Sean Turnell: Wiki, Bio, Age, News, Height, Wife, Myanmar, Family, Detention

Who is Sean Turnell? Wiki, Bio, Age, News, Height, Wife, Myanmar, Family, Detention, Burma, Education, Early Life, Hometown, Birthday, Notable Works: Sean Turnell is an Australian Economist and Economic Policy Advisor to State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar. He had previously worked at Macquarie University as a professor. He was a former staff member of the Reserve Bank of Australia and the director of research at the Myanmar Development Institute. However, since last year February, Sean was under detention being accused of breaching the Myanmar Official Secrets act. However, he has recently been freed from his detention on 17th November and is heading back to Australia. Keep Reading this article to know more about his age, sex, height, weight, education, Hometown, Early life, parents, wife, family, Children, Posts, Contributions, Notable works, controversies, and other personal details.

Sean Turnell

Sean Turnell Education, Age, Birthday, Hometown

Sean Turnell is currently 58 years old, according to sources. However, we are not sure about his exact date of birth. However, we can predict that he was born in the year 1960. Turnell grew up in a working-class suburb of Sydney, called Macquarie Fields. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Macquarie University in Sydney, and also completed his Ph.D. from the same.

Sean Turnell Career

Sean Turnell after finishing his education started working as an analyst at the Reserve Bank of Australia. After that, he joined the Economics Department at Macquarie University in 1991 as a professor. He did research on the Myanmar economy, financial sector reform in developing countries, the history of global monetary institutions, and the history of Australian economic research. Since Australia is the main support behind Myanmar’s transition to Democracy and Market-led economy, Turnell worked as an economic policy advisor to State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar and contributed several ideas for the development of the Myanmar economy.

Turnell’s articles on his ideas on developing Myanmar’s economy, financial sector reform in developing countries, and other related topics were published in various magazines such as the “ASEAN Economic Review”, “Asian-Pacific Economic Literature”, “Asian Survey”, “Australian Economic History Review”, and “The Economic Record”.

Sean Turnell Books

Turnell wrote a book on the key periods in the history of Myanmar’s financial sector as he has previously researched on the topic and is also interested in developing the Economy in developing countries. His book was published by the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies in 2009, named “Fiery Dragons: Banks, Moneylenders, and Microfinance in Burma.

Sean Turnell Family, Wife, Children

As an economist, he wanted to marry someone akin to him. He is currently married to Ha Vu, a Vietnamese Australian economics lecturer and we believe that they have a good time together sharing ideas. We don’t have any information on whether they have any children or not. However, his nephew, Blake James Turnell, known as Chillinit, is a rapper from Sydney.

Sean Turnell Imprisonment in Yangon

Myanmar faced a “coup d’état” on 1st February 2021, following which a huge massacre broke out all over Myanmar. The newly elected members of the government who were about to take their oaths and create the government, in a democratic form were prevented from doing so. Several charges were brought against them by the Myanmar military Junta. The activists who were pro-democratic were either executed or jailed. The common people and children also suffered a lot.

During that time, Turnell was detained in Yangon while working as an advisor to Aung San Suu Kyi. Soon after, the Australian Government pressed Mayanmar for releasing him and said that they would continue to do until he is released. The Australian National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) issued a statement of support for Turnell. They also demanded his immediate, non-conditional release. 

Sean Turnell Data Breach charges, Immigration Charges

In the month of March 2021 Charges against Sean Turnell were detailed by the Military Government of Myanmar. He was accused of fleeing the country with a secret Financial Information post to the coup d’état. As such he was liable for punishment, under the national immigration and Official Secrets Act, carrying imprisonment terms of five and seven years respectively. During this time he was detained in Yangon along with other activists.

In May, it was revealed that State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi along with her advisors, was charged under the Official Secrets Act of Myanmar which bans the possession or sharing of state information that is “useful to an enemy”. Later on, she was asked to appear in a court in Naypyidaw where she faced a total of 5 charges and a 6th charge under the Official Secrets Act along with her advisors, including Turnell. Turnell was then,  transferred from a jail in Yangon to Naypyitaw. The Australian Government once again pressed for Turner’s release. The Former Australian Ambassador said that none of the advisors will have a fair trial and that the Military government will try to prove that Aung San Suu Kyi is guilty, and for that, they will use Turnell.

Sean Turnell’s Trial

On 23rd September 2021, Sean Turnell along with other ousted ministers appeared in the Dekkhinathiri District Court in Naypyitaw for Trial following Covid-19 regulations and protective measures. He was charged with two cases under the Immigration Act. His lawyers filed their power of attorney for the second charge at the hearing. Several problems arose in the trial. The lawyers wanted in-person time with their clients because their clients were previously in Jail and so they had no chance. They also asked for a translator. Another severe problem was that the Australian Embassy was not allowed inside the courtroom. Australia voiced its serious concerns regarding the situation and demanded full access to all future hearings. The hearings continued on a weekly basis.

On, 6th February, Australia once again pressed the Mayanmar government to further his unconditional release, and that Australia has a lot of international support in this regard and will work with them to press the case of Turnell.

In May 2022, The new Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese showed his support for Sean Turnell and says that he must be released soon. He stated that Myanmar is trashing human rights and proper legal procedures and he would continue to keep pressing on the issue until Turnell is released. Meanwhile, the Mayanmar Court ruled that Turnell’s case will continue because, in the view of the court, prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence against both Aung San Suu Kyi and other defendants (including Turnell) to justify the continuation of the trial on charges of violating the official secrets act.

Sean Turnell

Sean Turnell faced The Mayanmar Court Verdict

A special court set up by Myanmar’s military sentenced Aung San Suu Kyi and Sean Turnell to three years in prison for violation of the Official Secrets Act on 29th September 2022. Infuriated by this the Australian Foreign Minister, Senator Penny Wong said that “…Australia rejects the ruling in Myanmar against Professor Turnell and we continue to call for his immediate release. We do not accept the charges against him. I make the point that Professor Turnell has spent years of his life working to improve the economic conditions of the people of Myanmar. We will continue to take every opportunity to advocate strongly for him until he is returned to his family in Australia.” She also said how Myanmar has rejected their request to have full access to the court trials.

Soon after, other international figures started calling out for Sean’s release. The UN Special Envoy for Myanmar, Noeleen Hayzer requested Turnell’s release when she met with State Administration Chairman, General Min Aung Hlaing, in Naypyidaw. The Prime Minister of Cambodia also showed his support and made a similar appeal.

Sean Turnell’s release

Sean Turnell was finally released from Mayanmar Jail on 17th November 2022, where he spent 650 days. On 18th November, he landed in Melbourne, Australia. The Australian government celebrated his return to his homeland, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed his return and remarked that he is a remarkable man.

Here is a full bio of Sean Turnell, his name, age, sex, sexual orientation, height, weight, wife, Children, Family, Parents, Education, School, College, University, Birth year, Birthday, Zodiac, Birthplace, Books, Positions of Responsibility, occupation, Hair color, eye color, body measurements, salary, nationality, ethnicity, religion, caste.

Sean Turnell Information Table

Name Sean Turnell
Salutations Dr.
Gender Male
Profession Economist, Professor
Height (approx.) N/A
Weight (approx.) N/A
Books Published Fiery Dragons: Banks, Moneylenders,

and Microfinance in Burma

Eye Colour Brown
Hair Colour White
Year of Birth 1964
Age (as of 2022) 58 years
Birth Place Macquarie Fields, Sydney, Australia
Zodiac sign/Sun sign N/A
Nationality Australian
Hometown Macquarie Fields
School N/A
College/University Macquarie University in Sydney
Educational Qualification Graduate
Religion N/A
Ethnicity Australian(Most Probably)
Positions of Responsibility Professor at Macquarie University

Analyst at Reserve Bank of Australia

director of research at the Myanmar Development Institute

Economic Policy Advisor (to State Counsellor

Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar)

Address Australia
Hobbies/Interests reading
Marital Status Married
Affairs/Boyfriends/Girlfriends Not Available
Sexuality Straight
Parents N/A
Other Family Members Blake James Turnell(nephew)
Husband/Wife/Spouse Ha Vu
Children N/A
Salary N/A

 

Lesser Known Facts about the Economist

  • He was detained in Mayanmar jail for 650 days in total.
  •  His nephew is Blake James Turnell, known as Chillinit, a rapper from Sydney.
  • He is the first foreign national known to be arrested in relation to the coup.
  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, lobbied for his release from Mayanmar Jail.

FAQs on the Activist

1)FOr how long was he in Jail?

He was in jail for 650 days.

2)Was he in the Yangon jail?

Initially, he was kept in the Yangon jail but was then transferred to the Naypyitaw Jail.

3) Is he Married?

Yes, Dr. Turnell is married to his wife, Ha Vu.

4) How old is Sean Turnell?

He is 58 years old.

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