Jan. 12, 2018 – The NewsGuild-CWA is adding its voice to the growing calls to release two Reuters journalists who were detained in Myanmar under an outdated and unjust law simply for doing their jobs.
“We loudly echo the journalists who are vocal in supporting Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo: Journalism is not a crime,” the NewsGuild of New York wrote in a Jan. 11 statement. “Silencing the press is an abhorrent and an intolerable act of cowardice. We stand in solidarity with Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo.”
The NewsGuild of New York local represents employees at Reuters, although it does not represent foreign correspondents, such as Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo.
NewsGuild-CWA President Bernie Lunzer said, “We condemn the arrest of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo and the rising tide of harassment and oppression of journalists. We call for their immediate release.”
The Guild is encouraging supporters to retweet the statement, #JournalismIsNotACrime and share it on social media.