A Myanmar judge on Monday found two Reuters journalists guilty of
breaching a law on state secrets and jailed them for seven years, in a landmark
case seen as a test of progress towards democracy in the Southeast Asian
country.
Following are the reactions of prominent names on the arrest
of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo.
US ambassador to Myanmar Scot Marciel: “I’m sad for
Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo and their families, but also for Myanmar. It’s deeply
troubling for everybody who has struggled so hard here for media freedom. I
think one has to ask will this process increase or decrease the confidence the
people of Myanmar have in their justice system.”
British ambassador to Myanmar Dan Chugg:
"Speaking on behalf of the British government, but also on behalf of
European Union member states, we are extremely disappointed by this verdict.
Freedom of expression and rule of law are fundamental in a democracy, and this
case has passed a long shadow over both today. The judge has appeared to have
ignored evidence and to have ignored Myanmar law. This has dealt a hammer blow
for the rule of law.”
Federica
Mogherini, spokeswoman of the European Union high representative for foreign
affairs and security policy: “Today’s court decision...undermines
the freedom of the media, the public’s right to information and the development
of the rule of law in Myanmar. Their sentencing and imprisonment under the
Official Secrets Act of 1923 for covering allegations of serious human rights
violations in Rakhine State also serve to intimidate other journalists who will
fear harassment and undue arrest or prosecution for merely doing their jobs.
Media freedom and critical journalism are essential pillars of democracy. A
free press has a key function in promoting transparency and holding democratic
governments to account. The prison sentences of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo should
be reviewed and the two journalists be released immediately and
unconditionally.”
Stephen
J Adler, Editor-in-Chief, Reuters: “Today is a sad day for Myanmar,
Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, and the press everywhere. These
two admirable reporters have already spent nearly nine months in prison on
false charges designed to silence their reporting and intimidate the press.
Without any evidence of wrongdoing and in the face of compelling evidence of a
police set-up, today’s ruling condemns them to the continued loss of their freedom
and condones the misconduct of security forces."
“This
is a major step backward in Myanmar’s transition to democracy, cannot be
squared with the rule of law or freedom of speech, and must be corrected by the
Myanmar government as a matter of urgency. We will not wait while Wa Lone and
Kyaw Soe Oo suffer this injustice and will evaluate how to proceed in the
coming days, including whether to seek relief in an international forum.”
Tirana
hassan, Amnesty International’s director of crisis response: “These
convictions must be quashed, and both men immediately and unconditionally
released. This politically motivated decision has significant ramifications for
press freedom in Myanmar. It sends a stark warning to other journalists of the
severe consequences that await should they look too closely at military abuses.
This amounts to censorship through fear.”
Brad
Adams, Asia Director, Human Rights Watch: “The outrageous
convictions of the Reuters journalists show Myanmar courts’ willingness to
muzzle those reporting on military atrocities. These sentences mark a new low
for press freedom and further backsliding on rights under Aung San Suu Kyi’s
government.”
Frederick
Rawski, Asia Pacific director, International Commission of jurists: “The
court’s decision effectively punishes these two courageous journalists for
exposing human rights violations, following a grossly unfair trial. The
decision is a miscarriage of justice that inflicts needless suffering on them
and their families, threatens freedom of expression, damages Myanmar’s global
standing, and undermines its justice institutions all at once.”
Shawn
Crispin, Southeast Asia representative, committee to protect journalists: “Today’s
ruling...on bogus charges marks a new press freedom low for Myanmar. The
process that resulted in their convictions was a travesty of justice and will
cast Myanmar as an anti-democratic pariah as long as they are wrongfully held
behind bars. We call on Myanmar’s civilian authorities to immediately release
the journalists.”
Iqbal
Sobhan Chowdhury, media adviser to Bangladesh’s prime minister Sheikh
Hasina: “This
has once again proved the Myanmar government has been pursuing the suppression
of the freedom of expression and freedom of media. It is now an open secret
that any media or any person who wants to reveal the atrocities of the Myanmar
army and administration against the Rohingya people will face persecution by
the Myanmar government. We strongly condemn this and demand the release of the
Reuters journalists and a halt to any further persecution of any media person
in Myanmar.”
Mohib
Ullah, Rohingya leader in Kutapalong refugee camp in Bangladesh: “This
is not justice. I would like to see them free as soon as possible. They did
nothing wrong.
Thant
Myint-U, Myanmar historian and commentator: “A tragic day for media
freedom and an intimation of what’s to come.”
Aung
Htun Oo, media trainer, Yangon journalism school: “The
world of Myanmar news media is now in darkness...I understand this is trying to
silence journalists so that they do not dare to say anything in the future.”