People march to show solidarity for jailed Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo two days before a local court is due to deliver verdict against them on charges of breaching the country's Official Secrets Act in Yangon, Myanmar, September 1, 2018. REUTERS/Ann Wang
BERLIN, September 3 (Reuters) - The German government's human rights commissioner on Monday called the conviction of two Reuters journalists in Myanmar for their reporting of the Rohingya crisis "a harsh setback" for freedom of the press in the southeastern Asia country.
A Myanmar judge has found Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo guilty of breaching a law on state secrets and jailed them for seven years.
Baerbel Kofler, human rights commissioner for the German government, said she was crushed to hear the news and expressed concern that the conviction would intimidate other journalists. "The two journalists... did nothing but support the search for truth in Rakhine (state)," she said.
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Reuters journalist Kyaw Soe Oo's wife, Chit Suu Win, and daughter, Moe Thin Wai Zan, leave the court after listening to the verdict in Yangon, Myanmar, September 3, 2018. REUTERS/Myo Kyaw Soe[/caption]
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Myanmar journalists stand in front of a police vehicle transporting Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo to Insein prison after the court verdict in Yangon, Myanmar, September 3, 2018. REUTERS/Myo Kyaw Soe[/caption]
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Myanmar journalists stand in front of a police vehicle transporting Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo to Insein prison after the court verdict in Yangon, Myanmar, September 3, 2018. REUTERS/Myo Kyaw Soe[/caption]
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Relatives of detained Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo wait for their verdict trial at Insein court Yangon, Myanmar September 3, 2018. REUTERS/Matthew Tostevin[/caption]
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Reuters journalists Kyaw Soe Oo leaves after listening to the verdict at Insein court in Yangon, Myanmar, September 3, 2018. REUTERS/Ann Wang[/caption]
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Reuters journalist Wa Lone leaves after listening to the verdict at Insein court in Yangon, Myanmar, September 3, 2018. REUTERS/Myat Thu Kyaw[/caption]
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Reuters journalist Kyaw Soe Oo's wife, Chit Suu Win, and daughter, Moe Thin Wai Zan, react after listening to the verdict at Insein court in Yangon, Myanmar September 3, 2018. REUTERS/Myat Thu Kyaw[/caption]
Britain calls for immediate release of Reuters journalists jailed in Myanmar
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain on Monday called for the immediate release of two Reuters jailed in Myanmar for their reporting of the Rohingya crisis, saying that the verdict undermined press freedom in Myanmar.
A Myanmar judge has found Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo guilty of breaching a law on state secrets and jailed them for seven years.
"As our Ambassador to Burma, who attended the hearing, has said, we are extremely disappointed with this verdict and sentencing," British Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said.
"And we call for the journalists to be released immediately. In any democracy, journalists must be free to carry out their jobs without fear or intimidation. This verdict has undermined freedom of the media in Myanmar."
