Why were Vicky Bowman and her husband Htein Lin arrested?

Why were Vicky Bowman and her husband Htein Lin arrested?

Vicky Bowman, the former British ambassador to Myanmar, and her husband, Htein Lin, have been arrested in Yangon. The two were taken into custody together.

According to Reuters, they were taken into custody on Wednesday and charged with violating immigration laws. It was further reported that they were taken to Insein prison during their detention.

According to local media, the two were taken to Yangon’s infamous Insein Prison, which is known for the inhumane treatment of inmates, the prevalence of disease and the presence of rats running rampant throughout the facility.

According to a source with knowledge of the case, the two individuals were taken into custody by the country’s military junta for allegedly violating immigration laws, which carries a maximum jail term of five years.

Who is Vicky Bowman?

The new center, which is a joint project of the IHRB and DIHR, is now under construction in Yangon with the involvement of various stakeholders1 to promote responsible business behavior across Myanmar.

Vicky Bowman brings a wealth of experience in business, international relations and Myanmar to her current position. Ms Bowman, a Burmese speaking former Ambassador to the United Kingdom, began her career in the Diplomatic Service in the year 1990 at the British Embassy in Yangon. Between 2002 and 2006 she represented the United Kingdom as Ambassador to Myanmar.

Ms Bowman has also served as Director of Global and Economic Issues in the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and as a member of the private office of Chris Patten, the European Commissioner for External Relations (1999-2002). These roles were both filled during the same period (2008-2011 when she was also UK G8 Foreign Affairs Sous-Sherpa).

Ms Bowman has been employed by Rio Tinto since 2011. During this time, she led the implementation of the company’s commitment to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, developed the company’s industry-leading approach to transparency, and collaborated with governments. , civil society and international organizations on how investment in mining can better support development.

IHRB Executive Director John Morrison made the following statement:

“We couldn’t be happier to have Vicky joining our team. Her extensive knowledge of Myanmar and her experience in the business world will be essential in establishing the new center as a partner that supports and empowers local and national actors in pursuing responsible economic development that benefits all people of Burma.

Allan Lerberg Jorgensen, department director at DIHR said:

“Vicky is one of the key authorities in Myanmar and she has direct experience of the rapid political shifts taking place in the country. We are confident that under her leadership, the Myanmar Center for Responsible Business will become a trusted partner for business, civil society and government in building a successful future for Myanmar based on freedom and dignity for all.

Career of Vicky Bowman

“The effort to establish this center brings together my two professional and personal passions: Myanmar, and the role responsible business can play in alleviating poverty and enabling good governance. I am incredibly excited to be able to combine these two areas of interest.” It is with great excitement that I will return to Myanmar to found and lead the Center during this crucial time of political and economic transition in Myanmar. I am very much looking forward to working with all relevant parties to help them make investments and conduct business in Myanmar in a way that is both environmentally friendly and in line with international human rights and labor standards.

Additional information about the Myanmar Center for Responsible Business is as follows:
The Myanmar Center for Responsible Business is a brand new initiative recently launched with the aim of promoting responsible business throughout Myanmar. The Institute of Human Rights and Business (IHRB) and the Danish Institute of Human Rights are collaborating to develop the Yangon-based Center for Human Rights and Business (DIHR). Access to international expertise and resources will also be made available to relevant parties through the Center, which will also serve as a reputable and neutral venue for talks, seminars and briefings. The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, unanimously endorsed by the United Nations Human Rights Council in June 2011, will be essential to the Centre’s mission and activities.

The new Myanmar Center for Responsible Business has set itself the long-term goal of becoming an independent and self-sustaining entity. This will enable it to fulfill its mission of providing a crucial platform for businesses, civil society, academics and governments – both local and international – to meet, exchange ideas and build capacities related to responsible investment and responsible business in Myanmar.

You can find more information about the Institute for Human Rights and Business as follows:
Founded in 2009 as a global center for policy and practice on the relationship between business and internationally recognized human rights principles and standards, the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) is a dynamic, not-for-profit think tank. The name stands for the Institute for Human Rights and Business. IHRB provides a safe and neutral forum for conversation and independent analysis with the aim of raising awareness and understanding of human rights issues and the right place for businesses in society. We work with business, government and civil society to develop public policies and raise corporate standards. This is done to ensure that the activities of companies do not contribute to the violation of human rights and instead have beneficial consequences.

Additional information about the Danish Institute of Human Rights is as follows:
The Danish Institute of Human Rights (DIHR) is the country’s national human rights institution and is accredited in accordance with the United Nations’ Paris Principles. The Department of International and Human Rights (DIHR) was established in 1987 as an autonomous state organization with a responsibility to safeguard and promote human rights both nationally and internationally. Within the context of our international programs, we work with government actors, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and companies to preserve and promote human rights. Since 1998 we have been working on issues related to business and human rights. As part of this work, we contribute to the development of knowledge, tools and standards that enable all relevant actors to minimize and address the negative impact of business on human rights, while maximizing the contribution of the private sector to enhance human rights-based development.

Who is Htein Lin?

Vicky Bowman and her husband, Htein Lin, have been married for quite some time at this point. They have even taken on the role of parents for their child.

Htein Lin is a writer and artist who hails from Burma. His artistic practice includes performance, installation and painting. In addition, he has appeared on stage in comedic and acting roles.

When he joined the student movement in 1988, he was enrolled and a student at Rangoon University. His birth year was 1966 and he was born in Ingapu, Ayeyarwady region of Myanmar. After the military took control of the country, he fled the country and lived for nearly four years in an ABSDF (Northern Branch) student rebel camp in Pajau on the Chinese border. There he studied art with Mandalay artist Sitt Nyein Aye.

The following post was made by Myanmar Now (@Myanmar Now Eng) on ​​August 25, 2022:

In the years 1991 and 1992, he was imprisoned in Pajau for almost nine months, along with a number of other students. During that time, they were subjected to some of the most horrific physical assaults in the annals of the resistance movement.

Htein Lin, who consistently meditates using the vipassana technique, draws a significant portion of his creativity from Buddhist concepts, stories, and philosophy. Between 2006 and 2013 he was based in London, but in July of that year he moved back to Burma.

Since his return, he has taken advantage of the new climate for reform to create a major documentary and interactive piece titled A Show of Hands. As part of the play, hundreds of Burmese people had many thousands of former political prisoners cast their arms in plaster for the project.

Learn about the drama that involved Sofia Gomez and Brooklynne Tiktok, along with a timeline of their relationship and an explanation of their recent split.

What are Htein Lin and Vicky Bowman suspected of having arrested in Myanmar?

Vicky Bowman, director of the Myanmar Center for Responsible Business (MCRB), and her husband Htein Lin, a Burmese artist and former political prisoner, were reportedly taken into custody on Wednesday.

The news came just minutes before the UK was to announce further sanctions against the Myanmar junta.

According to the sources, the arrest took place in Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon and the capital of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. It is unknown why they are being held and attempts to get a statement from a junta spokesman in Myanmar have been fruitless. It is not known on which charges they are being held.

Officials are said to have accused Bowman and her husband of violating immigration restrictions, at least according to one version of events.

After being taken into custody, the two were reportedly transported to the infamous Insein prison. In a similar vein, the prison, which houses a significant number of political prisoners, is located just outside Yangon, Myanmar’s main financial center.

A spokesman for the British embassy in Yangon said the detention of a British woman in Myanmar raised concerns within the diplomatic mission. They entered into talks with the authorities in the region and provided consular assistance. The person’s name has been omitted by the spokeswoman.

At the same time Bowman was taken into custody, Britain announced additional penalties against Myanmar companies associated with the military. According to a statement issued at the same time, the United Kingdom has joined the lawsuit filed against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice.