(ots) -
- After 40 days, Minzayar Oo and Hkun Lat were allowed to leave
Dhaka yesterday
- Worldwide support for their release
The two Burmese photographers who had been held in Bangladesh
since September 7th were finally allowed to leave the country on
October 17th. Although the case against them has not yet been
officially dropped, in country sources confirm that this will happen
in the next few days.
The pair were detained on September 7th in Cox's Bazar and
released on bail on September 22th. Since then they had been stuck in
Dhaka without official permission to leave the country.
London based Panos Pictures and German GEO magazine thank the
government of Bangladesh for its generous gesture in allowing Messrs
Oo and Lat to leave the country today. They also wish to thank their
international network of supporters, including many human rights
organisations and freedom of expression advocates, who took up the
photographers' cause. Adrian Evans, Director of Panos Pictures, and
Christoph Kucklick, Editor-in-chief of GEO Magazine, responded to the
event stating that, "it is wonderful to see how quickly a powerful
global community comes together to help journalists in need and
defend the principles of freedom of the press."
"It was hard work to get Minzayar Oo and Hkun Lat released," adds
Christoph Kucklick. "The admirable effort of many partners in
Bangladesh, both inside and outside of the government, made this
positive outcome possible. I want to thank all friends in Dhaka for
their dedication and their selfless support."
Pressekontakt:
Adrian Evans, adrian(at)panos.co.uk
Christine Haller, PR/Communication GEO, haller.christine(at)guj.de
Original-Content von: Gruner+Jahr, GEO, übermittelt durch news aktuell