Two Australian business consultants were arrested in Myanmar as they tried to leave the country that was dominated by a military coup, a news agency reported.
Business consultants Matthew O’Kane and Christa Avery, with dual Canadian and Australian citizenship, are under house arrest after trying to leave the country on an emergency flight on Friday, AFP reported.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed that it is assisting two Australians in Myanmar. Canada’s Department of Global Affairs said it was aware of a case involving a Canadian citizen and was “providing consular services”.
The couple reportedly runs a small consulting firm in Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon.
A third Australian, Sean Turnell, economic advisor to deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, was arrested last month.
Fierce protests continue in Myanmar in opposition to the military regime, although the death toll at the hands of security forces has increased to more than 200.
The violence since the February 1 coup comes after a decade of attempts at democracy in Myanmar.
Western countries have condemned the bloodshed and Australia has suspended military cooperation with Myanmar and redirected aid to non-governmental organizations in response.
Meanwhile, a BBC journalist detained in Myanmar has been released, the broadcaster said on Monday.
Aung Thura, a journalist with the BBC Burmese service, was detained by plainclothes men while reporting outside a court in the capital, Naypyidaw, on Friday.
The broadcaster confirmed on Monday on a news item on its website that he had been released, but gave no further details.
A second journalist arrested at the same time, Than Htike Aung, of the local vehicle Mizzima, was still in custody.