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Myanmar: Reuters reporters investigating Rohingya crisis jailed for seven years Myanmar: Reuters reporters investigating Rohingya crisis jailed for seven years
(35 minutes later)
Two Reuters journalists have each been sentenced to seven years in prison after they were found guilty breaching the official secrets act in Myanmar, prompting outcry from the international community.. Two Reuters journalists have each been sentenced to seven years in prison after they were found guilty of breaching the Official Secrets Act in Myanmar, prompting outcry from the international community..
Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were arrested in December while investigating the killings of Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State. They have been held in prison in Yangon ever since. Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were arrested in December while investigating the killings of Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state. They have been held in prison in Yangon ever since.
As he was led to a police van in handcuffs, Wa Lone said: “I have no fear. I have not done anything wrong … I believe in justice, democracy and freedom.” In his ruling on Monday, judge Ye Lwin said the men “tried many times to get their hands on secret documents and pass them to others. They did not behave like normal journalists.”
Reuters said the verdict was “a major step backward” for Myanmar. As he was led to a police van in handcuffs, Wa Lone said: “I have no fear. I have not done anything wrong … I believe in justice, democracy and freedom.” Kyaw Soe Oo hugged his wife while she was sobbing and held her until the police took him away.
“Today is a sad day for Myanmar, Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, and the press everywhere,” Reuters editor in chief Stephen J Adler said in a statement. Adler called for Myanmar to review the decision urgently. Reuters condemned the verdict as “a major step backward” for Myanmar.
Defence lawyer Khin Maung Zaw said the verdict was “bad for our country”. “Today is a sad day for Myanmar, Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, and the press everywhere,” Reuters’ editor-in-chief, Stephen J Adler, said in a statement. Adler called for Myanmar to review the decision urgently.
Defence lawyer Khin Maung Zaw said the verdict was “bad for our country” and said he would “take any option to get their immediate release”.
Press freedom advocates, the United Nations, the European Union and countries including the United States, Canada and Australia had called for the men to be acquitted.Press freedom advocates, the United Nations, the European Union and countries including the United States, Canada and Australia had called for the men to be acquitted.
Knut Ostby, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Myanmar, said the UN was “disappointed by today’s court decision.”
“Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo should be allowed to return to their families and continue their work as journalists,” he said.
The journalists were looking into the deaths of 10 Rohingyaat the hands of soldiers and Buddhist villagers in Inn Din, a village in the north of the state. After being invited to a dinner by officers, they were detained.The journalists were looking into the deaths of 10 Rohingyaat the hands of soldiers and Buddhist villagers in Inn Din, a village in the north of the state. After being invited to a dinner by officers, they were detained.
Prosecutors accused the men of obtaining secret state documents, in breach of the Official Secrets Act. The journalists said they were framed by police who gave them the documents during the dinner, and that they were targeted for their reporting. Kyaw Soe Oo said that while being investigated he was deprived of sleep, forced to kneel for hours and had a black hood placed over his head.Prosecutors accused the men of obtaining secret state documents, in breach of the Official Secrets Act. The journalists said they were framed by police who gave them the documents during the dinner, and that they were targeted for their reporting. Kyaw Soe Oo said that while being investigated he was deprived of sleep, forced to kneel for hours and had a black hood placed over his head.
Concerned by what was widely seen as a draconian attack by Myanmar authorities on the free press, dozens of journalists and activists marched in Yangon in support of the men on Sunday.Concerned by what was widely seen as a draconian attack by Myanmar authorities on the free press, dozens of journalists and activists marched in Yangon in support of the men on Sunday.
Dan Chugg, Britain’s ambassador to Myanmar, said he was “extremely disappointed” by the verdict. The verdict was condemned by human rights activists, the UN, the US and Britain.
Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, called it an “outrageous injustice”. Knut Ostby, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Myanmar, said he was “disappointed” by the court decision. “Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo should be allowed to return to their families and continue their work as journalists,” he said.
The US ambassador to Myanmar, Scot Marciel, said the decision was “deeply troubling”. Dan Chugg, Britain’s ambassador to Myanmar, said he was “extremely disappointed” by the verdict. Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, called it an “outrageous injustice”.
“This conviction of the two Reuters reporters is a hammer blow against media freedom in Myanmar, showing just how afraid the Tatmadaw [Myanmar armed forces] and Myanmar government are of investigative journalism and critical commentary customarily found in a real democracy.”“This conviction of the two Reuters reporters is a hammer blow against media freedom in Myanmar, showing just how afraid the Tatmadaw [Myanmar armed forces] and Myanmar government are of investigative journalism and critical commentary customarily found in a real democracy.”
The verdict comes during a time of intense international scrutiny on Myanmar authorities following a damning UN report about the military’s treatment of the Rohingya, which it said amounted to ethnic cleansing. More than 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar to bordering Bangladesh over the past year after a campaign of violence by the military.The verdict comes during a time of intense international scrutiny on Myanmar authorities following a damning UN report about the military’s treatment of the Rohingya, which it said amounted to ethnic cleansing. More than 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar to bordering Bangladesh over the past year after a campaign of violence by the military.
Last week, the UN said that Myanmar army generals should be investigated and prosecuted for “gross human rights violations and serious violations of international humanitarian law”. In the report, which was rejected by the Myanmar government, de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi was criticised for failing to support the Rohingya.Last week, the UN said that Myanmar army generals should be investigated and prosecuted for “gross human rights violations and serious violations of international humanitarian law”. In the report, which was rejected by the Myanmar government, de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi was criticised for failing to support the Rohingya.
MyanmarMyanmar
ReutersReuters
News agenciesNews agencies
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South and Central AsiaSouth and Central Asia
RohingyaRohingya
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