Myanmar's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, rejected claims that two Reuters journalists who were jailed last week for seven years on charges of violating the colonial-era Official Secrets Act were incarcerated because of their profession.

"They were not jailed because they were journalists. They were jailed because…the court has decided that they have broken the Official Secrets Act," the Nobel Peace laureate said in response to a question during the ASEAN World Economic Forum in Hanoi, Vietnam on Thursday.

When asked whether she felt comfortable about the court's judgment, Suu Kyi responded: "I wonder whether many people have actually read the summary of the judgment, which had nothing to do with the freedom of expression at all; it had to do with the Officials Secrets Act."

"If we believe in the rule of law, they have every right to appeal the judgment and to point out why the judgment was wrong," she added.

Reuters correspondents Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were detained as they researched the killing of 10 Rohingya and other abuses involving soldiers and police in Inn Din, a village in western Rakhine state.

They argued that they had been framed by police officers who handed them official documents in a Yangon restaurant before arresting them on December 12. Lone and Soe Oo testified that they received harsh treatment during their initial interrogations. Several appeals for release were denied.

EU: Myanmar has failed media freedom

The EU blasted the verdict later on Thursday, and called for the reporters' immediate release, saying that they had not been given a fair trial.

"Many observers saw this trial as a test of freedom of the media, democracy and the rule of law in the country. It is pretty clear that the test was failed," said EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

"The sentence will also intimidate other journalists who could fear undue arrest or prosecution for doing their job."



Read more: Myanmar's democracy movement 30 years on – military still calls the shots

Watch video 02:16 Share Myanmar journalists get 7 years Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/34EGb Myanmar journalists sentenced to seven years in prison

Free speech 'fading' in Myanmar

Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen J. Adler called the verdict against Lone and Soe Oo "a major step backwards for Myanmar's transition to democracy," adding that the "verdict must be corrected by the Myanmar government as a matter of urgency."

Ambassadors to Myanmar from the UN, US, UK and other countries, some of whom were present for the September 3 ruling, called for the reporters' immediate release.

Responding to the international criticism to the journalists' sentencing, Suu Kyi said, "The case has been held in open court and all the hearings have been open to everybody who wished to go, and attend them and if anybody feels there has been a miscarriage of justice, I would like them to point it out."

Kyaw Min Swe, a journalist from Myanmar and executive director of the Myanmar Journalism Institute, told DW that Suu Kyi's government was trying to "muzzle and control the media."

"We're frustrated by the fact that the authorities are trying to undermine the role of professional media as the fourth pillar of our democracy. That's why we are still facing difficulties in doing our jobs everywhere in the country. And journalists are facing even more trials and prosecution under this government than under the previous [military-dominated] government," said Swe, adding that free speech is clearly fading under the current administration.

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

Rohingya in Bangladesh: One year after the exodus Dusty, hot and crowded – and almost as big as Cologne Rohingya began fleeing Myanmar to Bangladesh decades ago, resulting in the Kutupalong refugee camp near the southeastern city, Cox’s Bazar. But the camp population has increased dramatically since August 2017 and additional camps have been set up. Almost a million people now live in Kutupalong – a city almost the size of Cologne, but lacking the infrastructure.

Rohingya in Bangladesh: One year after the exodus Soccer fever in the refugee camp International flags were flying at the entrance to the Kutupalong refugee camp during the World Cup. Among the many Brazilian and Argentinian flags were also occasional German ones. Soccer fever was alive in other parts of the camp and in surrounding villages as well. The young community journalists were there to cover it, adding a touch of joy even in a time of crisis.

Rohingya in Bangladesh: One year after the exodus Monsoon floods and landslides Coping with extreme weather conditions is one of the hardest challenges. Cyclones threaten the camp in the spring, torrential rains take over during the monsoon season. Community reporters of the “Palonger Hotha” program offer listeners vital information for survival. This includes where to find bamboo sticks to reinforce shelters, and areas that need to be evacuated due to potential mudslides.

Rohingya in Bangladesh: One year after the exodus No one stays dry Another goal of the radio program is to strengthen the way people see themselves, by taking their daily lives seriously. The reporter team, made up of young Rohingyas and local Bangladeshis, asks families, for example, how their lives are affected when they have to huddle together for hours, due to the weather conditions.

Rohingya in Bangladesh: One year after the exodus Collecting constructive ideas The reporters look for constructive ideas that can inspire the listeners. One reporter, Sajeda, reported on “hanging vegetable gardens”, where beans are planted as a way to increase the food supply despite limited space. The reporters also look at household remedies for curing illnesses that, due to hygiene issues, spread during the rainy season.

Rohingya in Bangladesh: One year after the exodus Education instead of a “lost generation” How can children learn to remember their way home? What can they do to not get lost in the refugee camp? And what are the challenges facing the camp’s Learning Centers? Education for the refugee children is of special concern to the reporter, Iqbal. There are so far no real schools for the children.

Rohingya in Bangladesh: One year after the exodus New for Rohingya: Elefant alarms The refugee camp lies along the migration route for the Asian elephants. Several camp residents, however, were killed in early 2018 when they tried to chase the elephants away. In response, the United Nations held a seminar showing how people should act when elephants approach. “Palonger Hotha” reporters covered this for their program.

Rohingya in Bangladesh: One year after the exodus Locals can give advice Unlike the new refugees, locals know from experience how to react if approached by an elephant: stay calm, don’t move, and the elephant will walk away on its own. DW Akademie trainer Andrea Marshall and translator Romana Akther Shanta learned this in July, on their way to the production of the 12th radio show.

Rohingya in Bangladesh: One year after the exodus Logging green hills Some local Bangladeshis have found work connected to the refugee camp, but also complain that food prices have risen in the region since the arrival of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya. Green hills have since been logged because the refugees need space and firewood. This is why it is so important that the community radio program also covers the views of locals.

Rohingya in Bangladesh: One year after the exodus Conflict-sensitive approach Working together with local trainer Mainul Khan, the “Palonger Hotha” team learns how to deal carefully with potentially sensitive topics. The program does not cover politics. On the other hand, the UNHCR’s “Smart Card”, that is supposed to facilitate the (voluntary) return to Myanmar but which many Rohingya find suspicious, is well reported on.

Rohingya in Bangladesh: One year after the exodus Overcoming trauma Traumatic experiences also mark the first anniversary of the mass exodus that began August 25. But at the same time, many people say they are starting to face their trauma – slowly, step by step. Author: Andrea Marshall



'We can't pick and choose'

An icon of democracy in the Southeast Asian country, Suu Kyi has been widely criticized for her response to the Rohingya crisis, which the jailed Reuters reporters were investigating.

Read more: Opinion: The Rohingya crisis and Suu Kyi's silence

At least 700,000 people have fled the western state to neighboring countries since a violent conflict broke out between Rohingya insurgents and the Buddhist-majority country's military.

The UN said last month crimes committed against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state amount to the gravest crimes under international law, and that Myanmar's military generals should face a genocide trial.

But on Thursday, Suu Kyi admitted that her government could have handled the crisis better.

"There are of course ways in which we, in hindsight, might think that the situation could have been handled better," Suu Kyi said. "But we believe that for the sake of long-term stability and security we have to be fair to all sides… We cannot choose and pick who should be protected by the rule of law."

Myanmar authorities have repeatedly denied discrimination against the Rohingya, a stateless ethnic group scattered around Myanmar, Bangladesh and other Southeast Asian countries. They argue the military action in Rakhine was necessary to stem militancy.

Read more: Rohingya genocide: Will Myanmar generals face ICC justice?