The United Nations rights expert on Burma is calling on the country's government to release a 77 year old journalist imprisoned there for eighteen years.
In a statement, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro said U Win Tin is one of more than one thousand people behind bars for exercising their right to freedom of expression, assembly and association. He also called on the country's government to release all political prisoners.
The UN expert says U Win Tin has been sentenced three times since 1989, the last time for a letter he wrote to the international organization about alleged ill treatment and poor conditions of political prisoners.
U Win Tin recently marked his 77th birthday in a prison in the capital Rangoon. In a statement relayed by human rights groups, he urged resistance against the military regime.
Information for this report is provided by AP.
