Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli Foreign Minister says 'Israel' fully endorses Trump plan for Gaza aid: Reuters
Iranian state media: The fourth round of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington has kicked off in Oman
Senior Israeli intelligence official: Contacts are underway between Syria and "Israel" to retrieve the body of the spy Eli Cohen
Reuters: US and Chinese officials met again in Geneva to resume trade talks
Al Mayadeen's envoy: The process of uranium enrichment is the main obstacle in the talks
Al Mayadeen's envoy to Muscat, quoting a source in the delegation engaging in the nuclear talks: If we see that the other party deviates from the agreed-upon frameworks, we will not continue the talks
Al Mayadeen's envoy to Muscat, quoting a source in the delegation engaging in the nuclear talks: Iran is ready to reassure all parties that its nuclear program will remain peaceful
Araghchi: Iran's position on its right to a nuclear program is firm, but we are ready for greater transparency and hope that the other side's approach will be clear
Araghchi: Uranium enrichment is a valuable achievement for the Iranian people and is non-negotiable
Araghchi: Iran's nuclear program is legitimate and legal, and all our activities are peaceful and have been and will remain under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency

Myanmar junta to release former ambassador, advisor, journalist

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 17 Nov 2022 08:40
3 Min Read

Myanmar's military junta says it will release 5,774 prisoners it arrested since last year's military coup.

  • x
  • Myanmar junta
    According to UNESCO, at least 170 journalists have been arrested since the coup, with nearly 70 still in detention (AFP)

Myanmar's military said Thursday it will release almost 6,000 prisoners including a former British ambassador, a Japanese journalist, and an Australian economics advisor who will be deported.

The Southeast Asian country has been in turmoil since the military coup last year.

Former British envoy Vicky Bowman, Australian economics advisor Sean Turnell, and Japanese journalist Toru Kubota "will be released to mark National Day," a senior officer told AFP.

All three would be deported, the junta said without specifying a date.

"Altogether, 5,774 prisoners including some 600 women prisoners will be released," it said, revising an earlier figure of about 700. 

Bowman, who served as ambassador from 2002 to 2006, was detained with her husband in August for failing to declare she was living at an address different from the one listed on her foreigner's registration certificate. They were later jailed for one year. Her husband will also be released, the military official said.

Ties between Myanmar and its former colonial ruler Britain have soured since the military's takeover, with the junta this year criticizing the UK's recent downgrading of its mission in the country as "unacceptable".

Sean Turnell was working as an advisor to Myanmar's civilian leader Suu Kyi when he was detained shortly after the coup in February last year.

Related News

USAID workers laid off while in Myanmar earthquake zone: Ex-official

Myanmar earthquake claims over 3,400 lives, thousands more injured

In September, he and Suu Kyi were convicted by a junta court of breaching the official secrets act and jailed for three years each.

Kubota, 26, was detained in July near an anti-government rally in Yangon along with two Myanmar citizens and jailed for 10 years.

A source at Japan's Embassy in Myanmar told AFP they had "been informed that Mr. Kubota will be released today" by junta authorities.

Kubota would leave for Japan "today", they added.

Kubota is the fifth foreign journalist to be detained in Myanmar, after US citizens Nathan Maung and Danny Fenster, Robert Bociaga of Poland, and Yuki Kitazumi of Japan -- all of whom were later freed and deported.

According to UNESCO, at least 170 journalists have been arrested since the coup, with nearly 70 still in detention.

Three former ministers from Suu Kyi's ousted government and detained US-Myanmar citizen Kyaw Htay Oo would also be released, the junta official said.

A local monitoring group claimed that the military's crackdown on dissent since it ousted Suu Kyi's government has left more than 2,300 civilians dead.

On its part, the junta blames anti-coup militants for the deaths of almost 3,900 civilians.

Last week, UN Chief Antonio Guterres urged the Myanmar junta to immediately return to democracy, saying it was the only way to stop the "unending nightmare" engulfing the country.

  • Myanmar
  • Aung San Suu Kyi

Most Read

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu, senior Israeli official says

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu: Israeli media

  • US & Canada
  • 9 May 2025
Pakistan downs an Indian jet and hits a military base in Kashmir escalation.

Pakistan downs 3 Indian jets, hits military base in Kashmir escalation

  • Politics
  • 7 May 2025
Yemeni missile hits Ben Gurion Airport as interceptors fail

YAF targeted Ben Gurion with hypersonic ballistic missile: Saree

  • MENA
  • 4 May 2025
"Israel" appears to be the only place in the world where there are actual demonstrations defending rapists as national heroes precisely because of their crimes. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

'Israeli pride' - Celebrating rape in the Zionist entity

  • Opinion
  • 4 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Palestinians inspect the damage caused by an Israeli airstrike that targeted displacement tents in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Liberated prisoner Yousri al-Masri martyred in Gaza airstrike

AP
Politics

US envoy to deliver 22-point Ukraine peace plan to Putin

AP
Politics

Pakistan denies violating ceasefire as tensions flare along border

AP
Politics

Israeli media blasts Netanyahu over US ties, war failures

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS