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PM Albanese praises Australian jailed for 2 years in Myanmar, receives hero’s welcome in Parliament
- Sean Turnell was given a standing ovation by lawmakers, and praised for his courage, optimism and resilience by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
- The adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi was put in an isolation room he called ‘the box’ for violating Myanmar’s official secrets law and immigration law
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Sean Turnell, an Australian economist who spent almost two years imprisoned in Myanmar, received a hero’s welcome on Thursday at Australia’s Parliament House where lawmakers gave him in a standing ovation and the prime minister praised his courage, optimism and resilience.
Turnell, an adviser to Myanmar’s elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, was among American, Japanese and British citizens released on November 17 as part of a broader prisoner amnesty during Myanmar’s National Victory Day celebrations.
Days after Myanmar’s military seized control of the Southeast Asian country in February 2021, Turnell was arrested while preparing the leave the country. He was sentenced in September to three years in prison on charges of violating the country’s official secrets law and immigration law.
The 58-year-old Sydney resident and his wife Ha Vu sat in the House of Representatives on Thursday on Parliament’s final sitting of the year as lawmakers stood to applaud the pair.
“We are so glad as you’ve seen from the response across the chamber here to have you back,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the couple.
Albanese said the military had “trashed human rights” in Myanmar, where Turnell has worked intermittently for the past 30 years.
Albanese thanked the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Japan for helping Australia’s diplomatic efforts to secure Turnell’s release.
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Myanmar releases nearly 6,000 prisoners, including 4 foreign nationals
Myanmar releases nearly 6,000 prisoners, including 4 foreign nationals
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