The human rights lawyer Amal Clooney is back to work. She will be representing Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, two Reuters journalists, who have been jailed in Myanmar and accused of exposing state secrets according to country’s Official Secrets Act.
Amal Clooney agreed to represent Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo who were arrested for the violation of one of the toughest law of Myanmar, Official Secrets Act. That statute carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years, and Reuters journalists can be jailed just for the working on stories about the Muslim minority population in Rakhine state.
The lawyer Clooney said in her statement that the arrest wasn’t legal measure because reporters Lone and Oo are being prosecuted “simply because they reported the news.” On Thursday, Mrs Clooney agreed to defend Reuters staff after reviewing the case file. Amal said it is undoubtedly clear that Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo are innocent and should be released immediately.
“The outcome of this case will tell us a lot about Myanmar’s commitment to the rule of law and freedom of speech,”
she added.
Myanmar to cover the details of Rohingya crisis
More than 688,000 Rohingya refugees have fled Rakhine State since August when armed militants attacked security forces in the region. The Myanmar army responded by carrying out so-called clearance operations targeting terrorists.
Those who have fled have told gut-wrenching stories of systematic mass rape, murder and the burning down of entire villages. The UN and the United States say they believe the violence constitutes ethnic cleansing. Myanmar’s UN ambassador, Hau Do Suan, has said the journalists were accused of “illegally possessing confidential government documents” and denies the allegations.
Amal Clooney’s new case promises to be very loud, this lawyer used to defend the human rights in the highest courts, so, Myanmar prosecutors who will have a tough and experienced rival on the court.
