Ngwe Soe Lin

Sentence:

13 years

Charges:

Electronics Act, Immigration Act

Date of Birth:

26 May 1981

Prison:

Lashio

Age: 30
Ethnicity: Burmese
Religion: Buddhist
Education: High school graduate
Occupation: DVB VJ
Arrest date: 26 June 2009
Sentence date: 27 January 2010

Ngwe Soe Lin was arrested by military intelligence on 26 June 2009 along with a friend in an internet café in Rangoon. After spending several weeks at the Aungthabyay interrogation centre, he was sent to Insein prison. Seven months later, on 27 January 2010, a special military court attached to Insein prison sentenced him to 13 years in prison on charges related to the Electronics and Immigration Acts. The following month, on 18 February, he was sent to Lashio prison in northern Shan state, close to Burma's border with China.

Ngwe Soe Lin joined DVB in early 2008 and reported from around the country. He played a vital role in recording the lives of children left orphaned by cyclone Nargis in 2008. His video records were turned into a Channel 4 documentary, ‘Orphans of Burma’s Cyclone’, for which he received the prestigious Rory Peck Award 2009, honouring cameramen working in dangerous environments. He was awarded this whilst in detention.

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 04/10/2011 - 06:05