US Journalist Detained in Myanmar Sentenced to 11 Years Released

American journalist Danny Fenster (left) and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Danny Fenster, an American journalist sentenced to 11 years in prison on charges including incitement in Myanmar, was released just three days after the verdict.

According to major foreign media, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson announced in a statement that the Myanmar government had handed over Fenster's custody.

Fenster is scheduled to return to the United States via Qatar. At Hamad International Airport in Doha, he told reporters, "I was never tortured or starved during detention," and added, "I am currently in good health."

Fenster, who worked as the managing editor of the Myanmar independent media outlet Frontier Myanmar, was arrested by the military while attempting to leave through Yangon Airport in May to visit his family in the United States.

On the 12th, the Myanmar court sentenced him to 11 years in prison on charges including spreading false information to incite unrest and contacting illegal organizations.

Fenster's release appears to be the result of negotiations conducted by former New Mexico Governor and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson, who visited Myanmar on the 2nd and held face-to-face talks with military commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing.

Since the coup, the Myanmar military has arrested and detained nearly 100 journalists, with at least 30 reportedly still imprisoned.