Australian economist reunites with his family after spending 21 months in Myanmar jail

ANKARA (AA) – An Australian economist who had served as an adviser to deposed Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi returned to his country on Friday after spending almost 21 months in prison.

The military regime on Thursday announced the release of 5,744 prisoners, including Sean Turnell, on the occasion of Myanmar’s National Day.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in a statement confirmed his arrival and said he has been reunited with his family.

"I am pleased to confirm that Professor Sean Turnell has arrived safely home to Australia, and has been reunited with his wife and family, after more than 21 months of unjust detention in Myanmar," Australia's top diplomat said.

"His return will be an enormous relief to his family, friends and many supporters in Australia and across the region," she added.

Wong also thanked regional partners, and members of ASEAN, to help and raised voices for his release.

"We appreciate the arrangements that were made by Myanmar authorities for Professor Turnell's release and welcome the news of the release of other prisoners alongside Professor Turnell, including foreign nationals from the UK, US and Japan," said the foreign minister.

She reiterated that her country is deeply concerned about Myanmar's deteriorating situation and will continue to advocate for the release of the remaining political prisoners.

Turnell was an economic adviser to the deposed Suu Kyi when the military took power in a coup in late February last year and detained him.

In September, a military junta court sentenced the Australian economist to three years in prison on charges of violating the official secret act.

On Thursday, Myanmar military junta announced the release of 5,744 prisoners, including Turnell, former British Ambassador Vicky Bowman and her husband Ko Htein Lin, and Japanese filmmaker Toru Kubota.

However, Suu Kyi and other senior political leaders from her party were not included in the amnesty, according to media reports.

Suu Kyi's government was deposed in a military coup on Feb. 24, 2021, after her National League for Democracy party’s victory in national elections in November 2020.

The coup was met with widespread civic unrest as people denounced her removal and military rule. The junta repressed protests violently, despite UN warnings that the country had descended into civil war.

The junta forces have since killed more than 1,500 people in a crackdown on dissent, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a local monitoring group.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid