Myanmar frees Australian economist as part of 6,000 prisoner amnesty

Myanmar's junta (Image: Reuters/Stringer)

Myanmar's military leaders have released Sean Turnell, an Australian economist and former adviser to democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, and more than 6,000 others from prison under an amnesty, state media reported on Thursday.

Former British envoy Vicky Bowman and her husband were among those released, along with U.S. citizen Kyaw Htay Oo and Japanese filmmaker Toru Kubota.

Myanmar has been in the political turmoil since the military staged coup in February last year, arresting civilian leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi in the early morning raids.

The coup sparked widespread protests that were often violently shut down, and helped fuel armed resistance among some of the Southeast Asian nation's many ethnic groups.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government welcomed reports regarding Turnell, who had been charged with violating a state secrets law and sentenced in September to three years in jail.

"Professor Turnell continues to be our first priority. As such, we will not be commenting further at this stage," Wong said on Twitter.

Earlier this month, Wong said Australia was considering imposing sanctions on Myanmar as the security and human rights situation there deteriorates.

The Japanese foreign ministry said it had been informed about Kubota's release.

In all, 5,774 male and 676 female prisoners were granted amnesty to mark Myanmar's national day and also on "humanitarian grounds," state media said.

Among those released were 11 celebrities and Kyaw Tint Swe, a former minister and a close aide to Suu Kyi, according to the report.

A junta spokesperson did not answer Reuters' phone calls seeking comment.

Bowman, whose husband is prominent Burmese artist Ko Htein Lin, had been charged with immigration violations. Kubota had been charged with sedition and violating a communications law.

"One hopes this release will not be a one-off event but rather the start of a process by the junta to release all political prisoners in Myanmar," Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch told Reuters. "People should never be criminalised and imprisoned for simply expressing political opinions and peacefully exercising their rights."