Phil Blackwood not on prisoner amnesty list: New Zealand embassy

New Zealand embassy officials have been informed that Philip Blackwood, who in March was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for insulting religion, was not among the nearly 7,000 people amnestied yesterday.
 
“The New Zealand Embassy in Myanmar has been advised that Mr Blackwood is not included on the Presidential amnesty list,” a spokesperson confirmed in an email today. “The Ministry continues to provide consular assistance to Mr Blackwood and his family.”

Blackwood, a New Zealand national, was convicted months after posting an image of the Buddha wearing headphones on the Facebook page of the Yangon bar he managed called V Gastro. The image was used to promote a cheap drinks night.
 
Increasingly influential hardline monks stirred up outrage and complained, leading to Blackwood’s arrest in December.
 
Two Myanmar nationals who worked at V Gastro, Tun Thurein and Htut Ko Ko Lwin, were also given the same sentence.
 
It is unclear if they have been released, though Ko Ko Lwin’s grandmother said yesterday that she had heard nothing and believes they are still in prison.
 
Blackwood’s father Brian said in a statement from New Zealand today that the family is “extremely disappointed” and that they feel “let down by both the Myanmar Authorities and the New Zealand Government.”

“My son is innocent of these charges. I have no doubt regarding that. He is a good man and he and his family do not deserve to be treated like this,” he said, adding later that Philip never intended to insult anyone.

The family had written to the president’s office but never received a reply.

“My letter to the President asking for Philip’s repatriation to New Zealand was sent in the hope that the President was a man of integrity and honour. As we have received no communication from the President’s Office regarding the letter I am still hopeful that some good might come of it. We cannot allow ourselves to believe that Philip’s case is hopeless and we will do everything in our power to see that Philip and his family are reunited sooner than later,” he said.

The pardons, which freed 6,966 prisoners, came months before the November 8 poll and a day before a Buddhist holiday.

Among those released were former military intelligence officials and about 155 Chinese loggers who had received weighty sentences earlier this month.

Htin Lin Oo, a former NLD official who was convicted for insulting religion in June because of a speech he gave promoting tolerance, was also not on the list.
 
Photo of Blackwood being led to court in March / Coconuts Media
 

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