Reuters reporters in Myanmar jailed for revealing Rohingya massacre and mass grave win Pulitzer Prizes.

South China Morning Post
By Reuters
16 Apr, 2019

• Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo found a mass grave filled with bones sticking out of the ground and went on to gather testimony from perpetrators, witnesses and families of victims
• Before they could complete their story, they were arrested and jailed for seven years for what international observers have called an effort to block the report

Detained Reuters journalist Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone are escorted by police as they leave after a court hearing in Yangon. PHoto: Reuters

Imprisoned Reuters journalists in Myanmar, who uncovered the massacre of Rohingya men by Buddhist villagers and security forces, have been announced winners of this year’s Pulitzer Prize.

The award for an investigative report that revealed the massacre of 10 Rohingya at the village of Inn Din, in the heart of the conflict zone of Rakhine state in Myanmar.

Two young Reuters reporters, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, both 

Myanmar citizens, found a mass grave filled with bones sticking out of the ground. They went on to gather testimony from perpetrators, witnesses and families of victims.

They obtained three devastating photographs from villagers: two showed the 10 

Rohingya men bound and kneeling; the third showed the mutilated and bullet-ridden bodies of the same 10 men in the same shallow grave.

Bangladesh tells UN it cannot accept any more Rohingya refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar

Families of jailed Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo talk to the media after attending a hearing at Myanmar's Supreme Court in Naypyitaw. Photo: Reuters

In December 2017, before Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo could complete their story, they were arrested in what international observers have criticised as an effort by authorities to block the report. The report, titled “Massacre in Myanmar”, was completed by colleagues Simon Lewis and Antoni Slodkowski and published in February of last year.

I remain deeply distressed, however, that our brave reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo are still behind barsStephen J. Adler

In September, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were sentenced to seven years imprisonment for violating the country’s Official Secrets Act. They have so far been jailed for 490 days.

“I’m thrilled that Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo and their colleagues have been recognised for their extraordinary, courageous coverage, and our photojournalists for their moving pictures that show humanity defying huge obstacles,” said Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen J. Adler.

“I remain deeply distressed, however, that our brave reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo are still behind bars.

Rakhine insurgents suspected of bloody ambush on police station in troubled Myanmar state

“While it’s gratifying to be recognised for the work, public attention should be focused more on the people about whom we report than on us: in this case, the Rohingya and the Central American migrants.”

In other award categories, coverage of mass shootings in the United States and investigations into US President Donald Trump featured prominently. The New York Times and The Washington Post also took two Pulitzers each.
Reuters and Associated Press were both awarded prizes for international reporting, with the AP winning for its coverage of war atrocities in Yemen.

SOURCE:

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3006342/Reuters reporters in Myanmar jailed for revealing Rohingya massacre and mass grave win Pulitzer Prizes.