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 coup in Myanmar, was released on Wednesday from his detention.
Visibly thinner than before his arrest, Thein Zaw made a greeting and smiled at the photographers as he walked out of Yangon’s Insein Prison, notorious for decades for the prison of political prisoners.
His brothers and best friend took him home, which is an area of Yangon that has been put under martial law. He told the AP that his mother told him through tears, “We thought we would never see you again.”
Thein Zaw had previously said that the judge in his case announced at a court hearing that all charges against him were being withdrawn because he was doing his job at the time of his arrest.
He said while in prison he was “worried every day” and last week celebrated his 33rd birthday behind bars.
Despite his relief, he said he was concerned about the numerous journalists who remain imprisoned.
“Thank you to everyone who worked so hard for my release,” he said. “But one thing that bothers me is that there are some people who 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 for people returning from prison to wash their hair before entering the house. Her parents prepared pork curry and fish curry for her first meal at home.
His release was also emotional for lawyer Tin Zar Oo, who said he cried and jumped for joy when the judge announced the charges were being dropped.
“I was just happy. Thein Zaw looked at me, and I even lost my words when they asked me if I had anything to say, “he said.” I hugged Thein Zaw and we both cried with joy. “
His client had been accused of violating a law of public order that carries a sentence of up to three years in prison.
He was one of nine media workers arrested during a February 27 street protest in Yangon, the country’s largest city, and had been detained without bail. About 40 journalists have been arrested or charged since the February 1 coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, about half of whom remain behind bars.
Authorities have also arrested thousands of protesters since taking office as part of an increasingly brutal crackdown. On Wednesday, more than 600 protesters were released, a rare conciliatory gesture by the military that appeared aimed at appeasing the protest movement.
The AP and many press freedom organizations have called for the release of the detained Thein Zaw and other 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 of international news. “Our relief is tempered by the fact that there are additional journalists detained. We urge Myanmar to release all journalists and allow them to report freely and safely what is happening in the interior of the country. “
Thein Zaw was arrested while photographing police, some of them armed, charging down a street against protesters against the coup. A video shows that even though he walked to the side of the street to get out of his way, several policemen rushed in and surrounded him. One put him in a choke while he was handcuffed and then they took him away.
Tin Zar Oo saw his client for the first time since his arrest at a March 12 hearing in which his pretrial detention was renewed, and it was even through a video link.
The Vienna-based International Press Institute welcomed the statement, saying “he was arrested for doing his job as a journalist and should never have been behind bars.”
“Myanmar must immediately release all other journalists it has,” said Scott Griffen, the institute’s deputy director. “The military junta must stop all forms of media harassment and intimidation covering protests against the coup and end restrictions on the publication and dissemination of the country’s media.”