yangon myanmar government say wednesday police arrest two reuters journalists wa lone kyaw soe oo reporters work stories military crackdown rohingya muslim minority rahkine state cause almost 650,000 people flee neighbor bangladesh ministry information say statement facebook page journalists two policemen face charge british colonial-era official secrets act 1923 law carry maximum prison sentence 14 years reporters illegally acquire information intention share foreign media say statement accompany photo pair handcuff say detain police station outskirts yangon southeast asian nation main city wa lone kyaw soe oo go miss tuesday even invite meet police officials dinner reuters driver myothant tun drop battalion compound around pm two reporters two police officer head nearby restaurant journalists return car rohingya refugees bangladesh say exodus mainly buddhist nation trigger military counter-offensive rakhine state unite nations brand textbook example ethnic cleanse reuters reporters wa lone kyaw soe oo report events global importance myanmar learn today arrest connection work say stephen j. adler president editor-in-chief reuters outrage blatant attack press freedom call authorities release immediately say spokesman myanmar leader aung san suu kyi confirm two journalists arrest reporters also policemen involve case spokesman zaw htay say take action policemen also reporters washington state department spokeswoman heather nauert emphasize agency follow closely say u.s. ambassador scot marciel wednesday conversation two government officials myanmar seem genuinely unaware situation care safety security international reporters simply try job go continue try stay nauert say u.s. embassy yangon say statement post website wednesday deeply concern highly irregular arrest two reuters reporters invite meet police officials yangon last night democracy succeed journalists need able job freely embassy say urge government explain arrest allow immediate access journalists european union mission yangon also voice concern eu delegation closely follow case call myanmar authorities ensure full protection right say statement media freedom foundation democracy new york-based committee protect journalists call reporters immediate unconditional release arrest come amid widen crackdown grave impact ability journalists cover story vital global importance say shawn crispin cpj senior southeast asia representative wa lone join reuters july 2016 cover range stories include flight rohingya refugees rakhine 2016 much large number year write military land grab kill rule party lawyer ko ni january year jointly honorable mention society publishers asia reuters coverage rakhine crisis 2016. previously work myanmar time cover myanmar historic 2015 elections people age local weekly newspaper editor myanmar current minister information pe myint kyaw soe oo ethnic rakhine buddhist state capital sittwe work reuters since september cover impact aug. 25 attack police army post northern rakhine report central part state local buddhists enforce segregation rohingya rakhine communities previously work root investigation agency local news outlet focus rakhine issue arrest four word wa lone texted reuters myanmar bureau chief antoni slodkowski tuesday even let know happen soon wa lone phone appear switch next 24 hours reuters colleagues yangon file miss persons report go three police station ask series government officials happen two reporters get official information wednesday even two reuters journalists arrest myanmar face official secrets charge