An American journalist Danny Fenster was jailed on Friday by a court in military-ruled Myanmar as stated by his lawyer and his employer.
Danny Fenster is a 37-year-old managing editor of an online magazine: “Frontier Myanmar”. He was arrested while he was trying to flee from the country in May and still is in jail in Yagon’s notorious Insein prison. Then Zaw Aung, a lawyer confirmed the sentence to Reuters who gave no further details.
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The reason that was stated by his employer for his arrest was incitement, unlawful association laws and breaches of immigration. Now, even more serious charges of sedition and even violations of the terrorism act were added to his ongoing charges this week which can be punishable each by imprisonment of 20 years. Thomas Kean who is the Frontier Myanmar’s editor-in-chief stated that, “There is absolutely no basis to convict Danny of these charges.”
All the people at the Frontier are highly disappointed and devastated at this decision. They just want to see Danny released so that he goes home to his family.
“The United States has been pushing for Fenster’s release. The U.S. embassy in Myanmar did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for the ruling military council could not immediately be reached. Myanmar has been in chaos since a military coup in February that ousted against the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.”
According to the activists of the United Nations, more than 1,200 civilians have been murdered and many journalists are among thousands who have been arrested after a backlash to military rule.
The U.S State Department said in remarks prior to his sentencing which was not publicly announced that, “The profoundly unjust nature of Danny’s detention is plain for all the world to see. The regime should take the prudent step of releasing him now.”
