British envoy released from Myanmar jail

MYANMAR’S military-controlled government has announced it is releasing and deporting a former British diplomat as part of a broad prisoner amnesty to mark the country’s National Victory Day.

Vicky Bowman, 56, a former British ambassador to Myanmar who had been running a business consultancy, was arrested with her husband, a Myanmar national, in Yangon in August. She was given a one-year prison term in September by the prison court for failing to register her residence.

Australian academic Sean Turnell, Japanese filmmaker Toru Kubota, American citizen Kyaw Htay Oo and 11 Myanmar celebrities were also among 5,774 prisoners who were being released, Myanmar’s state-run MRTV reported.