Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said sanctions might be imposed on Myanmar as its security and human rights situation deteriorates, although she did not suggest a timeframe. Speaking in Thailand, Wong said the case of jailed Australian economist Sean Turnell was a “top priority”, according to Reuters. The adviser to ousted State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been in captivity since shortly after the February 2021 coup. He was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in September for allegedly possessing state secrets. Turnell has denied the accusations. After he was sentenced, Australia’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs rejected the ruling and called for his release. It said: “We will continue to take every opportunity to advocate strongly for Professor Turnell until he has returned to his family in Australia.” Australia has imposed sanctions on individual generals but it has not added any sanctions since the 2021 coup, unlike other democracies, reports The Irrawaddy.
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