Sydney rapper ChillinIT asks fans to help free uncle Sean Turnell in Myanmar

A Sydney rapper whose uncle has been detained in the military coup in Myanmar has asked his 270,000 fans to help demand his immediate release.

A Sydney rapper whose uncle has been detained in the military coup in Myanmar has demanded his immediate release.

Blake James Turnell, who normally goes by the moniker ChillinIT, has pleaded with his 270,000 fans to help lobby the Australian government for the immediate release of academic Dr Sean Turnell.

The rapper urged his fans to share a letter on behalf of the family.

Plea.... Sydney rapper Chillinit. Picture: Instagram

Myanmar police armed with automatic rifles move in on protesters. Picture: AFP

“The way we need to help is to share this letter, I don’t really understand what is going on, but if we can share this letter. It can help maybe, I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help my uncle,” he said.

“I’ve never asked you guys, and I do apologise, it’s very hard for me to jump on here and do this on my platform but it’s for my family and I know that people who care about me will do this for me.

In the letter, shared on his Instagram, it said Sean Turnell is a beloved family man.

“Sean has read voraciously since his youth and has always shown a thirst for knowledge. He us a practical economist who has and will always use his expertise and experience for a good cause.

Australian economist Sean Turnell with Aung San Suu Kyi.

Protesters confront police vehicles after firing water cannons during a demonstration. Picture: AFP

“Myanmar is a country which he has fallen in love, and through working on and for it for more than two decades he brought jobs, investment and home to many of the poorest people there without thought of reward or concern for his own advantage,” it said.

Dr Turnell, who was serving as an economic policy adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi when Myanmar’s military seized power last week, was placed under house arrest at his hotel before being taken in by police for questioning and arrested on Saturday.

Blake Turnell - aka Sydney rapper Chillinit. Picture: Instagram

Foreign affairs minister Marise Payne described the situation in Myanmar as “disturbing” and said the embassy had been providing Professor Turner with extensive support during his ordeal.

“We called in the Myanmar ambassador into the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to raise our concerns in relation to this, and we will continue to do that and press strongly for Professor Turnell’s release,” she said.