Myanmar jails 2 Reuters reporters for 7 years

A Myanmar court on Monday sentenced two Reuters journalists to seven years in prison for violating the country's Official Secrets Act while reporting on violence against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state, in a verdict that sparked widespread international criticism.

Reporters Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were arrested in December 2017 after meeting two police officers who, according to the journalists, handed them confidential documents. They were subsequently accused of illegally possessing official information.

The two journalists had been held without bail since their arrest and appeared before the court around 30 times during the proceedings. A preliminary investigation began in January, while formal charges were filed in July.

The case became a major test of press freedom in Myanmar, particularly because the journalists were investigating alleged abuses by the country's military against the Rohingya community.

Both reporters consistently denied the charges and maintained that they had been framed by police. After the verdict, Wa Lone again insisted that he had done nothing wrong.

"I have no fear. I have not done anything wrong. I believe in justice, democracy and freedom," he said.

The journalists had been investigating the killing of 10 Rohingya men and boys in the village of Inn Din in northern Rakhine state. During their reporting, they said two police officers provided them with documents before they were arrested.

Myanmar authorities later conducted their own investigation into the killings and acknowledged that a massacre had taken place, promising action against those responsible.

The court, however, concluded that the journalists had intended to harm the interests of the state. Judge Ye Lwin said the two men were therefore guilty under the Official Secrets Act.

Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen Adler described the ruling as a "sad day" for Myanmar, the two journalists and press freedom worldwide. He said the news agency would consider its options, including whether to seek relief through an international forum.

The verdict drew strong criticism from diplomats, human rights organisations and international bodies.

The UN's resident and humanitarian coordinator in Myanmar, Knut Ostby, said the United Nations had repeatedly called for the journalists' release and stressed that a free press was essential for peace, justice and human rights.

British Ambassador Dan Chugg said he was "extremely disappointed" by the decision and argued that the judge appeared to have disregarded evidence presented during the trial.

US Ambassador Scot Marciel also expressed concern, questioning whether the proceedings would strengthen or weaken public confidence in Myanmar's justice system.

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) condemned the sentences and called for the charges to be withdrawn and the journalists released.

Amnesty's Director of Crisis Response Tirana Hassan described the verdict as politically motivated and warned that it could create a climate of fear among journalists investigating alleged abuses.

The ruling came roughly a year after violence in Rakhine state escalated following attacks by a Rohingya militant group on security posts. The Myanmar military responded with a major security operation that forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh.

The United Nations has accused senior Myanmar military figures of possible genocide and called for them to face investigation and prosecution.

Access to Rakhine state remains heavily restricted for journalists, making independent reporting from the region difficult. The imprisonment of the two Reuters reporters consequently raised broader concerns about the ability of journalists to investigate allegations of human rights violations in the country.