For Sydney economist Dr Ha Vu, the sudden arrest and year-long detention of her husband Sean Turnell is something she never could have imagined.
This weekend marks one year since the Australian citizen, an economic advisor to Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, was arrested — just days after the military had overthrown the government.
In a statement given exclusively to the ABC to mark the anniversary, his wife said she hoped he would "finally have a chance to prove his innocence and he will be returning home as soon as possible".
"I am grateful for the support from so many people, some have been amazing, and I don't know how I would cope without them."
On the day of his arrest, Professor Turnell, an academic at Macquarie University, was giving a phone interview to the BBC from Myanmar when he had to abruptly cut the call short.
"I'm just being detained at the moment and perhaps charged with something, I don’t know what that would be, could be anything at all of course," he told the BBC at the time.
He is one of more than 11,800 people arrested since the coup on February 1, 2021, and more than 1,500 have been killed by the junta, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma).
Professor Turnell has been held in Yangon's Insein prison and charged with violating the country's official secrets act.
Human rights groups have described his ongoing trial as a sham; lawyers have been gagged and Australian officials have been blocked from observing in the courtroom.
His wife said she hoped the trial would reach a swift end and he would be reunited with his family in Sydney.
She added his work had focused on economics and development in the country — building a stable financial system and safer banking sector, bringing in more investment and creating more jobs and opportunities for the people of Myanmar.
"His contributions and dedication to Myanmar are undeniable. I believe the Myanmar authorities know this," she said.
"Sean is a wonderful human being, he is kind and generous, and warm-hearted."
Debbie Stothard, founder of the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma, said the Australian government's failure to secure their citizen's release was "quite scandalous".
"It is still a mystery why Australia has been so silent on Sean's illegal detention — they seem to have given up," she said.
In a statement to the ABC, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said: "The Foreign Minister uses all appropriate opportunities to advocate for Professor Turnell's release, particularly among ASEAN colleagues."
"This has included over 70 calls in which requests have been made and multiple letters to counterparts, including to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen ahead of his recent visit to Nay Pyi Taw."
Ms Stothard said sending letters and engaging in quiet diplomacy with the military junta was "like throwing feathers at a rock".
NGOs and Labor have also called for the government to impose sanctions against junta leaders, and the US, UK and Canada hit the military with further economic sanctions this week.
A spokesperson added DFAT was providing all possible consular assistance to Professor Turnell, which includes ensuring he is able to speak to his family and the embassy, as well as supporting his health and welfare in detention.
"Consistent with basic standards of justice and transparency, we expect that Professor Turnell should have unimpeded access to his lawyers, and that Australian officials be able to observe his court proceedings," they said.
"We will continue to advocate strongly for Professor Turnell until he has returned to his family in Australia."
One of his most vocal supporters, friend and fellow economist Tim Harcourt, said Professor Turnell was in good health and mentally stoic, but he was frustrated by the long process.
"It's not a legal system we're used to … it's quite an archaic and opaque system where it's really hard to tell what's going to happen next," he said.
He said it was a "significant" development that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had asked for Professor Turnell to be released at request of the Australian government.
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing told the Cambodian Prime Minister, "that the case is still in court process, and pledged to provide positive reply to [Hun Sen] when the court process ends," Cambodian state media reported.
On the anniversary of the coup, Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne issued a statement calling on the military to halt violence against civilians and return to a path of democracy.
She said the military's actions denied the will of the Myanmar people and "the military has inflicted horrific violence, trampled basic freedoms and triggered humanitarian, security, health and economic crises across the country".
"Australia condemns the use of violence against civilians and other serious human rights violations. We urge the military to exercise restraint and to release all those arbitrarily detained, including Australian Professor Sean Turnell," she said.
Former Australian ambassador to Myanmar Nicholas Coppel said Professor Turnell was someone he had known for a long time and had often consulted with on developments in the country during his diplomatic mission there.
"He is a man who has given his life to that country, and for him to be arrested on trumped up charges is particularly egregious," he said.
"I certainly hope that he'll be released soon and allowed to join his wife and be back in Australia as soon as possible."
Janelle Saffin, a Labor MP in NSW state parliament with a long-standing interest in Myanmar, said Professor Turnell was an "innocent victim" of circumstance, with his case widely seen as tied to Ms Suu Kyi's.
"It's time, General Min Aung Hlaing, to take a direct interest in Sean's welfare. You're a powerful man and you can make the decision."
Attempts to reach the State Administration Council's spokesperson were unsuccessful, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to a request for an interview.
US journalist Danny Fenster, who was detained in Myanmar for several months and sentenced to 11 years in prison, was released late last year after a visit from US diplomat Bill Richardson helped secure his freedom.
Professor Harcourt said he hoped a similar solution could be found for his friend, adding that for the military, there is no gain to keeping Professor Turnell in jail.
"I don't see what the point is of keeping him in prison. It doesn't even make political sense," he said.
"All from you're doing is keeping a husband away his wife … you're not doing any good to anyone, you're just harming someone."
