Wives and children of jailed Burma journalists attend appeal hearing
Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo remain in prison for their reporting on the country’s crackdown on Rohingya Muslims.
Lawyers for two Reuters journalists sentenced to seven years in prison for their reporting on Burma’s brutal crackdown on Rohingya Muslims have appealed against their conviction to the country’s Supreme Court.
Reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo remained in Insein Prison while their lawyers attended the court’s first hearing on their final appeal on Tuesday in the capital, Naypyitaw.
The prisoner’s wives also came to the court hearing, bringing their young children.
The reporters’ conviction for violating the country’s Official Secrets Act has been condemned by rights groups, Western governments and global press associations.
It also has highlighted freedom of expression problems in Burma, even after it transitioned from military rule to an elected government under Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Large numbers of Rohingya refugees have fled the country to Bangladesh amid the military crackdown.
