An international press freedom group says Burma has given prison terms of between seven and 19 years to four pro-democracy activists for publishing a book of poetry.
The Paris-based group Reporters Without Borders issued a statement Friday condemning the sentences and calling for the release of the activists.
The group reports the four were sentenced in a closed hearing earlier this month.
The activists had been charged with publishing what was called "an anti-government" book of poems.
Two of the four were also charged with unlawful border crossing and working with illegal organizations and were given 19-year prison sentences.
The two others were sentenced to seven and 14 years for printing t-shirts and helping to distribute the book.
Reporters Without Borders says it is supporting an appeal of the sentences.
