May 3rd was the World Press Freedom Day but to the 2 journalists of Reuters – Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, May 7th was the real day of freedom from their undeserved 500 days of imprisonment. The two have been released on 7th of May 2019 by Win Myint, the President of Myanmar who pardoned them along with the thousands of others as the traditional New Year of Myanmar commenced in the mid-April.
Why were they jailed for 500 days?
Journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were investigating the death of 10 Rohingya Muslim Men and boys by Myanmer security forces and Buddhist civilians in western Myanmar in 2017. They were arrested on December 2017 under charges that they violated the Official Secrets Act and were given a seven years imprisonment. The two had appealed in the Supreme Court of Myanmar for one last time but their appeal was rejected.
Several reports suggested that Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were set-up by the Police and the two didn’t break any law nor did they steal any information. The evidence used against them was planted by the Police to silence them and their investigation of the murders.
Myanmar which was a Military Administration switched to Democratic Administration in the early April 2011 but many have questioned how well has Myanmar dealt with its new system.
Released after 511 Days
After their release the two of them thanked the support oared by the international media fraternity. Wa Lone said ” I’m really happy and excited to see my family and my colleagues. I can’t wait to go to my newsroom”. Their pardon and release was agreed after Myanmar government, Reuters, the United Nations and representatives of other governments held discussions but a great credit should be given to the wives of the journalists who wrote to the government of Myanmar for the pardons.
Honored for their investigative journalistic spirit
While they were in prison, Massacre in Myanmar – the findings of the two men and the incredible data that uncovered the murder of 10 Rohingyas received several honors including the prestigious Pulitzer Prize. They were also honored with the Time Person of the Year 2018. There have been so many lethal hazards in the lives of journalists and the media fraternity and yet they serve as beacons of truth. The release of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo has truly been a belated yet delighted reason to celebrate World Press Freedom Day.