By — Michael D. Regan Michael D. Regan Leave a comment 0comments Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/myanmar-protesters-call-for-release-of-two-jailed-journalists Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Myanmar protesters call for release of two jailed journalists World Sep 16, 2018 1:08 PM EDT An estimated 100 people on Sunday demonstrated in Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon, demanding the release of two Reuters journalists who were handed guilty verdicts earlier this month for illegally possessing official government documents. The reporters, Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were each sentenced to 7 years in prison for violating the country’s Official Secrets Act, verdicts that received immediate condemnation from the international community. Reuters journalists Wa Lone (L) and Kyaw Soe Oo, who are based in Myanmar, pose for a picture at the Reuters office in Yangon, Myanmar December 11, 2017. Photo By Antoni Slodkowski/Reuters The duo had been investigating the the deaths of Rohingya Muslims at the hands of Myanmar’s military when they were arrested in December. They were sentenced on Sept. 3 after they pleaded not guilty. Wa Lone told the Myanmar court during a trial in July that a police officer had handed the unsolicited government documents to Kyaw Soe Oo and him just minutes before their arrests. He also said the officer had lied about the exchange during pre-court hearings. READ NEXT: One year later, Rohingya refugees want statehood and justice More than 700,0000 Rohingya fled Myanmar last year after attacks on the their population by some members of the country’s military and Buddhist majority. The United Nations High Commissioner described those acts as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” READ NEXT: Rohingya walk through rain, muddy rice fields to reach Bangladesh On Sunday, some of the demonstrators, who Reuters reported were made up of youth activists and press freedom advocates, held banners in Burmese and English that called for the public’s right to information and a free press. Others chained themselves together and held signs or chanted demands for the journalists’ release. “Losing press freedom means our democratic transition is going backwards,” one local journalist, Lun Zaung Htet, who helped organize the protest, told Reuters. UPDATE: A right to information protest took place in downtown Yangon today, demanding the release of jailed @Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. #FreeWaLoneKyawSoeOo Photos: Aung Khant pic.twitter.com/Umid6cqnEG — The Myanmar Times (@TheMyanmarTimes) September 16, 2018 Their demonstration drew messages of support from human rights and journalism organizations, and others around the world, some of whom took to Twitter to express their outrage. “Journalism is not a crime,” Tirana Hassan, Amnesty International’s crisis response director, posted on Twitter. “Authorities must release them, ensure press freedom and respect the right to peaceful assembly for activists who are gathering to protest today.” We stand with local and international activists in calling on the government of Myanmar to release journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who face 7 years in prison for reporting on the truth. #FreeWaLoneKyawSoeOo https://t.co/v75Jp5pXYA — PEN America (@PENamerica) September 16, 2018 The conviction of Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo represents a travesty of justice. I stand with @PENamerican and Myanmar activists in calling for their immediate release. #FreeWaLoneKyawSoeOo — Stephen King (@StephenKing) September 16, 2018 In solidarity with our friends and colleagues in #Myanmar. Restore #pressfreedom, #FreeWaLoneKyawSoeOo. pic.twitter.com/6XfqqMWIe0 — SEAPA (@seapa) September 16, 2018 A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Michael D. Regan Michael D. Regan Michael D. Regan is a senior digital editor for PBS NewsHour. @mdregan
An estimated 100 people on Sunday demonstrated in Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon, demanding the release of two Reuters journalists who were handed guilty verdicts earlier this month for illegally possessing official government documents. The reporters, Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were each sentenced to 7 years in prison for violating the country’s Official Secrets Act, verdicts that received immediate condemnation from the international community. Reuters journalists Wa Lone (L) and Kyaw Soe Oo, who are based in Myanmar, pose for a picture at the Reuters office in Yangon, Myanmar December 11, 2017. Photo By Antoni Slodkowski/Reuters The duo had been investigating the the deaths of Rohingya Muslims at the hands of Myanmar’s military when they were arrested in December. They were sentenced on Sept. 3 after they pleaded not guilty. Wa Lone told the Myanmar court during a trial in July that a police officer had handed the unsolicited government documents to Kyaw Soe Oo and him just minutes before their arrests. He also said the officer had lied about the exchange during pre-court hearings. READ NEXT: One year later, Rohingya refugees want statehood and justice More than 700,0000 Rohingya fled Myanmar last year after attacks on the their population by some members of the country’s military and Buddhist majority. The United Nations High Commissioner described those acts as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” READ NEXT: Rohingya walk through rain, muddy rice fields to reach Bangladesh On Sunday, some of the demonstrators, who Reuters reported were made up of youth activists and press freedom advocates, held banners in Burmese and English that called for the public’s right to information and a free press. Others chained themselves together and held signs or chanted demands for the journalists’ release. “Losing press freedom means our democratic transition is going backwards,” one local journalist, Lun Zaung Htet, who helped organize the protest, told Reuters. UPDATE: A right to information protest took place in downtown Yangon today, demanding the release of jailed @Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. #FreeWaLoneKyawSoeOo Photos: Aung Khant pic.twitter.com/Umid6cqnEG — The Myanmar Times (@TheMyanmarTimes) September 16, 2018 Their demonstration drew messages of support from human rights and journalism organizations, and others around the world, some of whom took to Twitter to express their outrage. “Journalism is not a crime,” Tirana Hassan, Amnesty International’s crisis response director, posted on Twitter. “Authorities must release them, ensure press freedom and respect the right to peaceful assembly for activists who are gathering to protest today.” We stand with local and international activists in calling on the government of Myanmar to release journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who face 7 years in prison for reporting on the truth. #FreeWaLoneKyawSoeOo https://t.co/v75Jp5pXYA — PEN America (@PENamerica) September 16, 2018 The conviction of Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo represents a travesty of justice. I stand with @PENamerican and Myanmar activists in calling for their immediate release. #FreeWaLoneKyawSoeOo — Stephen King (@StephenKing) September 16, 2018 In solidarity with our friends and colleagues in #Myanmar. Restore #pressfreedom, #FreeWaLoneKyawSoeOo. pic.twitter.com/6XfqqMWIe0 — SEAPA (@seapa) September 16, 2018 A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now