缅甸指控五名新闻业者泄露“国家机密” Burma Charges 5 Journalists for Disclosing 'State Secrets'

PlayBar
缅甸对一家周刊的四名记者和一名首席执行官提出指控,称他们发表了一篇据称是关于化学武器工厂的报道,从而违反了缅甸的国家秘密法。

这起案件再度让人们对缅甸的新闻自由感到关注。缅甸自从2011年结束了直接的军人统治之后,进行了一系列的改革。

这篇报道1月25日刊登在仰光的《团结杂志》上。报道声称,缅甸中部的包镇正在修建一座秘密化武工厂。

政府方面承认这座范围足有12平方公里的设施是国防部的工厂,但否认与化学武器有任何关系。

周刊的四名编辑及首席执行官在上星期被捕。国家媒体星期三晚间说,他们已被指控泄露国家机密以及非法擅入工厂禁区。

有关官员说,控罪的依据是缅甸90年之久的《国家秘密法》,不过,当局没有说报道到底泄露了什么国家机密。

Burma has charged four reporters and the chief executive officer of a weekly journal with violating the country's state secret law for publishing a story on an alleged chemical weapons factory.

The case is renewing concerns about media freedom in Burma, also known as Myanmar, which has undergone a series of reforms since direct military rule ended in 2011.

The story, which appeared in the Rangoon-based Unity Journal on January 25, claimed a secret chemical weapons factory was being built in central Burma's Pauk township.

The government has acknowledged that the sprawling, 12-square kilometer facility is a defense ministry factory, but denies it has anything to do with chemical weapons.

The four editors and CEO were arrested last week. State media said late Wednesday they have been charged with disclosing official secrets and trespassing on restricted areas of the factory.

Officials said the charges were brought in accordance with Burma's 90-year-old State Secrets Act, though it is unclear what state secret, if any, was unveiled in the article.