Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Two journalists freed in Thailand

Two journalists freed in Thailand

BANGKOK, Tuesday 25 January 2011 (AFP) - Thai authorities have released two photojournalists who had been facing deportation after re-entering the country from neighbouring Myanmar, police said Tuesday.

Belgian Pascal Schatteman and John Sanlin, a Myanmar passport holder, were detained Thursday in the border town of Mae Sot after returning to Thailand from eastern Myanmar, where they reported on clashes between rebels and troops.

"The two journalists were released on Sunday, and they can stay in Thailand until their tourist visas expire," said Lieutenant Colonel Peuan Duangjina at the immigration office in Tak province, where the men were arrested.

The men's passports were returned to them Tuesday, he added.

Thailand had initially said they would be deported, drawing criticism from a media rights group as Sanlin faced returning to Myanmar, which is known for giving lengthy prison sentences to reporters working for unofficial media.

Thailand should "take into consideration the prospect that Sanlin will suffer severe reprisals if he is forcibly returned" to his country, said the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Sanlin, who according to CPJ has previously provided video footage to Al Jazeera and France 24, told the group he feared reprisals if he was deported to Myanmar.

CPJ lists Myanmar as the world’s fourth-worst jailer of journalists, with at least 13 in prison.

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