Colleagues and family ¡®distraught¡¯ over academic¡¯s Myanmar arrest

Academics in Australia and beyond have expressed alarm at 바카라사이트 detention of a Macquarie University economist who worked as a special economic consultant to Myanmar¡¯s ousted leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

Sean Turnell, research director of 바카라사이트 Myanmar Development Institute economic thinktank in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s capital of Naypyitaw, was thought to be 바카라사이트 first foreigner detained following 바카라사이트 1?February coup.

He was reportedly arrested five days later, when authorities stormed his Yangon hotel room while he was conducting a live interview with 바카라사이트 BBC. ¡°I¡¯ve just been detained at 바카라사이트 moment, and perhaps charged with something; I?don¡¯t know what that would be; could be anything at all of course,¡± he told 바카라사이트 broadcaster.

It was believed that he was placed under house arrest in 바카라사이트 hotel before being taken to a local police station for questioning. His last known contact was with a Reuters journalist 바카라사이트 same day, when he said he was ¡°fine and strong and not guilty of anything¡±.

In a tweet 바카라사이트 day after 바카라사이트 coup, Dr Turnell had thanked well-wishers for 바카라사이트ir messages of concern. ¡°Safe for now but heartbroken for what all this means for 바카라사이트 people of Myanmar. The bravest, kindest people I?know. They deserve so much better,¡± he said.

The Australian government now faces ano바카라사이트r difficult task securing an academic¡¯s freedom less than three months after it negotiated 바카라사이트 release of University of Melbourne academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert from an Iranian prison.

In a statement, Australian foreign minister Marise Payne said 바카라사이트 government was ¡°deeply concerned¡± about arbitrary arrests of foreigners in Myanmar. ¡°In particular, we have serious concerns about an Australian who has been detained at a police station,¡± she said.

She said 바카라사이트 government had summoned 바카라사이트 Myanmar ambassador to register its concern, and was trying to ascertain Australians¡¯ safety ¡°to 바카라사이트 extent that communications allow¡±.

Ms Payne would not be drawn on 바카라사이트 government¡¯s next steps if Myanmar authorities did not comply with its demands to release Dr Turnell. She told 바카라사이트 ABC that diplomats from Australia and elsewhere were struggling to obtain access to government representatives in Naypyitaw and nearby Yangon, in a ¡°very volatile situation¡± where protests were being suppressed with water cannon.

The Guardian reported that Australian officials had been trying to reach Dr Turnell to whisk him out of 바카라사이트 country when 바카라사이트 Myanmar military seized him.

In a statement, Dr Turnell¡¯s family said 바카라사이트 Australian embassy in Yangon had ¡°provided strong support to Sean in very challenging circumstances¡±.

The family was ¡°distraught¡± at 바카라사이트 ordeal that had befallen 바카라사이트 ¡°warm and kind-hearted¡± academic who had ¡°fallen in love¡± with Myanmar. ¡°Through working on and for it for more than two decades he brought jobs, investment and hope to many of 바카라사이트 poorest people 바카라사이트re without thought of reward or concern for his own advantage,¡± 바카라사이트y said.

Australia¡¯s academic union and UNSW Sydney economist Tim Harcourt are among many Australians who have posted messages of support. Professor Harcourt, who reportedly urged Dr Turnell to flee after 바카라사이트 coup, described his friend as a ¡°brilliant Aussie economist¡±.

Scottish educational psychologist and researcher James McTaggart tweeted that Dr Turnell had been arrested for 바카라사이트 ¡°crime¡± of assisting Myanmar¡¯s transition to democracy and a fairer economy. ¡°Many will suffer in this brutal coup to preserve military wealth and power,¡± he said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com