Aung San Suu Kyi defends jailing of Reuters journalists who covered Rohingya killings

'If anyone feels there has been a miscarriage of justice I would like them to point it out'

Aung San Suu Kyi has defended Myanmar's decision to jail two Reuters journalists who were investigating the killings of Rohingya Muslims in the face of global condemnation.

Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, helped uncover the alleged extrajudicial killings of 10 men and boys before being arrested in December.

Both were jailed for seven years on charges of possessing state secrets. They maintain their innocence and say they have been framed.

The case has generated international outrage and has been criticised by the United Nations, the European Union and the United States.

However, Ms Suu Kyi, Myanmar's leader and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, defended the prosecution and sentencing.

"The case has been held in open court," she said during an appearance at the World Economic Forum's regional meeting in Hanoi.

"If anyone feels there has been a miscarriage of justice I would like them to point it out.

"They were not jailed because they were journalists. They were jailed because... the court has decided they have broken the Official Secrets Act."

As well as international condemnation, the case has also drawn attention to accusations that democratic reforms in Myanmar have been eroded by Ms Suu Kyi's government, which has been in power since 2016.

However, Ms Suu Kyi also pointed out that the two reporters can appeal against their sentences.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, criticised Ms Suu Kyi's comments.

"She fails to understand that real 'rule of law' means respect for evidence presented in court, actions brought based on clearly defined and proportionate laws, and independence of the judiciary from influence by the government or security forces," he said.

"On all these counts, the trial of the Reuters journalists failed the test."

Some 700,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh after a brutal military campaign. Myanmar's army have been accused of mass rape, killings and burning Rohingya villages in the aftermath of an attack by Rohingya militants in August 2017.

"There are of course ways in which, with hindsight, I think the situation could have been handled better," Ms Suu Kyi said, though she went on to defend Myanmar's security services.

"The rule of law must apply to everyone. We cannot choose and pick."

Associated Press contributed to this report