Reuters journalists appeal to Myanmar’s top court

YANGON, Myanmar

The country’s top court Tuesday heard the appeal of two Reuters journalists imprisoned for reporting on rights violations by the security forces.

Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were each sentenced to seven years last September under a colonial-era law for allegedly breaching the Official Secrets Act for investigating the murder of 10 Rohingya men in the Rakhine state.

In the final stage of appeal procedures, defense lawyers appealed to the Supreme Court against the conviction.

The Court agreed to review if there were any violations in legal procedures, said lawyer Than Zaw Aung.

“If the judge found the legal procedures were violated at some points, he would review the case and make changes to the ruling by the lower courts,” he told Anadolu Agency.

The ruling by the lower courts then could be vacated or reduced but he said the conviction would also remain valid if the judge decided there was no violation in legal procedures and dismissed the appeal.

According to the court’s decision, the judge would meet the lawyers again before making any decision.

“However no exact date was set for the next hearing,” he said.

Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen J. Adler said the Supreme Court still has the opportunity to correct the serious miscarriages of justice inflicted on the reporters.

“They are honest, admirable journalists who did not break the law, and they should be freed as a matter of urgency,” he said in a statement before the hearing.