NOVEMBER 11 • 2021 | 19

O

n day 164 of his pre-
trial detainment in 
a Myanmar prison, 
Frontier Myanmar managing 
editor and Huntington Woods 
native Danny Fenster, 37, faced 
new charges and was denied 
bail at his latest hearing accord-
ing to reports from the AP and 
CNN. 
The Fenster family had been 
hopeful that Danny would be 
included among the political 
prisoners that were supposed 
to be freed in Myanmar in 
mid-October. The military gov-
ernment reversed its decision 
to free thousands of prisoners. 
According to a prisoner advo-
cacy group, only a few hundred 
were released. 
On Nov. 2, the Facebook 
group Bring Danny Home 
wrote a hopeful message on 
the eve of his latest hearing that 
perhaps a new judge on the 
case “would have the courage to 
do the right thing” and see his 
immediate release. 
However, Fenster now faces 
a third charge under Section 
13(1) of Myanmar’s immigra-
tion act according to his lawyer 
Than Zaw Aung. The law crim-
inalizes illegal entry into the 
country, overstaying a visa or 
permit or violating the condi-
tions of a stay. It is unclear why 
he has been charged with the 
new offense. 
 On Nov. 2, former U.S. 
ambassador to the United 
Nations Bill Richardson visited 
Myanmar and junta leader Min 
Aung Hlaing on a humanitarian 
mission to discuss delivery of 
COVID-19 vaccines, medical 
supplies and other public health 
needs. Richardson is known for 
his decades of tactical negoti-
ation work in attempts to free 

Americans being held prisoner 
abroad, including North Korea, 
which also raised hopes that 
he could intervene in Fenster’s 
plight. 
At his Oct. 7 hearing, Fenster 
was charged by the military 
junta government of 17(1) of 
the Unlawful Associations Act, 
though it closely related to the 
original Section 505A crimi-
nalizing dissent charges, which 
carry a maximum three-year 
jail sentence. 
The military junta has 
imprisoned hundreds of 
journalists in Myanmar since 
the Feb. 1 coup. According 
to the Committee to Protect 
Journalists, the junta freed 15 
journalists on Oct. 18, mainly 
citizens of Myanmar, but more 
than 20 journalists remain 
behind bars. 
Danny’s brother Bryan 
Fenster said at this time the 
family was not releasing state-
ments or granting interviews 
with the press. 
Fenster was detained by the 
military in Myanmar on May 
24, 2021, moments before 
he was to fly from Yangon to 
Detroit to see his family for the 
first time in over three years. 

Bail Denied

Danny Fenster faces new 
charges in Myanmar.

STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Danny 
Fenster

South Florida 
Real Estate

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