Burmese authorities have charged detained American journalist Danny Fenster with terrorism and incitement to mutiny, according to his defense lawyer, as reported by AFP. The lawyer indicated that the penalty for the terrorism charge alone could result in life imprisonment. Lawyer Than Zaw Aung stated that his client, who was arrested in May while attempting to leave the country, faces "two charges under section 50(a) of the Anti-Terrorism Law and section 124(a) of the Penal Code." The lawyer warned that if his client is convicted of terrorism, the sentence could reach life imprisonment.
Fenster (37 years old) is primarily facing charges of inciting opposition against the military, forming an unlawful association, and breaching immigration laws. These new charges come days after a meeting in the capital Naypyidaw between military council leader Min Aung Hlaing and former American diplomat Bill Richardson, who previously served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and led negotiations for the release of American hostages worldwide. The two discussed sending COVID-19 vaccines and medical supplies to Burma, according to the military. It was not clarified whether their discussion included the case of the detained American journalist.
Burma has descended into chaos since the military coup on February 1, which ended a brief period of democracy following decades of military rule. The coup sparked widespread protests followed by a bloody crackdown that has led to the deaths of nearly 1,200 civilians and the arrest of over 7,000, according to the local NGO "Assistance Association for Political Prisoners," which also reported incidents of torture, rape, and extrajudicial killings.
