Reuters Reporters Arrested For Reporting On Rohingya Crisis Among Thousands Released By Myanmar

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were released from Myanmar jail after an incarceration lasting 512 days. They were jailed for an investigative report on the alleged killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys in Rakhine state, reports Firstpost.

The two men were detained since 12 December 2017 and were later convicted under the Official Secrets Act in September 2018. Both the journalists were awarded a seven-year prison term, raising serious question about Myanmar's strive towards democracy. The incident had outraged human rights advocates and diplomats throughout the world.

On Tuesday (7 May), the two journalists were seen walking free from the prison on the outskirts of Yangon.

Along with the two reporters, there were around 6000 other prisoners who were granted amnesty by President Win Myint. The president has been pardoning thousands of prisoners in mass amnesties. It is traditional in Myanmar for the officials to free prisoners across the country around the time of traditional New Year, which began on 17 April.

Reuters has time and again detailed that the two men did not perpetrate any crime and had called for their release.

The two men were investigating the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men, that happened during the Army crackdown in the Rakhine State in August 2017. The crackdown had led to around 7,30,000 Rohingyas escaping from Myanmar, according to UN estimates.

The Supreme Court of Myanmar had rejected their final appeal in April. Both their wives had also written a petition to the Myanmar government pleading release of their husbands so that they can reunite with their families.