Britain’s former Myanmar envoy detained in Yangon, says report

Authorities in Myanmar have detained Britain’s former ambassador to the Southeast Asian nation, the place a navy junta seized energy final yr, three folks with information of the scenario stated on Thursday.

Vicky Bowman, who at present runs the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB), and her husband, Htein Lin, a Burmese artist and former political prisoner, have been detained on Wednesday, the sources stated, asking to not be named as a result of sensitivity of the problem.

A supply with information of the scenario stated Bowman and her husband had been charged with immigration offences.

The arrest comes on the heels of Britain saying that it’s imposing recent sanctions to focus on military-linked companies in Myanmar and becoming a member of the case towards Myanmar within the International Court of Justice.

Britain is the fourth nation after the Maldives, Netherlands and Canada, to vow formal assist for the case introduced by the Gambia towards Myanmar to find out whether or not its navy carried out genocidal operations towards Rohingya Muslims in 2016 and 2017.

Three firms are being penalised with sanctions “in an effort to limit the military’s access to arms and revenue”, the British authorities stated in an announcement on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the Myanmar junta didn’t reply repeated calls in search of remark.

Myanmar has been in political and financial chaos because the navy overthrew an elected authorities in early 2021.

More than 15,000 folks have been arrested and 12,119 stay in detention, in keeping with the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an activist group. The junta claims that determine is exaggerated.

A British embassy spokesperson in Yangon stated: “We are concerned by the arrest of a British woman in Myanmar. We are in contact with the local authorities and are providing consular assistance.” The spokesperson didn’t title the person.

Bowman, 56, served as ambassador to Myanmar from 2002-2006 and has greater than three many years’ expertise within the nation.

Her husband Htein Lin, 55, is considered one of Myanmar’s most well-known artists and a veteran activist who spent 6 1/2 years, between 1998 and 2004,) in jail for his opposition to an earlier junta.

The couple had been remanded in custody and have been being despatched to Insein jail, a supply stated, the infamous jail on the outskirts of the business capital of Yangon the place many political prisoners are held.

The supply added their younger daughter remained “safe and well”.

Bowman is the newest foreigner to be detained in Myanmar. Sean Turnell, an Australian economist and longtime advisor to deposed chief Aung San Suu Kyi, and Japanese freelance filmmaker Toru Kubota additionally stay in detention. Their governments have known as for them to be launched.