He had low blood pressure and difficulty breathing so we sent him to Yangon Medical Centre in Yangon at 7.30 pm Thursday," a relative of Win Tin's told DPA.Win Tin was released Sep 23 after serving 19 years in prison.A central executive member of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party, Win Tin was released under a broad government amnesty that included more than 9,000 prisoners, most of them common criminals.Win Tin was a prominent journalist, before he was arrested in 1989 and spent 19 years in prison.Upon his release, Win Tin told a handful of journalists that the country's military rule must end, and he will "keep fighting until the emergence of democracy" in Myanmar.Win Tin was arrested in July 1989, and three months later was sentenced to three years, but in 1992 before his release he was sentenced to an addition 11 years.Long prison terms for politcal opponents of Myanmar's ruling junta are common. Myanmar has been under military rule since 1962.Myanmar's courts last month sentenced dozens of political activists to 65 years in jail for participating in demonstrations in August and September 2007.The country's main opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has spent at least 12 of the last 19 years under house arrest.

Zargarnar, Nay Phone Latt awarded 'Cyber-Dissident' Award

Both Zargarnar and Nay Phone Latt were given the award for their courageous activities to cull information from Burma, despite the ruling junta's severe repression during the September monk-led 2007 protests and in the wake of the deadly Cyclone Nargis, the RSF said.The military rulers, who have had a stranglehold on power since 1988, have sentenced Zargarnar to 59 years in prison, while Nay Phone Latt has been jailed for 20 ½ years.The junta on Wednesday night banished the popular comedian, who used his artistic talents to criticize the regime's activities. He was transferred to Keng Tong prison in eastern Shan State."We don't know how to feel at this juncture, because he has been transferred to a remote prison in Keng Tong. We are only thinking of how to reach there. I will inform him about the award when I meet him," a family member of Zargarnar (alias) Thura told Mizzima.Along with a memento, the Burmese comedian and blogger will receive a cash prize of Euro 2500, equivalent to nearly 4 million Burmese kyat. It is to be handed over by the Iranian Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi during a ceremony in Paris on Thursday.But since, the two are currently being detained, and will not be available to receive the award, a London based artist, Htein Linn, will receive it on their behalf."The award is given to draw international attention to their case and to highlight that they are innocent," Vincent Brossel, RSF's Asia-Pacific spokesperson told Mizzima.Nay Phone Latt's mother said, she welcomed the award and is proud of her son. She thanked the RSF for choosing her son as it highlights the injustice done to her son and many other people in Burma."This award will explain that many youths in Burma are being punished wrongly. Though my son is named the winner of the award, I feel he is receiving it on behalf of many youths in the country," she added.She said, she will inform her son of the award when she visits him in Paan prison in Karen state