Myanmar frees Australian economist, former UK ambassador, and others as part of 6,000 prisoner amnesty

Myanmar frees Australian economist, former UK ambassador, and others as part of 6,000 prisoner amnesty

Myanmar’s military leaders have released more than 6,000 prisoners including Australian economist Sean Turnell, former UK ambassador Vicky Bowman and Japanese filmmaker Toru Kubota & American botanist Kyaw Htay Oo, under an amnesty.

Myanmar has been in political instability since the military staged a coup in February last year, arresting civilian leaders in early morning raids, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

The coup sparked widespread protests, which were frequently violently suppressed, and fueled armed resistance among some of the Southeast Asian nation’s numerous ethnic groups.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government appreciated reports about Turnell, who was charged with violating a state secrets statute and sentenced to three years in prison in September.