Reuters journalists charged with violating Myanmar law

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

The journalists’ lawyer, Than Zaw Aung, said the prosecutor formally indicted the pair and they now face up to 14 years in prison if convicted.

GreenFox

Energy Star Rated versus Energy Star Certified

Oct 29, 2026

GreenFox

Why waiting to replace your windows and doors could cost you more than you think

Jul 22, 2026

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

Than Zaw Aung said he appealed for the two to be immediately released on bail, but the judge said he would review that request and rule at the next hearing on Jan. 23.

“We are still far from the verdict,” he said.

Rights and media groups have criticized Myanmar’s new civilian government led by Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi for continuing to use colonial-era laws to threaten and imprison journalists. Such laws were widely used by the military junta that previously ruled the country to muzzle critics and the media.

Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen J. Adler said he was “extremely disappointed” by the charges and again called for Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo to be released immediately.

“We view this as a wholly unwarranted, blatant attack on press freedom,” Adler said in a statement. “Our colleagues should be allowed to return to their jobs reporting on events in Myanmar.”

Their detention has caused an international outcry. After they were detained, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the arrests showed how press freedom was deteriorating in Myanmar, while U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called for their immediate release.

“A free press is critical to a free society_the detention of journalists anywhere is unacceptable,” former President Bill Clinton tweeted Monday. “The Reuters journalists being held in Myanmar should be released immediately.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists also condemned Wednesday’s decision to charge the journalists.

“These criminal charges represent a giant step backward for press freedom in Myanmar,” said Shawn Crispin, the group’s senior Southeast Asia representative. “The jailing of journalists shows that Aung San Suu Kyi’s government, despite its democratic mandate, is following in the repressive footsteps of her military government predecessors. And by targeting a high-profile news organization like Reuters, it shows no journalist is safe to report on sensitive stories in Myanmar.”

The Associated Press