18 years imprisoned in Burma for alleged subversion and anti-government propaganda, was released from prison. "This is a great day for us and for Burma," said Win Tin’s family.
"This is wonderful news. We are extremely pleased for him and his family," summed up Dr. Harald Langenfeld, Chairman of the Media Foundation of Sparkasse Leipzig, in an initial telephone conversation with the family.
Win Tin, whose work includes his position as editor in chief of the Burmese daily Hanthawati, is one of this year’s winners of the "Prize for the Freedom and Future of the Media", awarded each year on 8 October by the Media Foundation of the Sparkasse Leipzig. The prize honors distinguished journalists, publishers and media institutions that display a willingness to take risks, great personal commitment, persistence, courage and a firm belief in democracy in championing the cause of safeguarding and developing freedom of the press.