Myanmar Court Ruling On Sentenced Reuters Reporters Sends Negative Signal - US State Dept.

A decision by Myanmar's Supreme Court to uphold the sentencing of two Reuters reporters despite serious irregularities in the case sends a negative signal about freedom of expression in that country, the US Department of State said in a press release on Wednesday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th April, 2019) A decision by Myanmar's Supreme Court to uphold the sentencing of two Reuters reporters despite serious irregularities in the case sends a negative signal about freedom of expression in that country, the US Department of State said in a press release on Wednesday.

The two journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who had been reporting on the Rohingya crisis, were sentenced to seven years in prison for violating Myanmar's State Secrets Act.

"Burma's [Myanmar's] Supreme Court decision yesterday to uphold the sentencing of Pulitzer-prize winning journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, despite serious irregularities in the case against them, sends a profoundly negative signal about freedom of expression and the protection of journalists in Burma," Ortagus said.