The United Nations has expressed disappointment over Myanmar’s court decision saying two Reuters journalists should be allowed to return to their families and continue their work as journalists.

‘We are disappointed by today’s court decision,’ reads a statement issued by the office of UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar.

A Myanmar court sentenced two Reuters journalists to seven years in prison Monday for illegal possession of official documents, a ruling met with international outrage that will add to condemnation over the military’s alleged human rights abuses against Rohingya Muslims.

Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo had been reporting on the brutal crackdown on the Rohingya when they were arrested and charged with to violating the colonial-era Official Secrets Act, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. They had pleaded not guilty, contending that they were framed by police.

The United Nations has consistently called for the release of the Reuters journalists and urged the authorities to respect their right to pursue freedom of expression and information.

‘A free press is essential for peace, justice and human rights for all. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo should be allowed to return to their families and continue their work as journalists,’ said the statement.

Newly appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has urged Myanmar to immediately and unconditionally release Kyaw Soe Oo and Thet Oo Maung.

Their coverage of the Inn Din massacre by the military - for which the military subsequently admitted responsibility - was clearly in the public interest as it may otherwise never have come to light, said Bachelet.

‘Their conviction follows a legal process that clearly breached international standards. It sends a message to all journalists in Myanmar that they cannot operate fearlessly, but must rather make a choice to either self-censor or risk prosecution,’ the UN rights boss said in a statement UNB received from Geneva.

Bachelet called for their conviction to be quashed and for them to be released, along with all other journalists currently in detention for their legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of expression.

The UN Human Rights Office will in the coming days issue a report on the worrying state of freedom of expression in Myanmar, with a number of recommendations for legal and policy reform.

Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned conviction in Myanmar of Reuters’s Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo.

‘Today’s ruling against Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo on bogus charges marks a new press freedom low for Myanmar,’ said CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative Shawn Crispin.

‘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,’ said Crispin

Comment by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on the conviction of two Reuters journalists in Myanmar,