Myanmar sentences ex-British ambassador’s spouse to one year in prison
Foreigners, including citizens of the United States, Britain, Japan and Australia, have been arrested since the military took power last year, with rights groups claiming it was designed to discourage dissent.
Vicky Bowman and her Burmese husband, Thein Lin, were arrested for staying at a different address than the one she registered with. (AP archive)
A Myanmar court has jailed a former British ambassador and his spouse for a year for violating immigration laws, sources and media say.
Myanmar Now news site reported on Friday the ruling by a closed court inside Insein prison outside the commercial capital Yangon.
The ruling was confirmed to Reuters by a group of activists at the Association for the Assistance of Political Prisoners and sources with knowledge of the ruling.
Vicky Bowman, who runs a group that promotes ethical business practices in Myanmar, and her Burmese husband, Tin Lin, an artist and former political prisoner, are staying at a different address than she registered. He was arrested on August 24th.
A variety of foreigners, including citizens of the United States, Britain, Japan and Australia, have been arrested since the military took power last year, and human rights groups say they have been accused of deterring dissent and creating an atmosphere of fear. It claims that there are
A spokesman for the UK Foreign Office said: “We will continue to support Mr Bowman and his family until the case is resolved.”
“Notorious Achievement”
Myanmar’s military government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
It has been criticized globally for its closed trials and harsh sentences for relatively minor violations.
The military government insists the courts are independent and that those imprisoned are lawbreakers.
Bowman, 56, was the former British colony’s ambassador from 2002 to 2006, and Thein Lin, 55, is a well-known artist who was jailed for opposing the military regime.
News of their sentencing came on the day deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi was given an additional three years in prison after being found guilty of electoral fraud.
Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the United Nations Office for Rights in Geneva, said Bowman and Tin Lin’s rulings further raised concerns about miscarriages of justice in Myanmar.
“We are deeply shocked that the de facto authorities have tried to punish people who have contributed to the country’s development,” she said.
Ming Yu Ha, Deputy Regional Director for Campaigns at Amnesty International, said the sentencing was very concerning.
“We have seen activists, artists, journalists, students, business owners and medical professionals arbitrarily detained and imprisoned by the military on the slightest pretext.
“The Myanmar military has a notorious track record of arresting and imprisoning people on politically motivated and trumped-up charges.”
read more: Myanmar court sentences Suu Kyi to another three years for voter fraud
Source: Reuters
https://www.trtworld.com/asia/myanmar-hands-one-year-jail-term-to-britain-s-former-ambassador-spouse-60407?utm_source=other&utm_medium=rss Myanmar sentences ex-British ambassador’s spouse to one year in prison
