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US journalist Danny Fenster arrives in New York after his release in Myanmar Press Freedom News

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US journalist Danny Fenster, who was released after nearly six months in prison under military control in Myanmar, he has returned to the United States, saying he will support journalists and political prisoners who remain behind the prisoners.

Fenster landed at New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport on Tuesday after being released a day earlier in Myanmar. He said he felt “incredible” after his release.

“I will take the time to celebrate and spend time with my family, and then I will continue to concentrate on all the journalists and prisoners of conscience in Myanmar and everywhere else … in Myanmar, with many citizens, doctors, teachers. In prison right now,” Fenster said at a news conference.

window he was punished they did 11 years of hard work last week, but were released on Monday and went to the U.S. with former U.S. diplomat Bill Richardson, who helped negotiate the release. Fenster was accused of sedition and “terrorism”.

The journalist was working as the editor of Frontier Myanmar magazine, an English news website, at the time of his arrest.

“That’s about it right here,” Fenster said as he embraced family members including Buddy, his mother, Rose, and his brother Bryan.

During a stopover in Doha on Monday night, Richardson, who also served as governor of New Mexico and as U.S. secretary of energy, blamed the military’s release of Fenster on “humanitarian aid to the Myanmar government in its efforts to work on vaccines.” .

In New York, Richardson acknowledged the “collaborative effort” involved by advocacy groups, U.S. lawmakers, administrative officials and Fenster’s family to end the journalist’s arrest.

“I think we need to get involved with our opponents, no matter how different our philosophies are … The way we deal with the issues that divide nations is a humanitarian effort before political differences,” Richardson said. “I think that’s basic.”

Myanmar generals he took power In February from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Since then, military authorities have staged fierce protests and dissent, killing more than 1,250 people and imprisoning at least 10,000, according to the Political Prisoners Support Association, a advocacy group that monitors the situation.

He was one of dozens of journalists imprisoned since Fenster was taken over by the military.

The generals claimed it was necessary to take power because of the alleged election fraud. Military command they charged Aung San Suu Kyi and other former officials were involved in election fraud in the 2020 vote.

Congressman Andy Levin, a Michigan Democrat who represents the Fenster family in the House of Representatives, said the journalist’s arrival in the U.S. is a “beautiful day”.

“Danny lifts everyone in prison, not just journalists, but also doctors and teachers. He says our work has just begun. So inspiring, ” Levin wrote On Twitter.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) welcomed the release of Fenster on Monday, and called on Myanmar authorities to release other journalists who remain in prison.

“Myanmar authorities should follow this gesture with the immediate release of dozens of other journalists in prison for their work in reporting the news.” Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asian program coordinator, said in a statement.



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