Burma: American journalist Danny Fenster released and on his way to the United States

Danny Fenster’s release was achieved as a result of “one-to-one negotiations“between junta leader Min Aung Hlaing and former senior US diplomat Bill Richardson, his office said in a statement.

The two men will travel to the United States “via Qatar, over the next day and a half“said the Richardson Center, adding that it was looking forward to reuniting with Danny and his parents, Buddy and Rose, as well as his brother Bryan.”

A photo posted by Bill Richardson shows Danny Fenster standing in shorts and flip flops in front of a small plane alongside the former governor of New Mexico who has been turned into a hostage negotiator, on the tarmac in Naypyidaw, the capital of Burma.

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The 37-year-old journalist, who works for Frontier Myanmar magazine, was arrested in May while trying to leave the country. He had since been held in Insein prison near Rangoon.

In a statement in the United States, the journalist’s family did not hide their relief: “We are delighted that Danny has been released and on the way home – we can’t wait to give him a hug and are immensely grateful to all who helped with his release, especially Ambassador Richardson, our friends and the public who supported us and helped us during these long difficult months that we endured“.

“We can confirm that he has been released and will be deported. Details will be communicated laterjunta spokesman Zaw Min Tun previously told AFP.

Last week, the journalist was sentenced to 11 years in prison for incitement against the army and illegal association.

He was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday for terrorism and sedition, and for doing so faced life imprisonment.

– “He had done nothing wrong” –

“This is wonderful news for all of his friends and familyFrontier Myanmar colleague Andrew Nachemson told AFP.

“But of course he should never have spent six months in jail … and any local journalists who remain in jail should also be released immediately.”

Richardson visited Burma earlier this month for a “private humanitarian missionHe said at the time that the US State Department asked him not to raise Fenster’s case during his visit.

The journalist, who spent 176 days behind bars, reportedly contracted Covid-19 while in detention, family members said during a conference call with American journalists in August.

“This is fantastic news for Danny and his family“Richard Horsey, specialist on Burma at the NGO International Crisis Group, told AFP, according to whom”he had done nothing wrong and should never have gone through this hell“.

“It is also important at this time to remember the many Burmese journalists unjustly detained, and who must also be released.“, he added.

Burma has sunk into chaos since the February 1 military coup, which ended a 10-year democratic parenthesis.

The regime continues a bloody crackdown on its opponents with more than 1,200 civilians killed and more than 7,000 in detention, according to the Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners (AAPP). This local NGO reports cases of torture, rape and extra-judicial executions.

The press is muzzled by the junta, which tries to strengthen its control of information, limiting access to the internet and canceling media licenses.

More than 100 journalists have been arrested since the putsch, according to Reporting ASEAN, an association for the defense of rights, which points out that 31 of them are still in detention.