Support Myanmar Journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo

Yesterday, Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, located in Myanmar, were charged for allegedly violating an anti-free press and outdated law. They have been unjustly detained since December 12, 2017.

As Reuters recently reported, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were arrested immediately after meeting with police officers who supplied them with government documents regarding their investigation into the crisis in Rakhine. Officials are claiming that the journalists violated the nation’s Official Secrets Act by procuring those documents. 

There could not be a clearer example of the need for, and the power of, a free press. These journalists have been arrested for doing their jobs.  They now face up to 14 years in prison.

The Guild’s response, galvanized by our members at Reuters, must loudly echo our broader community of media workers, reporters and commentators -- as well as the average citizens who believe in speaking truth to power. We support Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo: Journalism is not a crime.

We’re asking that anyone who believes as we do that silencing the press is an abhorrent and intolerable act of cowardice update their social media with the graphics below. Follow @reuters in supporting Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo and retweet the the Guild’s statement from @nyguild.

Download the images here:

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