Myanmar: Further information: Reuters journalists released in prisoner amnesty: Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo
Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, have been granted a presidential pardon and released from prison after serving more than 500 days of their seven year sentences in Myanmar. This is an important victory for press freedom in Myanmar and beyond, which Amnesty International is proud to have contributed to.
Outcome UA: 4/18 Index: ASA 16/0322/2019 Myanmar Date: 8 May 2019
URGENT ACTION
REUTERS JOURNALISTS RELEASED IN PRISONER AMNESTY
Two Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, have been granted a presidential
pardon and released from prison after serving more than 500 days of their seven year
sentences in Myanmar. This is an important victory for press freedom in Myanmar and
beyond, which Amnesty International is proud to have contributed to.
NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUESTED. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT APPEALS.
Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were unconditionally released following a presidential pardon
on 7 May 2019, two weeks after the Supreme Court rejected their appeal. At the time of their arrest, on 12
December 2017, the two men were investigating a massacre of 10 Rohingya men and boys committed by
members of the Myanmar security forces in northern Rakhine State, for which seven Myanmar soldiers were
later jailed by a military court.
The two journalists were charged with breaching the Official Secrets Act and, on 3 September 2018,
sentenced to seven years in prison. An appeal was rejected by the Yangon High Court in January 2019 and
again by the Supreme Court on 23 April 2019. Upon release, Wa Lone told journalists outside of Insein
Prison: “I want to thank everyone who helped us in prison, and everyone around the world who called for our
release. I can’t wait to get back to the news room now.”
Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo should have never been arrested or imprisoned in the first place, and Amnesty
International calls for their convictions to be quashed and their criminal records expunged. The organization
remains concerned about ongoing restrictions on of freedoms of expression, association and peaceful
assembly in Myanmar and will continue to call for the release of all prisoners of conscience and the repeal of
repressive laws.
NAME AND PREFFERED PRONOUN: Wa Lone; Kyaw Soe Oo (he/him/they/them)
THIS IS THE THIRD AND FINAL OUTPUT FOR UA 4/18
LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa16/8762/2018/en/