Myanmar Reuters case decision due nextweek

AMyanmar judge said yesterday he would decide next week on whether to throw out a case against two Reuters journalists who were arrested while reporting on military abuses against Rohingya Muslims.

Myanmar nationals Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, could face up to 14 years in prison on charges of possessing classified documents under the colonial- era Official Secrets Act. Their plight has triggered global alarm over worsening media freedoms in Myanmar and government efforts to restrict reporting on northern Rakhine state, where troops are accused of waging an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Rohingya minority.

Last week, the journalists’ lawyers asked the court to drop the case, which is still in a pre- trial hearing phase, saying there was not enough evidence. Yesterday, defence and prosecution teams presented arguments on the motion. “I’m going to give a decision on Wednesday, April 11th,” said Judge Ye Lwin.