Myanmar: Reuters journalists covering genocide gets seven-year-jail-term for violating state secrets act
Naypyidaw, Sep 3 (IBNS): Two Reuters journalists, who covered the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar, were found guilty of defying state secrets act and handed a seven-year-jail-term, by a country court.
Identified as Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, the two journalists were carrying official documents, handed to them by the police, during the time of their arrests.
Both the convicts, however, have repeatedly said that it was a set up by the police, adding that they are innocent.
'I have no fear," Wa Lone, one of the two journalists, told media after the verdict.
"I have not done anything wrong. I believe in justice, democracy and freedom," he said.
Condemning the judgement, Reuters editor-in-chief Stephen Adler said: "Today is a sad day for Myanmar, Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, and press freedom anywhere."
The journalists were investigating the execution of 10 men by the army in Inn Din in northern Rakhine.
Demanding the release of the journalists, the UN's resident and humanitarian co-ordinator in Myanmar Knut Ostby has said that "a free press is essential for peace, justice and human rights for all".
"We are disappointed by today's court decision," he said.
Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, termed the convictions as outrageous and said that it marks a new low for press freedom and rights under Suu Kyi's government.
"The outrageous convictions show Myanmar courts' willingness to muzzle those reporting on military atrocities," he said.
"These sentences mark a new low for press freedom and further backsliding on rights under Aung San Suu Kyi's government.
Credit: /twitter.com/Journotopia
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