Bangkok, Jan 10 (AP) Prosecutors in Myanmar formallycharged two journalists from the Reuters news agency todaywith violating the Official Secrets Act, signaling the casewill go forward despite international condemnation.
Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were arrested December 12 afterpolice accused them of violating the colonial-era law byacquiring "important secret papers" from two policemen.
The police officers had worked in Rakhine state, wheresecurity forces are blamed for rights abuses against RohingyaMuslims that sparked the exodus of some 650,000 people toBangladesh.
Than Zaw Aung, the lawyer for the journalists, said theprosecutor formally indicted the pair at today's hearing. Theyface up to 14 years in prison if convicted.
Than Zaw Aung said he appealed for the two to beimmediately released on bail, but the judge said he wouldreview that request and rule at the next hearing on January23.
"We are still far from the verdict," he said.
Rights and media groups have criticized Myanmar's newcivilian government led by Nobel Peace laureate Aung San SuuKyi for continuing to use colonial-era laws to threaten andimprison journalists.
Such laws were widely used by the military junta thatpreviously ruled the country to muzzle critics and the media.
Dozens of journalists wearing black waited outside thecourt today to protest the arrest of their colleagues, whowere led into the court with iron chains on their wrists.
Their detention has caused an international outcry. Afterthey were detained, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saidthe arrests showed how press freedom was deteriorating inMyanmar, while US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called fortheir immediate release.
"A free press is critical to a free society_the detentionof journalists anywhere is unacceptable," former PresidentBill Clinton tweeted Monday. "The Reuters journalists beingheld in Myanmar should be released immediately."Amnesty International again called for their immediaterelease and said the arrests were part of a larger problem inMyanmar.
"These arrests have not happened in a vacuum, but come asauthorities are increasingly restricting independent media,"James Gomez, the group's director for Southeast Asia and thePacific, said in a statement.
"Journalists and media outlets, in particular those whoreport on 'sensitive topics,' are living with the constantfear of harassment, intimidation or arrest. This clampdown onfreedom of speech must end." (AP)MRJ.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.