A former British ambassador to Myanmar, Vicky Bowman, and her husband were on Friday detained by the military authorities in Myanmar.
Africa Daily News, New York gathered that she and her husband are both being accused of violating visa laws, which carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.
Between 2002 and 2006, Ms. Bowman served as an ambassador to Myanmar. She is wed to Htein Lin, a Burmese artist and former political detainee.
She is the director of the Yangon-based Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business.
A trial for the two has been set for September 6 at Insein detention center in the city.
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According to a military report, Ms. Bowman breached the law by refusing to inform the authorities when she moved into a location outside of Yangon, where she had been registered, and by residing there without permission. Following their relocation, her husband had been detained along with her.
She is receiving consular support, according to the UK embassy.
The arrest happened in connection with the UK’s announcement of new sanctions targeting Myanmar’s military regime, which came on the fifth anniversary of the country’s repression of Rohingya Muslims.
Over 6,000 people died during the initial months of the attack, and hundreds of thousands were homeless.
Britain’s sanctions targeted ‘military-linked businesses’ in Myanmar.
‘They are being sanctioned in an effort to limit the military’s access to arms and revenue,’ a statement said.
According to UK Minister for Asia Amanda Milling, the government will intervene in the legal dispute between The Gambia and Myanmar before the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Whether Myanmar’s breached commitments under the Genocide Convention with its persecution of the Rohingya will be determined by the judges at the UN court.
This was described by MCRB as “an initiative to encourage responsible business activities throughout Myanmar”. It works in conjunction with the Institute for Human Rights and Business, whose mission is to “to make respect for human rights part of everyday business”.
The military government in Myanmar has been charged with several breaches of human rights.
As the nation continues to be torn apart by internal conflict, generals extended their emergency rule until 2023, this decision was made at the month.
Following the collapse of Aung Sung Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government, the junta assumed control last year.
