Today Congressman Andy Levin (MI-09) released the following statement and update on the case of Danny Fenster of Huntington Woods, MI, a journalist imprisoned by the Burmese military since May 24.
"On May 24, Danny Fenster of Huntington Woods, MI, a journalist working as the managing editor of Frontier Myanmar, was detained as he attempted to travel to the United States to surprise his parents with a visit home. Mr. Fenster has been transferred to Insein Prison in Yangon. As Vice Chair of the Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia and Nonproliferation Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, a long-time human rights advocate and a fellow Michigander, I have been fighting around the clock to #BringDannyHome and appreciate the huge number of people who have reached out to support the Fenster family and our efforts to free Danny.
Here are a few brief updates on Danny's case:
- On May 25, both Michigan Senators and all 14 Republican and Democratic members of the House sent a letter to Secretary Blinken asking that the U.S. spare no effort to free Danny immediately and unconditionally.
- On June 7, when he appeared before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Secretary Blinken committed to do everything possible to win Danny's release.
- Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA) Roger D. Carstens has met extensively with the Fenster family and me, and he and his team are fully engaged, as is Ambassador Tom Vajda and his entire team in Myanmar.
- On June 17, Mr. Fenster appeared in court to face a charge under section 505-A of the Myanmar Penal Code. In the proceedings, no specific reason was provided for his detention. Mr. Fenster has at all times acted in the fullest compliance with Myanmar law, including Section 505-A of the Myanmar Penal Code, as amended and restated. He has always conducted himself respectfully and in adherence to the laws, codes, and customs of Myanmar. U.S. government officials were not allowed to attend his hearing.
- He was remanded to Insein Prison for two more weeks and was ordered to appear in court again on July 1.
- On June 22, Mr. Fenster was finally able to speak on the phone with our embassy. He seemed to be healthy and unharmed.
- Danny has still not been granted in-person consular access to U.S. government officials, as required by international law. Our consulate continues to seek to see him.
- On June 23, Michigan's House Government Operations Committee adopted unanimously a resolution from State Rep. Regina Weiss and State Sen. Jeremy Moss urging the Biden Administration and U.S. Department of State to act with the utmost urgency to secure Danny Fenster's release.
- I have spoken multiple times with Myanmar's ambassador in Washington to demand Danny's release.
- As of June 24, I have spoken with officials in the neighboring governments and elsewhere regarding this case and am grateful that all are aware of it and using their own channels to push for Danny's release.
- We are undertaking other efforts in coordination with our government to use all possible channels to interact with Myanmar's military authorities.
"I want to thank my constituents, my colleagues and members of the media for their support throughout this ordeal. I will continue to share updates on Danny's case, and please know that I will not stop fighting until we #BringDannyHome."
Source:https://andylevin.house.gov/media/press-releases/levin-releases-update-danny-fenster-case
