Oct 24, 2007 (DVB), A well-known film director and three journalists who were detained by Burmese government authorities in connection with last month’s protests have been released, according to sources from the publishing world.

A magazine editor told DVB on condition of anonymity that film director Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi was released from detention last week, along with writer Maung Yan Paing, Weekly Eleven news journal reporter Win Ko Ko Latt and Nay Linn Aung, a reporter from the Seven Days journal.

The four were arrested by government officials during protests in the former Burmese capital Rangoon at the end of last month. All four were unavailable yesterday to give details about their detention.

Reporters Without Borders released a statement on 12 October expressing concern for 11 writers and filmmakers arrested in the crackdowns, including the three journalists who have now been released.

"The announcement, of the death under torture of a pro-democracy activist, makes us fear the worst for the 11 reporters, video-makers and comedian-columnists, some of whom have been secretly held for several weeks in Burma," the statement said.

Reporting by Aye Aye Mon and DVB