Shawn Crispin

The Philippines has for a long time been a standard bearer in the region for press freedom, if Duterte is able to get away with effectively silencing what has been one of his most prominent and credible media critics, that could send a message to the wider region that this is an attack you can get away with.

Today's ruling against Reuters reporters Wa Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo on bogus charges marks a new press freedom low for Myanmar, the process that resulted in their convictions was a travesty of justice and will cast Myanmar as an anti-democratic pariah as long as they are wrongfully held behind bars. We call on Myanmar's civilian authorities to immediately release the journalists.

If Vietnam wants to be seen as a responsible member of the international community and reliable partner in multilateral agreements, including the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact, these types of bogus anti-state convictions must stop immediately.