Outspoken Myanmar artist Htein Lin arrested by military government and sent to infamous prison

Myanmar artist Htein Lin and his wife, the former British ambassador Vicky Bowman, were each sentenced to one year in prison on 2 September after a secret trial, reports Myanmar Now. The couple was arrested 24 August on immigration charges that Bowman had resided outside of her registered address. On the same day, the Tatmadaw junta, which seized power in a coup in early 2021, sentenced deposed president Win Myint, state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and minister Min Thu to three additional years imprisonment with hard labour for purported fraud in the overturned 2020 elections. “Htein Lin is one of Burma's most prominent artists and has been involved in resistance movements for decades, suffering torture and imprisonment for years,” previously 1998 to 2004, describes Jørn Middelborg, CEO of Bangkok’s Thavibu Art Advisory, which represents Htein Lin. “His art has featured prominently in biennales and museum shows. Bowman has been the director of the Myanmar (Burmese) Centre for Responsible Business since 2013, promoting responsible and sustainable business practices in the country, which has proven to be a very important task in setting the country on a sustainable and transparent track.” Bowman and Htein Lin were detained the same day that Britain announced fresh sanctions on the Tatmadaw and that it would back the International Court of Justice case charging Myanmar with genocide of its Rohingya minority. “Individuals become pawns,” says Middelborg. “We should maintain constant pressure on the Burmese junta and try to bring about changes if possible, keeping in mind the individuals who suffer, and hopefully provoke a regime change.”