Frontier Myanmar is calling for the release from prison of their managing editor to allow him to go home to the USA, disputing the charges that following sentencing have put him behind bars for 11 years.
In a statement, Frontier Myanmar takes issue with the conviction and sentencing of Danny Fenster, an American national, claiming the charges were misplaced.
The following is the text of their press release, issued Friday:
Frontier Myanmar is deeply disappointed at the decision today to convict its Managing Editor, Danny Fenster, on three charges and impose prison sentences totalling 11 years.
The charges were all based on the allegation that he was working for banned media outlet Myanmar Now in the aftermath of the February 1 military coup. Danny had resigned from Myanmar Now in July 2020 and joined Frontier the following month, so at the time of his arrest in May 2021 he had been working with Frontier for more than nine months.
Danny was convicted under section 505-A of the Penal Code, section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act and section 13(1) of the Immigration Act. He received a three-year sentence for the 505-A charge, three years for the 17(1) charge and five years for the 13(1) charge, as well as a K100,000 fine.
The decision was announced this morning at a court inside Yangon's Insein Prison, following a trial that was closed to the public. The sentences imposed were the harshest possible under the law.
The court disregarded a significant amount of evidence of his employment at Frontier, including tax and social security records and testimony from a Frontier employee.
"There is absolutely no basis to convict Danny of these charges. His legal team clearly demonstrated to the court that he had resigned from Myanmar Now and was working for Frontier from the middle of last year," said Thomas Kean, Frontier's Editor-in-Chief.
"Everyone at Frontier is disappointed and frustrated at this decision. We just want to see Danny released as soon as possible so he can go home to his family."
Danny is also facing two additional charges, under the Counter-Terrorism Law and section 124(a) of the Penal Code, that will be heard separately.
