Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer offers to help free Australian academic Sean Turnell

Authorities are calling for the release of Australian Sean Turnell, an adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi before a coup saw the country descend into chaos.

Dr Sean Turnell has been arrested and detained by the military in Myanmar as part of a coup. Picture: Facebook

The lawyer for Myanmar’s former leader Aung San Suu Kyi is offering to assist Australian officials to free economist Sean Turnell as the country descends into chaos.

Myanmar has been rocked by unrest since a February 1 coup ousted civilian leader Ms Suu Kyi from power and triggered a mass uprising of people opposed to the new military junta.

Mr Turnell, an adviser to Ms Suu Kyi, was among more than 1700 detained in the coup and is the only named foreign national caught up in the turmoil.

Lawyer Khin Maung Zaw is offering to help Australian officials and take the matter to the Supreme Court, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

“He was not officially charged in any court. He just disappeared,” Mr Khin Maung Zaw said.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne announced on Sunday the country was suspending its defence cooperation program with Myanmar, which included English language training.

Canberra is reviewing its aid program so money is channelled away from government agencies towards not-for-profit organisations.

Ms Payne also called for the immediate release of Mr Turnell, who remains in detention after the junta arrested him last month.

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Dr Sean Turnell with his wife Ha Vu, a Sydney economics lecturer. Picture: Facebook

Burma Campaign UK says at least 12 countries maintain defence cooperation ties with Myanmar.

The coup and brutal military crackdown has drawn widespread international condemnation as well as sanctions against key military personnel.

There have also been large rallies across the country, with thousands of anti-coup

demonstrators defying an ongoing military crackdown on Sunday.

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Protesters react after tear gas is fired by police during a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon on March 7, 2021. Picture: STR/AFP

Protesters hold shields with the word ‘PEOPLE’ on them. Picture: STR/AFP

Protesters gather behind shields during a demonstration against the military coup. Picture: STR/AFP

There were more than seven separate demonstrations in Yangon and at least five in other cities and regional towns, according to Facebook live feeds.

Wednesday was the deadliest day so far, with the United Nations saying at least 38 people were killed when security forces fired into crowds, shooting some protesters in the head.

The UN rights office also said it has verified at least 54 deaths since the coup – though the actual number could be far higher – and more than 1700 people have been detained.

Yangon-based activist Maung Saungkha said coordinated protests across the country were part of a two-day general strike.

“We are willing to die for our country,” he told AFP.

“This current situation is worse (than the past regime). This time we must fight to win.”

A state-run newspaper on Sunday urged people not to join the rallies.

“The public should be careful not to get involved in the protests to prevent the future of their children being ruined,” the Global New Light of Myanmar said.

Protesters at the demonstration against the military coup on March 7, 2021. Picture: STR/AFP

Protesters shelter behind shields as they face police Picture: STR/AFP

A protester holds a sign calling for the release of detained Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Picture: STR/AFP

At least one community leader linked to the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) government, Khin Maung Latt, 58, was killed during a raid in Yangon.

“He was beaten and taken in a raid … and it seems he underwent a harsh interrogation,” Tun Kyi of the Former Political Prisoners Society told AFP, adding his body had been taken to a cemetery.

Ousted politicians involved in a group claiming to be the legitimate elected government – called the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw – were told on Sunday by state-run media they were committing “high treason” and could be sentenced to death or 22 years in jail.

The junta has declared group members personae non-grata and says those who communicate with them could face seven years in prison.

It has also warned civil servants “they will be fired” with immediate effect if they continued to strike.

The warning came as Myanmar’s trade union movement called on workers to shutdown the economy on Monday.

“To continue economic and business activities as usual … will only benefit the military,” 18 unions said in a statement.

– With AFP