“Myanmar'sruling military junta has sentenced a former UK envoy to the country and herhusband to one year in jail for allegedly breaching immigration rules”

Deutsche Welle/ September2, 2022 4:58 PM

Myanmar sentenced the former UKambassador to the country Vicky Bowman and her husband, Burmese artist HteinLin, to one year in jail on Friday. Sources confirmed to AFP and DPA that thepair had been convicted of breaching immigration rules.

The couple were initiallyarrested one day before London declared it would enforce further sanctions oncompanies linked to the military junta. 

What is the Vicky Bowman case about?

Last month, Bowman was detainedafter failing to declare she had moved from an address listed on herforeigner's registration certificate. Her husband was arrested for allegedlyhelping his wife reside at a different address than their registered home inYangon, the country's commercial hub.

The sentence could have lasted upto five years.

The ruling comes on the same daythat Myanmar's former democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to threemore years in jail on charges of election fraud. She is already serving 17years for other offenses, including corruption and incitement.

There has been no officialcomment from side of Myanmar's government on the case until now. 

Who are Vicky Bowman and Htein Lin?

Bowman's husband Htein Lin hadbeen arrested and imprisoned for six years prior to the current sentence in1998 for criticizing the governing junta at the time. He is among the country'smost famous artists, his work including a series of paintings he had made whileimprisoned, using smuggled materials.

Before Bowman served asambassador to Myanmar from 2002 to 2006, she worked as the second secretary inthe UK embassy from 1990 to 1993. Bowman is currently working as the directorof the Myanmar Center for Responsible Business. She has over 30 years ofexperience in Myanmar. 

The couple married in 2006. 

What is happening between Myanmar and the UK?

Myanmarhas been ruled by a military junta since a coup on February 1, 2021.

Sincethen, the relationship between the country and the United Kingdom, its formercolonial ruler, has been tense. London has imposed several sanctions on bothbusinesses and individuals that are linked to the junta.

Followingthe coup, a number of foreign nationals have been caught up in a crackdown asthe junta looks to consolidate its power.