Myanmar: Authorities reportedly detained a British national in Yangon as of Aug. 25

Event

The Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) has reportedly detained a British national in Yangon, as of Aug. 25. The date of the arrest is unclear. Reports indicate that the person was the ambassador for the UK to Myanmar, 2002-2006, and is currently the director of an international NGO aimed at improving business practices in Myanmar. Officials reportedly arrested the British citizen together with her husband, who is a Myanmar national and a former political prisoner. The charges against and the current location of the British citizen are unclear.

Context

The arrest signals the continued threat of arbitrary detention faced by foreigners in the country, particularly those whose work can be considered to affect political or social stability. The regime continues to incarcerate an Australian advisor to the former state counselor Aung San Suu Kyi since his arrest in February 2021, a Japanese documentary filmmaker who was arrested in the vicinity of a pro-democracy demonstration in July 2022, and a US national who was detained in July 2022; the circumstances of the arrest and the charges against the US citizen are unclear.