Myanmar's military junta has announced it will release Australian economist Sean Turnell from prison, more than 21 months after he was arrested in the wake of last year's military coup.
A statement issued by the junta said Professor Turnell and three other foreigners would be released as an expression of "goodwill between countries" and as part of a broader mass amnesty for prisoners.
Former British ambassador Vicky Bowman and her husband Ko Htein Lin, as well as Japanese filmmaker Toru Kubota, are also set to be released.
Myanmar Now, an independent news outlet, cited the military council as saying the pardons were granted because it was Myanmar National Day.
An economic adviser to deposed de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Professor Turnell was detained just days after Myanmar's military junta seized power in a coup on February 1 last year.
In September he was sentenced to three years in jail for "violating the country's official state secrets act" — charges he has always denied.
His trial was closed to Australian consular officials and the media, and was dismissed as a "sham" by human rights groups.
Amnesty International Australia impact director Tim O'Connor said he welcomed Professor Turnell's release but noted the timing.
"Myanmar has a history of releasing prisoners at politically opportune times," he said.
"This announcement in the midst of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Thailand should not deter international focus from the brutality of the Myanmar military's activities since the coup in February 2021."
He said Amnesty would continue to call for the release of people "arbitrarily detained for peacefully exercising their human rights".
"Anyone who cannot be charged with a recognisable criminal offence under international law must be freed immediately," he said.
'He should never have been imprisoned'
Professor Turnell's wife, Ha Vu, had repeatedly called for his release, saying she feared he could become infected with COVID-19 in Insein Prison during a deadly Delta wave in the country last year.
His family and friends in Sydney had also called for him to be released on compassionate grounds because Professor Turnell's father had cancer.
In a statement to the ABC marking the "unwanted anniversary" of her husband's detention in February this year, Dr Vu described her husband as a warm-hearted person who was innocent of the charges and whose work was dedicated to improving the lives of people in Myanmar.
"It has been a year, and in our wildest dream or imagination, we never ever thought we would face this kind of challenge," she wrote at the time.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong had also repeatedly called for Professor Turnell to be released, while the former Coalition government described Professor Turnell's detention as "arbitrary" and "unjust" and rejected the allegations against him.
In a carefully worded statement on social media, the foreign minister said she welcomed the "reports" about Professor Turnell.
"Professor Turnell continues to be our first priority. As such, we will not be commenting further at this stage," she wrote.
Fellow economist Tim Harcourt said he was "delighted" to hear of his friend's release.
"It's a great relief to his wonderful wife Ha, his sister and father and all the family," he said.
"Sean's heart was with the people of Myanmar to help lift them about of poverty and help Myanmar reach its economic potential.
"He should never have been imprisoned for doing his professional duty as an economist involved in development economics.
"My advice to Sean is spend some time now with Ha and the family. Be an armchair economist, not an airport economist, from now on safely in Sydney.
"Welcome home mate."
Professor Harcourt thanked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Senator Wong for their "tireless advocacy".
"Thank you to all the activists, friends, and colleagues of Sean who have helped us," he said.
"Thanks to the reporters for their tireless efforts to keep Sean's story in the minds of the Australian people and the international community."
Observers and his supporters had speculated Professor Turnell might be released as part of a prisoner amnesty on February 12 that marks the country's Union Day, but that never eventuated.
Some 23,000 prisoners were released on that day last year, a national public holiday marking the 1947 signing of the Panglong agreement between ethnic leaders and General Aung San — Aung San Suu Kyi's father.
Editor's note (18/11/22): This article has been corrected. It wrongly reported Professor Turnell had cancer rather than his father.
