US expects reporters in Myanmar to go free

The Trump administration is confident two Reuters journalists in Myanmar will be acquitted of charges relating to the illegal possession of official documents.

US ambassador Nikki Haley says the Trump administration expects two Reuters journalists accused by Myanmar's government of illegally possessing official documents to be acquitted of all charges next week.

A Myanmar judge postponed the verdict in the case of Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone on Monday, saying it will be announced on September 3.

The two reporters have pleaded not guilty to violating Myanmar's colonial-era Official Secrets Act. They contend they were framed by police while reporting on Myanmar's brutal crackdown on Rohingya Muslims.

Haley told the Security Council Tuesday that "a free and responsible press is critical for any democracy."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed, without mentioning names, that "we must also continue to press for the release of journalists who have been reporting on this human tragedy."


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Source: AAP


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