Myanmar coup: Japanese filmmaker released from prison

Foreign nationals were among the thousands of people detained by Myanmar’s junta since the generals seized power in a coup last year. Japan’s Kyodo news outlet reported that filmmaker Toru Kubota has been freed by the authorities.

Japan’s Kyodo news outlet reported Thursday that Japanese national and filmmaker Toru Kubota was freed by the junta since his arrest in July. Kubota was arrested at a protest in Yangon. The junta detained Kubota on charges of sedition and violating immigration laws, among other charges, last month with a prison sentence of 10 years.

Kubota was among the nearly 6,000 prisoners in Insein Prison who were freed as part of the junta’s mass amnesty. Aside from Kubota, the junta also freed the Australian economist who served as an adviser to ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi Sean Turnell, as well as former United Kingdom ambassador Vicky Bowman.

Canberra confirmed that Turnell left the country Thursday and arrived in Thailand. Bowman was also confirmed by diplomatic sources to have left Myanmar. Turnell was arrested shortly after the generals seized power and overthrew the elected civilian government back in February last year.

The country’s state-run MRTV showed footage of Bowman and Turnell, as well as Kubota, signing exit documents with officials. The United States said its citizen, Kyaw Htay Oo, was also released in the mass amnesty.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thanked the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia for pressuring the junta to release Turnell, who was charged by the military for violating a state secrets law and was sentenced to three years in prison back in September.

The special envoy of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations also welcomed the mass amnesty Friday that resulted in Kubota’s, Turnell’s, and Bowman’s release. The envoy said the mass release by the junta was “an important gesture” in helping create an environment for dialogue.

Envoy Prak Sokhonn said in a statement that he was planning to make a third visit to Myanmar in the coming weeks.

This comes amidst frustration from the 10-member bloc over the lack of progress by the junta in implementing the peace plan that was agreed upon shortly after the coup last year.