AUSTRALIA’S foreign minister called for the “immediate release” of Sean Turnell, who has been detained by the military junta in Myanmar for the past year.

Turnell, an economics professor, was working as an adviser to civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi when he was arrested in February last year, just days after a military coup.

The economist has been charged with violating the official secrets law and faces a jail term of up to 14 years upon conviction.

“Turnell’s detention is unjust, and we reject the allegations against him,” said Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne in a statement.

“We once again call for his immediate release.”

The coup triggered mass protests and a bloody military crackdown, with more than 1,500 civilians killed and almost 12,000 arrested as of February 4, according to a local monitoring group.

Human rights groups have raised concerns about Turnell’s prosecution, particularly after the Australian embassy was denied access to his court hearing in September.

“Consistent with basic standards of justice and transparency, we expect Turnell should have unimpeded access to his lawyers and Australian officials be able to observe his court proceedings,” said Payne.

Turnell was in the middle of a phone interview with the BBC when he was detained.

“I have just been detained at the moment, and perhaps charged with something. I do not know what that would be; of course, could be anything at all,” Turnell told the broadcaster at the time.

“Everyone has been very polite and all that, but obviously I am not free to move or anything like that.”

Last month, a coalition of non-governmental organisations, including Human Rights Watch and Refugee Council of Australia, called on the Australian government to impose targeted sanctions on military leaders in Myanmar. – AFP, February 6, 2022.