Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Freed Briton takes a break on way home from Burma

Maurice McLeod
Sunday 07 November 1999 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

THE BRITISH woman who was sentenced to seven years of hard labour in Burma for singing protest songs was on her way home last night after delaying her return to spend some time with her parents.

Rachel Goldwyn, 28, and her parents Ed and Charmain left Burma on Saturday morning but decided to take a break before coming back to Britain.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said that Rachel, who was released from Burma'sInsein prison a week ago after serving eight weeks of her sentence, was "still en route" to Britain yesterday. Although he would not say exactly when Ms Goldwyn would arrive at Heathrow, the spokesman confirmed that the family had taken a flight to Singapore.

Ms Goldwyn, an economics graduate from south London, was arrested on 7 September after chaining herself to a lamppost and singing pro-democracy songs in a busy Rangoon street. She was freed by the Burmese government after international condemnation and two months of lobbying from her parents.

In a bizarre display of friendliness the Goldwyns were last week taken on a tour of the country's northern Shan state as a guest of the military regime. It is not certain whether the trip was part of Ms Goldwyn's release conditions.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in