Australian couple detained in Myanmar as they tried to flee the country

As violence continues after the Myanmar coup with the death toll now past 200, an Australian couple was detained as they were trying to leave the country on a relief flight, according to Agence France-Presse. They are now believed to be on house arrest.

Reports say Matthew O’Kane and Christa Avery ran a consultancy business in Yangon, the country’s largest city and the area where the military’s crackdown on anti-coup protesters has turned deadly. Marital law has been declared in some townships in Yangon.

Little has been reported about Matthew and Christa. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they are providing assistance, but no other information has been reported. Christa is also a Canadian citizen and Canada’s global affairs department said they are “providing consular services,” according to a report by the Australian Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.

Another Australian citizen in Myanmar was detained last month. Sean Turnell was an economic adviser to Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. The state counsellor along with other civilian politicians were detained by the military in last month’s coup. The military have said the government takeover was in response to a fraudulent election, although reports say Aung San had won the election in a landslide.

SOURCE: Guardian