Myanmar woman to get Nagai award

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090215a9.html

Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009

Kyodo News
The first award commemorating slain Japanese video journalist Kenji Nagai will be presented later this month to a female reporter from Myanmar who reported on an area of the country that was devastated by a cyclone last year, the Burma Media Association has said.

Eint Khaing Oo, 24, was detained while interviewing the victims of the disaster last year and is now serving a two-year prison term with hard labor after being found guilty of allegedly causing confusion by reporting or passing on rumors, according to the Oslo-based association and Tokyo-based news agency APF News Inc.

The association of Myanmar journalists founded the award in honor of Nagai, who was shot dead while videotaping antigovernment demonstrations in Myanmar in October 2007, to recognize those who have reported the truth about the junta-ruled country.

A friend of the journalist will attend the award ceremony on her behalf in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Feb. 21 and deliver the cash prize and commemorative gift to her family.