An erstwhile United Kingdom envoy to Myanmar has been nabbed by the latter’s military junta, BBC reported on Thursday.
Vicky Bowman essayed ambassadorial duties between 2002-06. She has been accused of violating visa conditions. Her husband Burmese artist Htein Lin stands accused of facilitating her stay.
The pair have been jailed and will be tried on September 6. Bowman runs the Yangon-based Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business.
Myanmar’s military staged a coup in February, 2021. The junta detained and charged de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi with corruption and other crimes, and placed her party workers from the National League for Democracy (NLD) under house arrest.
Opposition forces against military rule have formed a shadow government called the National Unity Government (NUG). It comprises the ousted NLD lawmakers, protest leaders and activists. Military (also known as the Tatmadaw) has instituted a brutal crackdown on dissent. It has burned entire villages believed to be supporting the opposition, killing at least 1500 people and displacing many more. It has also created a refugee crisis for neighbouring countries.
NUG’s military wing, known as the People’s Democratic Force (PDF), has met fire with fire. Clashes are now occurring in most major cities and PDF has dealt significant losses to the Tatmadaw undermining their control and grip on the country.
