Qatar Tribune

Myanmar: Key foreigners freed as part of amnesty

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M ANMAR’S military junta released several prominent foreigners from prison on Thursday, part of a mass amnesty.

They had been sentenced to long prison terms by courts controlled by the generals. Human rights activists, politician­s and the families had campaigned for their release.

They were released on Thursday with around 5, 00 other prisoners. The reason for the amnesty was a national holiday in former Burma.

Junta spokespers­on aw Min Tun said that, among others, Australian economics professor Sean Turnell, the former British ambassador to the country, icky Bowman, her husband Htein in and Japanese journalist Toru ubota would be released.

Turnell and Bowman have been own to Bangkok, a source close to those released told dpa. ubota is expected back in Japan on Friday, a government spokespers­on said in Tokyo.

Turnell is the former adviser to ousted state councillor Aung San Suu yi. He was arrested shortly after the military coup in February 2021 and was on trial for alleged violations of an official secrets law.

At the end of September he was sentenced to three years in prison.

The Australian government has repeatedly called for his release. niversity colleagues have also pleaded on his behalf for months.

Bowman was sentenced to a year in prison on alleged immigratio­n violations in early September. Her husband, local artist Htein in, was accused of assisting crimes and also sentenced to one year in prison. He is expected to remain in Myanmar after his release.

 ?? (AFP) ?? Relatives stand outside Insein prison as they wait for the release of prisoners in Yangon on Thursday.
(AFP) Relatives stand outside Insein prison as they wait for the release of prisoners in Yangon on Thursday.

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