The Australian government says it’s “deeply concerned” after the Myanmar military junta revoked Sean Turnell’s prison pardon and summoned him to face court docket.
Key factors:
- The military junta annulled Sean Turnell’s amnesty and summoned him to face court docket
- The economics professor was an advisor to Aung San Suu Kyi and spent 650 days in prison
- Activists are urging the government to impose focused sanctions towards the junta
Professor Turnell, an educational at Macquarie University and an financial advisor to Myanmar’s ousted de-facto chief Aung San Suu Kyi, was arbitrarily detained for 650 days within the South-East Asian nation following a brutal military coup.
He was convicted and sentenced to a few years in prison in a closed-door military court docket for violating the Official Secrets Act, in a trial human rights observers described as a sham.
In November final yr, he was granted an amnesty and launched, returning to his household and buddies in Australia who had been tireless in campaigning for him.
Professor Turnell was vocal about his expertise in prison and the regime’s merciless remedy of its personal folks.
In a decree from December, which was circulated on social media this month, the military junta alleged he had shared “misinformation” about Myanmar in interviews and on social media, claiming this was a violation of his pardon situations.
They annulled his amnesty decree and ordered him to seem earlier than a Myanmar court docket.
The ABC understands the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade referred to as in Myanmar’s Chargé d’Affaires final month to convey Australia’s deep concern over the matter.
“The government is deeply concerned that Myanmar authorities have annulled Professor Turnell’s amnesty and issued a subpoena for him to appear in a Myanmar court,” DFAT stated in a press release.
“The Australian government never accepted the basis of Professor Turnell’s detention, nor the charges against him, and we are disappointed that he is now being asked to answer for an undefined offence following his release from detention.”
The Myanmar embassy in Canberra has been contacted for remark.
NSW state MP Janelle Saffin, a good friend of Professor Turnell, described the junta’s newest transfer as “political persecution” and “complete legal nonsense”.
She stated the military junta, which calls itself the State Administrative Council (SAC), “is unconstitutional and lacks political legitimacy”.
“It uses the law to suit its political purposes and does not adhere to any legal norms or principles,” she stated.
“It appropriates law to its arsenal of weapons in order to persecute political opponents or anyone else who gets in its way of holding on to power.
“It is obvious from these actions that [military leader] Min Aung Hlaing sees Professor Turnell as a serious impediment to his political ambitions.
“In the eyes of the Myanmar people Professor Turnell is a hero, whilst Min Aung Hlaing is widely and resoundingly disliked and disparaged.”
Renewed requires sanctions as anniversary looms
The Australian consultant for the National Unity Government — another physique arrange by democratically-elected officers — Dr Tun-Aung Shwe stated the incident reveals the military’s true colors.
“The military junta is upset [with] Sean Turnell, because he revealed what is the real situation in Myanmar and how the military junta is treating its own people,” he stated.
Dr Shwe stated this was an try to influence Professor Turnell’s life even in Australia, including the decree might influence his capability to journey abroad for worry of extradition to Myanmar from a 3rd nation.
“That is how the junta disrupt the ordinary people’s lives, not only in Myanmar but also internationally,” he stated.
Next week marks the 2 yr anniversary of the military coup, and activists have repeatedly referred to as on the government to impose focused sanctions towards the junta.
Some observers recommended Australia was reluctant to sanction the regime whereas Professor Turnell was being detained within the nation, which has been described as “hostage diplomacy”.
Dr Shwe stated he was involved that Australia had not but imposed any new sanctions because the coup and urged Foreign Minister Penny Wong to take action as quickly as attainable.
“I do believe the Australian government is going to impose a targeted sanctions against the junta sooner or later,” he stated, including the Labor celebration had raised it as a difficulty whereas in opposition.
“Australia needs to stand together with other liberal democratic countries, and try imposing targeted sanctions against the military junta.
“That is significant for the folks of Myanmar, even when it is symbolic.”
Since the military seized power on February 1, 2021, more than 2,800 people have been killed in bloody crackdowns on street protests and air strikes on villages, and more than 17,000 arrested, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
Four people have also been executed by hanging, and fears remain for more than 100 people on death row.
The junta, also called the Tatmadaw, defended the executions as in accordance with the law and has branded the NUG and various armed resistance organisations as terrorist groups.
The junta is planning to stage an election in the coming months in a bid to shore up the legitimacy of its rule.
“It is outrageous that they might even say with a straight face that they intend to have a free and honest election,” UN’s Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, told BBC Newsnight.
“You can not have a free and honest election when you arrest, detain, torture and execute the opposition.”
Australian government ‘deeply concerned’ after Myanmar military junta revokes Sean Turnell’s prison amnesty
Australian government ‘deeply concerned’ after Myanmar military junta revokes Sean Turnell’s prison amnesty
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Australian government ‘deeply concerned’ after Myanmar military junta revokes Sean Turnell’s prison amnesty