Demonstrators call on Myanmar to release Reuters journalists

September 03, 2018 00:00:00

People marching to show solidarity with jailed Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo in Yangon, Myanmar on Sunday — Reuters

YANGON, Sept 02 (Reuters): Dozens of people marched through Myanmar's largest city Yangon on Saturday, calling on the government to release Reuters journalists on trial for allegedly collecting state secrets, and to demand press freedom.

Black-clad protesters marched with banners, flags and balloons with the faces of the two jailed Reuters journalists - Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo - printed on them.

They chanted: "The right to know the news! The people's right! The people's right!"

Some carried banners that read "Immediately release imprisoned journalists. Immediately release them."

A Yangon court is on Monday expected to hand down the verdict in the case against Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, who have been charged under the colonial-era Official Secrets Act.

Press freedom advocates, the United Nations, the European Union and countries including the United States, Canada and Australia have called for the Reuters journalists' acquittal.

Myo Myint Maung, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Information told Reuters by phone: "No matter what side you are on, freedom of the press is important."