ZCZC
BSS-30
MYANMAR-JOURNALIST-PROTEST
BD media men demand release of Reuters journalists in Myanmar
DHAKA, Sept 4, 2018 (BSS) – Journalists here today demanded unconditional release of the two Reuters journalists sentenced to seven-year jail by a Myanmar court for breaching ‘state secret laws’ while investigating a massacre of the Rohingyas.
The journalists raised the demand at a human chain organised by Media Activists for Secular Bangladesh in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the city, said a press release.
The Reuters journalists – Thet Oo Maung (Wa Lone) and Kyaw Soe Oo – have been jailed under the Official Secrecy Act of Myanmar as they revealed the brutal action of Myanmar army against the Rohingya people.
This is an outrageous attack on the freedom of press to cover up the crime against humanity and genocide of Rohingyas, the journalist leaders said at the programme.
Through this trial, it has been proved that the Myanmar authorities committed heinous crimes against its Rohingya citizens in Rakhaine state, which they consider as official secrete matters, they added.
They demanded immediate repatriation of 1.1 million Rohingya people from Bangladesh with due dignity and the trial of the Myanmar officials responsible for committing genocide and crimes against humanity.
Former joint secretary general of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists Pulack Ghatack, former general secretary of Dhaka Reporters Unity Razu Ahmed, former joint secretary Sajjad Hossain and senior reporter of Dainik Janata Jahangir Khan Babu spoke at the protest programme.
BSS/PR/SAH/GA/1910 hrs