Cambodian Foreign Ministry Makes Clarification over Release of Prof. Sean Turnell

Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) has made a clarification over the announcement on the release of Prof. Sean Turnell, explaining that it was due to a false information.

“After an announcement by Samdech Techo Prime minister, during the inauguration ceremony for the official use of National Road No. 7 in Kratie province this morning, regarding the release of Prof. Sean Turnell, an Australian national detained in Myanmar, confirmation on this issue was sought by many,” said the Spokesperson of MFAIC in a statement released this evening.

“The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation wishes to clarify that this announcement was due to a false information and that Prof. Turnell still remains in detention,” read the statement.

Despite this unintended incident, it added, the Spokesperson would like to recall that Samdech Techo Prime Minister, during his talks with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, had raised the issue of Prof. Sean Turnell and received from the Senior General the assurance that the latter would reconsider the case once the court process is over.

Sean Turnell is an Australian economics professor working as an adviser to Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi. He was arrested in February 2021, just days after a military coup.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press