Burma: a former British ambassador and her husband sentenced to one year in prison

Police patrol in Yangon, the economic capital of Burma, on October 22, 2021. Illustrative image.

© AFP-STR

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1 min

A former British ambassador to Burma has just been sentenced to a year in prison by the junta.

Vicky Bowman and her husband, a Burmese artist and ex-political prisoner, are accused of violating immigration laws. 

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Vicky Bowman was arrested last week in Burma

and taken to prison.

He is accused of having communicated to the authorities an address different from his current residence.

An offense that normally is worth a simple fine.

But the former British ambassador received a year in prison.

Same verdict for her husband

, a Burmese painter, ex-political prisoner, whom she married in 2006, after having occupied for four years the functions of ambassador of the United Kingdom in Burma. 

Since 2013, Vicky Bowman has led the Center for Responsible Economy in Myanmar, to help the country's development.

Many observers see the conviction of the former diplomat and her husband as a political decision.

Their arrest came as London announced sanctions against the ruling junta, five years after

.

Relations between the United Kingdom, a former colonial power, and Burma have deteriorated markedly since the military took power a year and a half ago.  

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