American editor of Kamayut Media released from prison

The Myanmar junta released Nathan Maung, a US national and the editor-in-chief of Kamayut Media, on Monday after more than three months in prison. His deportation is scheduled for Tuesday, his lawyer confirmed. 

Nathan Maung was detained on March 9 by the regime’s armed forces along with Kamayut Media cofounder Hanthar Nyein after their Yangon office was raided. 

The pair were accused of violating Section 505a of the Penal Code, punishable by up to three years in prison for publishing or circulating comments that cause fear, spread false news or incite government employees to commit crimes.  

At the time of reporting, Hanthar Nyein remained in prison.

Lawyer Tin Zar Oo, who is representing Nathan Maung, told Myanmar Now that he was released from Insein Prison at around 10am on Monday and met with his family members at the Kamayut police station. 

Police Maj Myo Oo, the plaintiff in the case, withdrew the charge against Nathan Maung and the court ordered his release since he had not yet been indicted, Tin Zar Oo said.

She explained that he would still be required to spend Monday night in an interrogation centre, but noted that he would be deported to the US on Tuesday. 

“Today he was tested Covid-19 and he will be flying home tomorrow if he is clear of Covid-19—straight to the US, we were told,” Tin Zar Oo said. 

CNN reported last week that they were told the pair had been subjected to torture during their two-week detention at an interrogation center before they were sent to the notorious Insein Prison.

“The two sources said the pair were kept in adjoining rooms so they could hear each other scream during interrogations,” CNN wrote.

Nathan Maung is one of two American journalists who have been arrested by the coup regime.

Danny Fenster, 37, who was working as managing editor of local news outlet Frontier Myanmar, was detained on May 24 while he was waiting to board a plane at the Yangon International Airport. 

The US State Department called his detention and the arrest of other journalists in Myanmar an “unacceptable attack on freedom of expression.”

US Embassy officials in Myanmar were granted a virtual visit with Nathan Maung but were not allowed access to Danny Fenster.

Japanese journalist Yuki Kitazumi was detained by Myanmar regime authorities in April and charged with spreading false news. He was later released and sent back to Tokyo in May.

He has been speaking out about the regime’s treatment of detainees inside the Insein prison since his release.

In March, Polish reporter Robert Bociaga was also arrested in Shan State and deported weeks later without any charges.