Two Australian business consultants have been detained in Myanmar while trying to leave the country.

There is an understanding that business consultants Matthew O’Kane and Christa Avery are under house arrest after trying to depart the nation via a relief flight on Friday.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed it is assisting two Australians in Myanmar.

“Due to our privacy obligations, we will not provide further detail,” DFAT said, according to the ABC.

The couple run a bespoke consultancy business in Yangon. Christa Avery is a dual Canadian-Australian citizen.

These arrests come as Australian Sean Turnell, an economic advisor to deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, was detained last month. He remains in custody.

Violent protests continue in Myanmar due to the military coup that occurred on February 1.

Western countries have condemned the bloodshed and Australia has suspended military cooperation with Myanmar, redirecting aid to non-government organisations in response.

Article: Monica Di Battista and Emily Patterson

Photo: Protest in Myanmar against Military Coup by MgHla (aka) Htin Linn Aye available HERE and used under a Creative Commons Attribution. The image has not been modified.