A/HRC/7/24 page 7 of information regarding the exact release date and, in this context, deeply regrets not having had the opportunity to verify these positive developments with the authorities through a follow-up visit. 16. After he left the country on 15 November 2007, the Special Rapporteur continued to receive information on ongoing arrests and detentions. Since his departure, further arrests have been reported. Some 70 individuals were reportedly arrested between 15 November 2007 and 18 February 2008 in connection with their presumed participation in the demonstrations and for allegedly having reported outside of the country on the use of force by State agents during the crackdown. At time of the finalization of the present report, 62 of them were reportedly still being detained. 17. Khin Moe Aye, Kyaw Soe, Zaw Min, Htun Htun Win, Myo Yan Naung Thein - all former political prisoners and current members of the 88 Generation Students groups - were reportedly arrested from 16 to 18 December 2007. It is reported that they were arrested in relation to the filming of the September protest and the testimonies provided to the foreign media. Former political prisoners Aung Aung Gyi, Myat Hsan and Win Maw were reportedly arrested in December 2007 for trying to send video footage of the September demonstrations to international media. 18. Ye Thein (alias Ko Bo Naung), Myint Naing, U Khin Hla, Mon Min Soe, Htay Myint, Dr. Aung Moe Nyo, Sin Win, Nay Myo Kyaw, Htet Htet Aung and Kyaw Zin Win, self-identified as political activists, have also been arrested since the Special Rapporteur’s mission. 19. On 18 February 2008, U Thet Wia (alias Pauk Sa) the Chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD) of Sanchaung townhsip was reportedly arrested again after he had been arrested and released in September 2007 and in January 2008. When he was arrested in January, police allegedly conducted a body search and found a digital memory device with information on forced labour and children in armed conflict; he was informed that this was the reason for his arrest. The Special Rapporteur was informed on 5 March 2008 that U Thet Wia had been released on bail (for 100,000,000 kyats) after having been charged under Penal Code articles 186 and 353. 20. Freedom of expression has been further curtailed, as seen by the arrest of a number of journalists and the banning of a number of media. On 15 February 2008, Thet Zin, editor-in chief of Myanmar Nation (Myo Myanmar), and Sein With Maung (alias Ko Soe), office manager of the same newspaper, were said to have been arrested at their office in Yangon. Reportedly, police searched the office and confiscated a copy of the Special Rapporteur’s report, several books, compact discs containing images of the street protests of August and September 2007, mobile phones and poems written by Sein Win Maung and critical of the military junta. The Government banned the publication and distribution of Myanmar Nation on 19 February 2008. Nay Phone Latt (alias Nay Myo Kyaw) was arrested on 29 January allegedly for posting articles on expressions of youth on his Internet blog pages. With regard to the case of Thet Sin and Sein With Maung, the Special Rapporteur, together with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Human Rights Defenders, transmitted a joint urgent appeal to the Government on 21 February.