Calls for Myanmar military to release Australian man one year after jailing
There are renewed calls today for the release of an Australian man from a Myanmar prison one year since his arrest.
This weekend marks 12 months since Sydneysider Sean Turnell - an economic adviser to Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi - was arrested. He was detained just days after the nation's military seized control in a coup last February.
Mr Turnell's wife Ha Vu has demanded his release in a statement released to the ABC.
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Ha Vu has demanded the release of her husband Sean Turnell from a Myanmar prison one year after his arrest. Facebook
She hoped her husband would "finally have a chance to prove his innocence and he will be returning home as soon as possible".
"It has been a year, and in our wildest dream or imagination, we never ever thought we would face this kind of challenge," Dr Vu said.
Professor Turnell has been held in prison on charges of breaching Myanmar's official secrets act.
His ongoing trial has been labelled a sham by human rights groups. Lawyers have been gagged and Australian diplomats have been banned from observing courtroom proceedings.
Dr Vu said she hoped the trial would reach a swift end and her husband would be released so he could return to Sydney.
She insisted the work of Professor Turnell has focused on developing an economic blueprint to help Myanmar.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne this week renewed the government's condemnation of the Myanmar coup and urged the country's military rulers to release Professor Turnell.
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Australian Sean Turnell was an economic adviser to Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi but has been charged under the country's official secrets act. AAP
"Australia condemns the use of violence against civilians and other serious human rights violations," Ms Payne said.
"We urge the military to exercise restraint and to release all those arbitrarily detained, including Australian Professor Sean Turnell."
On Tuesday, a "silent strike" was held across Myanmar to mark the coup anniversary, with residents urged to stay indoors and businesses to close their doors.
The military warned it would arrest those who protest under laws such as sedition and terrorism.
- Reported with CNN
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