17th June 2021
We have an update on the Managing Editor of Frontier who was arrested at Yangon airport in May.
Frontier Myanmar’s managing editor Danny Fenster today appeared in a special court in Yangon’s Insein Prison to face a charge under section 505-A of the Penal Code, which carries a potential three-year prison term.
Following a brief hearing, Danny was remanded to Insein Prison for two weeks and is scheduled to appear again in court on July 1. No reason was given for the filing of the charge against him.
Danny was represented at the hearing by lawyer U Than Zaw Aung. Representatives from Frontier were not given permission to attend. We are still seeking information on the reason for Danny’s arrest and continued detention.
Nevertheless, we know that Danny has done nothing to warrant this 505-A charge. We condemn his detention and demand his immediate and unconditional release.
A 37-year-old American citizen, Danny was detained on May 24 at Yangon International Airport shortly before boarding a flight to Kuala Lumpur.
Danny joined Frontier in August 2020 and is a vital member of our editorial team, which has provided important reporting on events in Myanmar both before and after the February 1 military takeover.
We are shocked and frustrated that he has been detained for no apparent reason and are concerned for his wellbeing. We are doing what we can to support him, as well as his family and friends, until he is freed.
The 505-A charge was introduced to the Penal Code through an amendment on February 14 and has been widely used against journalists, activists and social media users.
It targets anyone who “causes or intends to cause fear to a group of citizens or to the public”, “causes or intends to spread false news, knowing or believing that it is untrue”, or “causes or intends to commit or to agitate directly or indirectly criminal offence against a Government employee, any kind of Government employees or Government employees”.
Those convicted face a prison term of up to three years, a fine, or both.
Source Frontier 17th June 2021.
There are some interesting views surfacing about a possible way forward to try and solve the mess that is Myanmar. The hatred between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is so deep and entrenched that it has been suggested that “moderates” on both sides could help ease the way forward to negotiations by removing both these people from the leadership of their organisations.
This would clear the way and allow for sensible discussions to take place. This is not to say that the military would give up power but allow some form of semi-democratic participation in government. As long as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is in prison her supporters will never concede anything. Similarly, whilst Min Aung Hlaing is in control, he will not allow the governing generals to give an inch on anything. Nothing that outside agencies or states do will resolve the animosity between the two. What they can do is to try and ease the path to discussions.
The diplomats within ASEAN and China are keeping channels open, and from the West’s point of view, Australia is well respected and could have a part to play.
Please share this article so that others can discover The BFD