Myanmar: Reuters journalists' appeals rejected

The European Union and Britain on Friday called on Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi to intervene after an appeal from two Reuters journalists was rejected.

A Myanmar court earlier on Friday ruled against Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, who in September were both sentenced to seven years in jail on charges of breaking the country's Official Secrets Act — a legal relic of British colonial rule.

Read more: Myanmar jails journalists — 'More trials and prosecution under civilian government'

"Today's court decision to confirm the conviction of Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo to seven years' imprisonment is a missed opportunity to right a wrong," an EU spokesperson said in a statement.

"We are very worried about due process in this case," British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told BBC radio when asked about the case. "We urge Aung San Suu Kyi to look at whether that due process happened and to recognize that as someone who fought for democracy in Burma, she should be taking a personal interest in the future of these two brave journalists."

What happened in court

• Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo's appeals were rejected
• High Court Judge Aung Naing said the seven-year prison term was "a suitable punishment"
• Defense lawyer Than Zaw Aung said he would discuss the option of a Supreme Court appeal with the two reporters

Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo's arrest: Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were arrested on December 12 in Yangon for allegedly possessing "important secret papers" related to the ongoing crisis in Rakhine state, which they say they acquired from two policemen.

They argued that they had been framed by police officers who handed them official documents in a Yangon restaurant before arresting them. Both pleaded not guilty to violating the Official Secrets Act and testified that they had received harsh treatment during their initial interrogations. Several appeals for their release have been denied.

Crackdown in Rakhine state: Allegations of a series of coordinated attacks on Myanmar police posts in western Rakhine state led the military to launch the violent crackdown on the Rohingya people on August 25 last year, driving more than 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh, including at least 370,000 children.

Persecution of the Rohingya: The Rohingya have long been subject to persecution in Myanmar. After military rule began in the country in 1962, the situation for the Rohingya worsened and government campaigns saw thousands of Rohingya pushed into neighboring Bangladesh. A new citizenship law passed in 1982 further exacerbated the situation — 135 national ethnic groups were identified but the Rohingya were not included, rendering them stateless.

law/msh (AFP, dpa, Reuters)