YANGON, Myanmar (AP) – Thein Zaw, a journalist for The Associated Press who was arrested more than three weeks ago while covering a protest against the Myanmar coup, was released from prison on Wednesday.
Visibly thinner than before his arrest, Thein Zaw waved and smiled at the photographers as he left Yangon’s Insein Prison, famous for decades for holding political prisoners.
His brothers and his best friend took him home, which is an area of Yangon that was placed under martial law. He told the AP that his mother told him through tears: “We thought we would never see him again.”
Thein Zaw had previously said that the judge in his case announced at a hearing that all charges against him were being dropped because he was doing his job at the time of his arrest.
He said that while in prison he was “worried every day”, and last week he turned 33 behind bars.
Despite his relief, he said he was concerned about the many journalists who remain in prison.
“Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard for my release,” he said. “But one thing that upsets me is that some people are still inside and I hope they can get out as soon as possible.”
Thein Zaw’s father, Ba Win, greeted him with shampoo because it is a local custom that people returning from prison should wash their hair before entering the house. His parents prepared pork curry and fish curry for their first meal at home.
His release was also heartwarming for lawyer Tin Zar Oo, who said he cried and jumped for joy when the judge announced that the charges were being dropped.
“I was so happy. Thein Zaw looked at me, and I was even speechless when they asked me if I had anything to say,” she said. “I hugged Thein Zaw and we both cried for joy.”
His client was accused of violating a public order law that carries a sentence of up to three years in prison.
He was one of nine media workers arrested during a street protest on February 27 in Yangon, the country’s largest city, and was detained without bail. About 40 journalists have been arrested or charged since the February 1 coup that toppled Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government, almost half of whom remain behind bars.
The authorities have also arrested thousands of protesters since the acquisition, as part of an increasingly brutal crackdown. On Wednesday, more than 600 protesters were released, a rare military conciliatory gesture that appeared with the aim of appeasing the protest movement.
The AP and many press freedom organizations have called for the release of Thein Zaw and other detained members of the press.
“The Associated Press is deeply relieved that AP journalist Thein Zaw has been released from prison in Myanmar,” said Ian Phillips, AP vice president for international news. “Our relief is dampened by the fact that other journalists are still being held. We urge Myanmar to release all journalists and allow them to report freely and safely what is happening within the country. “
Thein Zaw was arrested while photographing policemen, some of them armed, attacking anti-coup protesters down a street. A video shows that although he left the side of the street to get out of the way, several policemen ran and surrounded him. One put him in a choke while he was handcuffed and taken away.
Tin Zar Oo saw his client for the first time since his arrest at a March 12 hearing, at which his pre-trial detention was renewed – and yet it was through a video link.
The Vienna-based International Press Institute welcomed his release, saying he “was arrested for doing his job as a journalist and should never have been behind bars.”
“Myanmar must now immediately release all the other journalists it holds,” said Scott Griffen, the institute’s deputy director. “The military junta must end all forms of media harassment and intimidation that cover demonstrations against the coup and end restrictions on publication and broadcast by the media in the country.”