Expectations are growing that Australian economist Sean Turnell will soon be released from prison in Myanmar, more than 21 months after he was detained by the country’s military junta.
Key points:
- Myanmar state media reports Professor Turnell to be released as part of mass amnesty
- Professor Turnell was arrested days after Myanmar’s military junta seized power in a coup in February 2021
- He was sentenced to three years in prison for “violating the country’s official state secrets law”
Myanmar state media reports that Professor Turnell will be released as part of a mass amnesty announced by the regime on Thursday, and that he will be deported from the country shortly.
Former British ambassador Vicky Bowman and her husband Ko Htein Lin, as well as Japanese filmmaker Toru Kubota, will also make their debut.
Myanmar Now, an independent news outlet, quoted the military council as saying the pardons were granted because it was Myanmar’s National Day.
Professor Turnell, an economic adviser to ousted de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, was arrested just days after Myanmar’s military junta seized power in a coup on February 1 last year.
In September he was sentenced to three years in prison for “violating the country’s official state secrets law,” charges he has always denied.
His trial was closed to Australian consular officials and the media, and has been described as a “sham” by human rights groups.
“He should never have been jailed”
Professor Turnell’s wife, Ha Vu, has repeatedly called for his release, saying she feared he might be infected with COVID-19 in Insein prison during a deadly Delta wave in the country last year.
His family and friends in Sydney had also called for him to be released on compassionate grounds, saying he had been diagnosed with cancer and “doesn’t have long to live”.
In a statement to the ABC marking the “unwanted anniversary” of her husband’s arrest in February this year, Dr Vu described her husband as a caring person who was innocent of the charges and work of which he dedicated himself to improving the lives of the people of Myanmar.
“It’s been a year, and never in our wildest dreams or imaginations did we think we’d be facing this kind of challenge,” he wrote at the time.
Sean Turnell is expected to be released as part of a mass amnesty. (Supplied: Myanmar State Media)
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has also repeatedly called for Professor Turnell’s release, while the former coalition government described Professor Turnell’s detention as “arbitrary” and “unfair” and rejected the allegations against him
Fellow economist Tim Harcourt said he was “delighted” to hear of his friend’s release.
“It’s a huge relief to his wonderful wife Ha, his sister and father and the whole family,” he said.
“Sean’s heart was with the people of Myanmar to help them overcome poverty and help Myanmar reach its economic potential.
“He should never have been imprisoned for doing his professional work as an economist involved in development economics.
“My advice to Sean is to spend some time now with Ha and the family. Be an armchair economist, not an airport economist, from now on safely in Sydney.
“Welcome home mate.”
Professor Harcourt thanked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Senator Wong for their “tireless advocacy”.
“Thank you to all the activists, friends and colleagues of Sean who have helped us,” he said.
“Thank you to the journalists for their tireless efforts to keep Sean’s story in the minds of the Australian people and the international community.”
Observers and his supporters had speculated that Professor Turnell could be released as part of a prisoner amnesty on February 12 which marks the country’s Union Day, but that never came.
Some 23,000 prisoners were released on that day last year, a national holiday that marked the signing in 1947 of the Panglong Accord between ethnic leaders and General Aung San, father of Aung San Suu Kyi .