Jailing of Reuters journalists 'nothing to do with freedom of expression', says Aung San Suu Kyi
Updated 39 minutes ago
Aung San Suu Kyi sitting in a white chair at a microphone with the World Economic Forum logo behind her.
PHOTO: Aung San Suu Kyi said the trial of the two jailed Reuters journalists had been held in open court. (Reuters/Kham)
RELATED STORY: Myanmar judge jails Reuters reporters in landmark secrets caseRELATED STORY: Reuters journalists charged under state secrets act in Myanmar
Myanmar's State Counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi, says two jailed Reuters journalists can appeal their seven-year sentence, and that their jailing had nothing to do with freedom of expression.
Key points:
Aung San Suu Kyi says journalists 'jailed because the court decided they broke Official Secrets Act'
The guilty verdicts, and seven-year sentence on September 3, have brought international condemnation
The journalists were investigating the killing of Rohingya villagers by security forces at the time of their arrest
Asked how she felt about jailing journalists as a democratic leader, Suu Kyi said: "They were not jailed because they were journalists, they were jailed because … the court has decided that they have broken the Official Secrets Act."
She made her comments at the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in Hanoi on Thursday, in response to a question from the forum moderator who asked whether she felt comfortable about the reporters being jailed.
Journalists Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were found guilty on official secrets charges and sentenced earlier this month in a landmark case seen as a test of progress towards democracy in Myanmar.
Composite image shows Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo
PHOTO: Jailed Reuters journalists Wa Lone (L) and Kyaw Soe Oo (R) were investigating the killing of Rohingya villages by security forces. (Reuters: Myat Thu Kyaw/Ann Wang)
Their imprisonment has prompted an international outpouring of support, including a call for their release by US Vice President Mike Pence.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has called the trial a "travesty of justice".
The journalists were investigating the killing of Rohingya villagers by security forces at the time of their arrest last December, and had pleaded not guilty.
"I wonder whether very many people have actually read the summary of the judgement, which had nothing to do with freedom of expression at all, it had to do with an Official Secrets Act," Suu Kyi said.
"If we believe in the rule of law, they have every right to appeal the judgment and to point out why the judgement was wrong."
When asked to comment on Mr Pence's call to release the journalists, Suu Kyi responded by asking if the critics felt there had been a miscarriage of justice.
"The case has been held in open court and all the hearings have been open to everybody who wished to go and attend them, and if anybody feels there has been a miscarriage of justice, I would like them to point it out," she said.
The guilty verdicts of the two Reuters reporters on September 3 has sharply divided public opinion in Myanmar.
On Wednesday, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were honoured by a foundation set up by the late Win Tin, one of the country's most prominent political prisoners and a close ally of Suu Kyi.
In granting the prestigious award, the foundation said it would oppose their convictions and demand their release.
Zaw Htay, spokesman for the office of Myanmar's president, was not immediately available to comment on Suu Kyi's remarks.
Suu Kyi 'hindsight' on Rakhine situation
Earlier on Thursday, Suu Kyi at the same WEF session said in hindsight her government could have handled the situation in Rakhine state better.
"There are of course ways in which we, with hindsight, might think that the situation could have been handled better," Suu Kyi said.
"But we believe that for the sake of long-term stability and security we have to be fair to all sides … We cannot choose and pick who should be protected by the rule of law."
Some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fled Rakhine after government troops led a brutal crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state in response to attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army on 30 Myanmar police posts and a military base in August 2017.
UN investigators last month said Myanmar's military carried out mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingya with "genocidal intent", and that the commander-in-chief and five generals should be prosecuted for the gravest crimes under international law.
Myanmar has denied allegations of atrocities, saying its military carried out justifiable actions against militants.
Updated 39 minutes ago
Aung San Suu Kyi sitting in a white chair at a microphone with the World Economic Forum logo behind her.
PHOTO: Aung San Suu Kyi said the trial of the two jailed Reuters journalists had been held in open court. (Reuters/Kham)
RELATED STORY: Myanmar judge jails Reuters reporters in landmark secrets caseRELATED STORY: Reuters journalists charged under state secrets act in Myanmar
Myanmar's State Counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi, says two jailed Reuters journalists can appeal their seven-year sentence, and that their jailing had nothing to do with freedom of expression.
Key points:
Aung San Suu Kyi says journalists 'jailed because the court decided they broke Official Secrets Act'
The guilty verdicts, and seven-year sentence on September 3, have brought international condemnation
The journalists were investigating the killing of Rohingya villagers by security forces at the time of their arrest
Asked how she felt about jailing journalists as a democratic leader, Suu Kyi said: "They were not jailed because they were journalists, they were jailed because … the court has decided that they have broken the Official Secrets Act."
She made her comments at the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in Hanoi on Thursday, in response to a question from the forum moderator who asked whether she felt comfortable about the reporters being jailed.
Journalists Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were found guilty on official secrets charges and sentenced earlier this month in a landmark case seen as a test of progress towards democracy in Myanmar.
Composite image shows Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo
PHOTO: Jailed Reuters journalists Wa Lone (L) and Kyaw Soe Oo (R) were investigating the killing of Rohingya villages by security forces. (Reuters: Myat Thu Kyaw/Ann Wang)
Their imprisonment has prompted an international outpouring of support, including a call for their release by US Vice President Mike Pence.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has called the trial a "travesty of justice".
The journalists were investigating the killing of Rohingya villagers by security forces at the time of their arrest last December, and had pleaded not guilty.
"I wonder whether very many people have actually read the summary of the judgement, which had nothing to do with freedom of expression at all, it had to do with an Official Secrets Act," Suu Kyi said.
"If we believe in the rule of law, they have every right to appeal the judgment and to point out why the judgement was wrong."
When asked to comment on Mr Pence's call to release the journalists, Suu Kyi responded by asking if the critics felt there had been a miscarriage of justice.
"The case has been held in open court and all the hearings have been open to everybody who wished to go and attend them, and if anybody feels there has been a miscarriage of justice, I would like them to point it out," she said.
The guilty verdicts of the two Reuters reporters on September 3 has sharply divided public opinion in Myanmar.
On Wednesday, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were honoured by a foundation set up by the late Win Tin, one of the country's most prominent political prisoners and a close ally of Suu Kyi.
In granting the prestigious award, the foundation said it would oppose their convictions and demand their release.
Zaw Htay, spokesman for the office of Myanmar's president, was not immediately available to comment on Suu Kyi's remarks.
Suu Kyi 'hindsight' on Rakhine situation
Earlier on Thursday, Suu Kyi at the same WEF session said in hindsight her government could have handled the situation in Rakhine state better.
"There are of course ways in which we, with hindsight, might think that the situation could have been handled better," Suu Kyi said.
"But we believe that for the sake of long-term stability and security we have to be fair to all sides … We cannot choose and pick who should be protected by the rule of law."
Some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fled Rakhine after government troops led a brutal crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state in response to attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army on 30 Myanmar police posts and a military base in August 2017.
UN investigators last month said Myanmar's military carried out mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingya with "genocidal intent", and that the commander-in-chief and five generals should be prosecuted for the gravest crimes under international law.
Myanmar has denied allegations of atrocities, saying its military carried out justifiable actions against militants.
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