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Former British ambassador to Myanmar Vicky Bowman, who was jailed on suspicion of breaching immigration laws, has been released.
Ms Bowman and her husband, Burmese artist Htein Lin, are among the many prisoners released under “amnesty” to mark the country’s National Victory Day.
In September, the pair were sentenced to a year in prison for “failing to register as living at different addresses” – a violation of the country’s immigration laws.
Ms Bowman is the British ambassador Myanmar Over 30 years of experience in the country between 2002 and 2006.
in their time detentionShe runs an organization that promotes ethical business practices in Myanmar.
Vicky Bowman with her husband Htein Lin in his studio. Photo: Sarah Lee/Guardian/Eyevine
The imprisonment of foreign nationals has been a source of friction between Myanmar’s leaders and their own government, which has lobbied for their release.
Since the military overthrew the democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi government last February, 16,232 people have been detained in Myanmar on political charges, according to the political prisoner aid association, a rights watchdog group.
Of those arrested, 13,015 remained in custody as of Wednesday, while at least 2,465 civilians were killed by security forces during the same period, AAPP reported.
Japanese filmmaker and Australian economist freed
Japanese filmmaker Toru Kubota and Australian economist Sean Turner, along with an unidentified American, have also been released and deported, government spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun told Voice of Myanmar and Yangon Media Group.
Mr Turner, 58, an associate professor of economics at Macquarie University in Sydney, was arrested by security forces at a hotel in Yangon.
He was sentenced to three years in prison in September for violating the country’s Official Secrets Act and immigration laws.
Amnesty International Australia’s O’Connor said Mr Turner, like many others, should not have been arrested or jailed.
“Thousands of people imprisoned have done nothing wrong since the coup in Myanmar,” he said.
Mr Kubota, a 26-year-old Tokyo-based documentary filmmaker, was arrested by plainclothes police in Yangon in July after taking photos and videos of small flash protests last year against a military takeover.
Last month, he was convicted of sedition and sentenced to 10 years in prison for participating in protests and other charges.
Deposed leader remains in prison
Aung San Suu Kyi
deposed leader of burma still in prison After being sentenced to 3 years on the same day as Ms Bowman, she is serving 17 years in the country for a number of crimes, including alleged election fraud.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s party won the country’s 2020 general election in a landslide, but the military seized power from the democratically elected government on Feb. 1, 2021, saying it acted on suspicion of widespread voter fraud.
Sky News has contacted the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for comment.
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