Arrested in February 2008, Nay Phone Latt was sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison for allegedly disrupting morality and endangering state security, stability, and order. On January 13, 2012, he was among 651 prisoners to be released in a widespread presidential amnesty. He returned to his home in Rangoon and has begun writing once again.
Case History
The total sentence imposed upon Nay Phone Latt consisted of two years for violating Article 505 (b) of the Criminal Code, which punishes defamation of the state, three years and six months for violating Article 32 (b) of the Video Act, and 15 years for violating Article 33 (a) of the Electronics Act. The Electronics Act, which contains provisions establishing long prison terms for disseminating news that is considered to tarnish the image of the government, has been used increasingly to silence political voices since the protests in 2007. His offenses included posting a cartoon of military leader Than Shwe and possession of a banned video.
On February 20, 2009, a court in Rangoon reduced Nay Phone Latt’s sentence by eight and a half years, but he was released in 2012 as part of a widespread presidential amnesty.
In November 2015, Nay Phone Latt was elected to the Yangon Region parliament as a member of the National League for Democracy.
Nay Phone Latt is a founder of Myanmar PEN and the 2010 recipient of the PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award.