Pope Francis has appealed for greater press freedom around the world, citing the case of two Reuters journalists jailed in Myanmar on accusations of possessing secret documents.
The pope visited Myanmar last November and later, in neighboring Bangladesh, had an emotional meeting with Rohingya refugees who had fled there from Rakhine state.
“The right to information is a right that must always be protected, and not only with regard to the Rohingya,” Pope Francis told Reuters in an interview, when asked about the reporters.
“States that have something they don’t want to be seen, always stop the media and freedom of the press and we must fight for freedom of the press. We must fight.”
Reporters Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, and Wa Lone, 32, have been held since December in what has become a landmark press freedom case, charged under the colonial-era Official Secrets Act. The alleged offences carry a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
At the time of their arrest, the pair had been…
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