Burma death sentence slammed

A letter condemning the death sentences was sent to Khin Nyunt

Journalists' groups have condemned the death sentences imposed on a magazine editor and eight others accused of plotting to overthrow Burma's military government.

The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders and the Burma Media Association expressed their criticism in a letter to the Burmese prime minister, Khin Nyunt.

"Your government has once again shown its criminal attitude towards journalists who refuse to comply with orders," they said.

The journalist accused is Zaw Thet Htwe, the editor of the First Eleven sports magazine. He and the eight others who have received the death sentence were arrested in July after the journal published a story alleging misuse of an international grant.

The group is reported to also include a lawyer and a member of the opposition party.

Three others were detained at the same time, but their fate is unknown.

Activist

Aung Zaw, editor of the Bangkok-based Burmese dissident magazine Irrawaddy, told the BBC that Zaw Thet Htwe had been involved in politics in the past - he was previously a senior member of the oppositon Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS).

The Burmese military accused the group of planting bombs around Rangoon, and of working with the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) to stir up unrest.

"We challenge you to provide the evidence of this journalist's implication in a coup attempt," the two groups said.

Aung Zaw said the government frequently makes such accusations against people it wants to keep in detention.

"There is no clear evidence to back up the claims by the government," he told the BBC's East Asia Today programme.

"What is disturbing is the sentence is quite heavy-handed," he said.

Aung Zaw said that since clashes in May between government followers and NLD supporters, the junta had been "very paranoid".

He said that in central Rangoon, Burma's capital, troops were checking citizens around the clock.

International criticism of Burma has increased since leader Aung San Suu Kyi's detention.

She has refused to be released from house arrest until fellow members of the NLD are released.

Amnesty visit

A team from the human rights organisation Amnesty International is currently in the country to examine the situation there.

Its two members have asked to meet Aung San Suu Kyi.

It was also announced on Thursday that Thailand will host a meeting later this month to discuss the Burmese Government-proposed "roadmap" towards democratic reform.

A report in Thailand's Nation newspaper said representatives from 10 countries would attend the talks on 15 December.