US diplomacy on Wednesday demanded that the military regime in Myanmar “immediately” release American journalist Danny Fenster, who was arrested in May and now faces life in prison in Asia after being charged with new counts of terrorism. and insurrection.
“Danny must be released immediately. The continuation of his detention is unacceptable. “Journalism is not a crime,” said a State Department spokesman.
Noting that the US State Department is “aware” of the allegations made against Mr Fenster, the spokesman denounced the “deeply unjust nature of Danny’s detention”.
Danny Fenster, 37, who was arrested as he was preparing to leave Myanmar in May, was charged with “two counts under Article 50 (a) of the Counter-Terrorism Act and Article 124 (a) of the Penal Code,” he told AFP. His lawyer, Tan Zhao Aung, is an agent.
If convicted under anti-terrorism law, he could face up to life in prison.
Myanmar plunged into chaos following the February 1st military coup that ended a 10-year democratic bracket.
The military junta continues its bloody crackdown on its opponents, with at least 1,200 civilians dead and more than 7,000 imprisoned, according to the Association for Aid to Political Prisoners. The same non-governmental organization speaks of many cases of torture, rape and extrajudicial executions by the regime.
The press has been strangled from the start by the junta, which has sought to tighten control over information; internet access has been curtailed and the licenses of many media outlets have been revoked.
More than a hundred journalists critical of the military regime have been arrested following the overthrow of the government, according to human rights group Reporting ASEAN. Thirty-one of them remain behind bars, but many were among those released last month as part of an amnesty granted by the military on a Buddhist holiday.
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