Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo have been freed from a Myanmar prison:
Fantastic news! Myanmar has freed two @Reuters journalists whose outstanding coverage of a massacre of Rohingya won them a Pulitzer. Warmest wishes to them and their families. https://t.co/WI1wLHnKmv via @
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) May 7, 2019
The two, who angered the country’s leadership for their outstanding coverage of Myanmar’s massacre of Rohingya, were in prison for more than 500 days:
More than 500 days in prison: For journalists jailed in Myanmar, a long fight for freedom https://t.co/FhEcJBBGyV pic.twitter.com/I540L6kJB9
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) May 7, 2019
Wa Lone spoke to the media after getting released and said he’s eager to get back to his newsroom:
WATCH: @Reuters reporter Wa Lone speaks to the media as he and Kyaw Soe Oo are released after over 500 days in prison https://t.co/3NzyJSQJyE pic.twitter.com/37WyDVZK8l
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) May 7, 2019
Cameras were on hand to document the family reunion:
Together at last: @Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo celebrate with their children after being freed from prison in Myanmar, May 7, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang pic.twitter.com/f5ol5LBUJG
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) May 7, 2019
WATCH: @Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo reunite with their families after being freed from jail in Myanmar. More here: https://t.co/blJ1FpSg75 pic.twitter.com/kMk6GPueJp
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) May 7, 2019
According to reports, the two were freed as part of some sort of presidential amnesty:
#UPDATE Two Reuters journalists jailed for their reporting on the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar, walked out of prison in Yangon on Tuesday, freed in a presidential amnesty after a vigorous global campaign for their release. https://t.co/XkeUWDhS4M #WaLone #KyawSoeOo pic.twitter.com/qTRhcqqzyn
— AFP news agency (@AFP) May 7, 2019
Thousands of other prisoners were released as well:
Myanmar to release 6,520 prisoners in amnesty on Tuesday: President Win Myint https://t.co/4ggVc76Z7k pic.twitter.com/JANAQwvWfq
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) May 7, 2019
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