major governments include unite state european union canada top unite nations officials among demand release reuters reporters wa lone kyaw soe oo detention myanmar reporters arrest dec. 12 invite meet police officials outskirts yangon work stories military crackdown rakhine state 665,000 rohingya muslims flee since august seek refuge bangladesh accord unite nations two journalists send yangon insein prison wednesday brief court appearance allow meet families lawyer first time since arrest myanmar ministry information say reporters illegally acquire information intention share foreign media release photo handcuff say reporters two policemen face charge british colonial-era official secrets act carry maximum prison sentence 14 years though officials say charge reuters president editor-in-chief stephen j. adler call immediate release wa lone kyaw soe oo journalists perform crucial role shed light news global interest innocent wrongdoing say statement comment detention governments politicians human right group journalists press freedom advocate around world group 50 pulitzer prize winners call arrest outrageous attack media freedom demand immediate release wa lone kyaw soe oo brave principled professional journalists work public interest jail simply job say statement wednesday two u.n. human right experts call myanmar last week release two reporters say put myanmar dangerous path use official secrets act criminalize journalism journalism crime detentions another way government censor information military role rakhine state humanitarian catastrophe take place say yanghee lee david kaye u.n. special rapporteur myanmar freedom expression respectively u.s. secretary state rex tillerson say unite state demand immediate release information circumstances around disappearance last week state department reiterate u.s. demand reporters immediate release senator ben cardin lead democrat senate foreign relations committee call arrest outrageous bring back memory horrible practice repressive military rule say republican thom tillis democrat chris coons leaders u.s. senate human right caucus say gravely concern reporters arrest press freedom critical ensure accountability violence rohingya japanese foreign minister taro kano say last week freedom press extremely important include order protect fundamental human right japanese government would like watch matter closely tokyo-based human right call japan take strong stance european union urge myanmar release reporters quickly possible spokeswoman eu foreign affairs chief federica mogherini say freedom press media foundation cornerstone democracy u.n. secretary-general antonio guterres say countries everything possible secure journalists release press freedom myanmar britain holland canada norway sweden demand release reuters reporters australia express concern bangladesh denounce arrest former new zealand prime minister helen clark say disturb hear detention two reuters journalists press freedom important say tweet christmas day vijay nambiar former special adviser myanmar u.n. secretary-general say statement reuters detentions cause widespread disappointment within outside country likely damage international reputation image myanmar president european parliament antonio tajani call myanmar protect media freedoms release reporters new york time say editorial saturday release two journalists immediately would help restore least lose faith aung san suu kyi government human right watch say detentions appear aim stop independent report ethnic cleanse campaign rohingya committee protect journalists say arrest grave impact ability journalists cover story vital global importance reporters without border say justification arrest charge consider journalists completely spurious advocacy group fortify right demand myanmar immediately unconditionally release reuters journalists myanmar irrawaddy online news site call dec. 14 journalists release editorial headline crackdown media must stop say outrage see ministry information release police record photo reporters handcuff police normally criminals website soon detention chill see moi suddenly bring us back olden days repressive regime southeast asian press alliance say journalists job try fill void information rohingya conflict protection committee myanmar journalists local reporters demonstrate prosecutions journalists decry unfair arrest affect media freedom foreign correspondents club myanmar say appal arrest gravely concern press freedom myanmar foreign correspondents club thailand foreign correspondents association philippines jakarta foreign correspondents club foreign correspondents club hong kong issue statements support journalists factbox international reaction arrest reuters reporters myanmar