After spending nearly six months in a Myanmar prison for working as a journalist in that country, Detroit native Danny Fenster is back in the U.S. thanks to the aid of an ex-diplomat and all those who have worked tirelessly for his release.
It’s a particular relief to see Fenster home safe, as he was just sentenced Nov. 12 to 11 years hard labor based on trumped-up charges in the country’s kangaroo courts. His captivity has brought worldwide attention to how the country, formerly known as Burma, muzzles free expression, and should serve as a warning that such detention of Americans won’t be tolerated.
The military government on Monday handed Fenster to Bill Richardson, a former Democratic governor of New Mexico and previous ambassador to the U.N. The two of them flew out of Myanmar.
”I’m incredibly grateful to see Bill and his team there on the tarmac waiting for me,” Fenster said during a Tuesday press conference in New York. “That was just the greatest feeling I can ever remember having.”
Fenster said he was going to take time to celebrate but would return to work soon on the behalf of others in prison.
”I’m going to spend time with my family and then continue concentrating on all the other … citizens, doctors, teachers that are in prison right now,” Fenster said. “Let’s keep focused on what the actual story is here.”
Fenster was arrested at the airport on May 24. His sentence Nov. 12 was based on accusations of spreading false information, alleged dealings with outlawed organizations and violating the terms of his visa.
Throughout the trial, it was unclear why exactly Fenster faced charges.
The judge refused to consider Fenster’s defense and evidence because he couldn’t get a government official to testify, defaulting to the regime’s own internal document condemning Fenster for ill-defined crimes.
Fenster was saved from this unjust system by Richardson, who is known for his ability to negotiate with governments where Washington diplomats have no sway.
Richardson reportedly met with the regime leader in Myanmar four times and had been working on Fenster’s release for the last two weeks. He appealed to the country’s commander-in-chief, saying the release would be a gift to the American people and the right thing to do.
”This was a journalist reporting, and he shouldn’t suffer,” Richardson said he told the country’s leader.
Despite his horrific experience, Fenster seems willing to keep doing what he can to help others wrongly imprisoned around the world find the freedom he now enjoys. We should all join him in that mission.
— Tribune News Service
