American journalist Danny Finster has been sentenced to 11 years in prison in Myanmar. Frontier Myanmar announced it today.
Frontier Myanmar editor-in-chief Finster was arrested by the military junta at Rangoon International Airport in May while trying to leave the country, and was on trial for inciting dissent, illegal association and violating immigration law.
In a separate proceeding, Finster is also suspected of terrorism and incitement, and faces life in prison.
His trial is taking place behind closed doors. The United States has been trying to release Finster for some time. “His arrest is unacceptable. A US diplomatic spokesman said recently that journalism is not a crime.
Myanmar has plunged into chaos since the February 1 military coup. The regime uses bloody repression against opponents, and the press is muzzled by a military council that restricts access to the Internet and revokes media licenses.
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