Reuters reporters jailed in Myanmar freed

May 07, 2019 08:28

Two Reuters journalists jailed in Myanmar after they were convicted of breaking the Official Secrets Act walked free from a prison on the outskirts of Yangon on Tuesday after spending more than 500 days behind bars, witnesses said.

The two reporters, Wa Lone, 33, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 29, had been convicted in September and sentenced to seven years in jail, in a case that raised questions about Myanmars progress toward democracy and sparked an outcry from diplomats and human rights advocates.

Myanmar President Win Myint has pardoned thousands of other prisoners in mass amnesties since last month. It is customary in Myanmar for authorities to free prisoners across the country around the time of the traditional New Year, which began on April 17.

IMAGE: Journalist Wa Lone leaves after he was sentenced to prisonin Yangon. Photograph: Myat Thu Kyaw/Reuters

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