The amnesty concerns nearly 6,000 people in total, imprisoned since the 2021 coup, including the former Australian economic adviser from Aung San Suu Kyi, a British ex-ambassador and a Japanese photographer.
by Bruno Philip
In a rare gesture indicating that the pressures that are exerted on it may not be without effects, the military junta in power in Burma released, Thursday, November 17, nearly 6,000 prisoners, including several foreigners. The latter were leading detainees, victims of the hostage diplomacy practiced by the regime, who indicated that they have pardoned them in pledge of “good will”.
Australian Sean Turnell, former economic advisor to the former leader imprisoned Aung San Suu Kyi, incarcerated shortly after the military coup of 1
Briton Vicky Bowman, who was an ambassador of the United Kingdom to Myanmar between 2002 and 2006 and was sentenced in September to one year in prison under the pretext of having violated immigration laws, recovered freedom ; Her husband, the Burmese artist of contemporary art Htein Lin, to whom the judges had inflicted the same penalty, also came out of prison, without anyone knowing if he will be allowed to leave the country.
The young Japanese press photographer Toru Kubota, arrested in July when he was covering an antigan demonstration, was released after being recently sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment. The fourth foreign prisoner is an American of Burmese origin, botanist by profession, Kyaw Htay Oo. It was extended after fourteen months of imprisonment for terrorism.
“NOT SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE” Policy
These releases, which took place within the framework of the amnesties granted on the day of the national holiday, also concerned some 5,774 prisoners, including 600 women, according to a military spokesperson. The latter clarified that three former ministers of M me suu kyi were also pardoned.
The four detainees were immediately expelled and put on a plane for Bangkok, where they arrived on Thursday during the day. The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, present in the Thai capital during the meeting of economic cooperation for Asia -Pacific, which brings together an areopage of heads of state – including the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, and the American vice -president Kamala Harris -said he had spoke with Sean Turnell. “He is doing well,” he even joked. He even joked, apologizing to me for not being able to vote in the legislative elections in May [after which Mr. Albanese became Prime Minister]. “
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