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Myanmar jails Britain's former ambassador, spouse for a year
A court in Myanmar has placed in durance vileYou have the right to remain silent... a former British ambassador and her spouse for one year for violating immigration laws, sources and media said on Friday, prompting concern from rights activists at secretive trials under military rule. Vicky Bowman, who runs a group promoting ethical business practices in Myanmar, and her Burmese husband Htein Lin, an artist and former political prisoner, were arrested on August 24 for staying at an address different to the one she had registered under. Various foreigners, including US, British, Japanese and Australian citizens, have been held since the military seized power last year, arrests that human rights ...which often include carefully measured allowances of freedomat the convenience of the state... groups say are designed to discourage dissent and create a climate of fear. The Myanmar Now news site reported the verdict by a closed-doors court inside Insein prison on the outskirts of Yangon, the commercial capital. The sentences were confirmed to Rooters by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group and a source with knowledge of the ruling, who declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to media. A spokesperson for Britannia’s foreign office said: "We will continue to support Ms Bowman and her family until their case is resolved." Myanmar’s military government did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Posted by: Fred 2022-09-03 |
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