Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were mobbed by media as they stepped out of Yangon's notorious Insein prison after spending more than 16 months in detention. Their December 2017 arrests made them an international cause celebre and a sign of Myanmar's deteriorating press freedoms under Nobel laureate and civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Wa Lone, 33, thanked people from "around the world" for advocating for their release and vowed he would return to work. "I can't wait to go to my newsroom," he said. "I am a journalist and I am going to continue." Reuters editor-in-chief Stephen Adler said: "We are enormously pleased that Myanmar has released our courageous reporters". "Since their arrests 511 days ago, they have become symbols of the importance of press freedom around the world. We welcome their return." The two men waved and smiled broadly as they walked out of the jail. … [Read more...] about Myanmar frees two Reuters journalists after global outrage
Reuters
Reuters reporters jailed in Myanmar freed from prison
YANGON: Two Reuters journalists jailed in Myanmar after they were convicted of breaking the Official Secrets Act walked free from a prison on the outskirts of Yangon on Tuesday (May 7) after spending more than 500 days behind bars, witnesses said.The two reporters, Wa Lone, 33, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 29, had been convicted in September and sentenced to seven years in jail, in a case that raised questions about Myanmar's progress toward democracy and sparked an outcry from diplomats and human rights advocatesPresident Win Myint has pardoned thousands of other prisoners in mass amnesties since last month. It is customary in Myanmar for authorities to free prisoners across the country around the time of the traditional New Year, which began on Apr 17.Reuters has said the two men did not commit any crime and had called for their release.Before their arrest in December 2017, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo had been working on an investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys … [Read more...] about Reuters reporters jailed in Myanmar freed from prison
Myanmar frees two Reuters journalists in amnesty
Myanmar frees two Reuters journalists in amnesty (Agence France-Presse) - May 7, 2019 - 11:31am YANGON, Myanmar — Two Reuters journalists who had been jailed for their reporting on the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar walked out of prison Tuesday, freed in a presidential amnesty. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, were mobbed by media as they stepped out of Yangon's notorious Insein prison after their lengthy detention, videos showed. "We are enormously pleased that Myanmar has released our courageous reporters," Reuters editor-in-chief Stephen Adler said in a statement. "Since their arrests 511 days ago, they have become symbols of the importance of press freedom around the world. We welcome their return." The pair have been behind bars since their arrest in December 2017 under the colonial-era Official Secrets Act. They were convicted of possessing classified documents relating to security operations in Rakhine … [Read more...] about Myanmar frees two Reuters journalists in amnesty
Key facts about Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo
YANGON: Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were freed on Tuesday (May 7) months after being sentenced to seven years in jail on convictions under the colonial-era Official Secrets Act.The two were arrested in December 2017 while working on an investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys by security forces and Buddhist civilians in western Myanmar's Rakhine State.The conviction of Wa Lone, 33, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 29, in September last year sparked an outcry from diplomats and press freedom advocates, who said the jailing of two young reporters raised questions about Myanmar's progress toward democracy.During more than 500 days behind bars, their reporting on a military crackdown in Rakhine State was recognised with international awards and they were named by Time magazine as its "Person of the Year" alongside other journalists last year.Here are some key facts about the two journalists, who had been detained since Dec 12, 2017:WA LONEWa Lone, 33, was born … [Read more...] about Key facts about Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo
Reuters reporters jailed in Myanmar freed from prison: Witnesses
YANGON: Two Reuters reporters jailed in Myanmar are freed from prison, witnesses said.The president's office said in a statement on Tuesday (May 7) Myanmar will release 6,520 prisoners in an amnesty.President Win Myint pardoned thousands of prisoners in two mass amnesties last month.It is customary in Myanmar for authorities to free prisoners around the time of the traditional New Year, which began on Apr 17.The two Reuters reporters, Wa Lone, 33, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 29, were convicted in September of breaking the Official Secrets Act and sentenced to seven years in jail, in a case that raised questions about Myanmar's progress toward democracy and sparked an outcry from diplomats and human rights advocates. … [Read more...] about Reuters reporters jailed in Myanmar freed from prison: Witnesses