Second criminal charge against American journalist jailed in Burma

A US journalist jailed by the Burmese military junta since May has been charged with a second indictment, his lawyer told AFP on Tuesday.

Frontier Myanmar media editor-in-chief Danny Fenster was arrested on May 24 at Yangon airport as he tried to leave the country and has since been jailed.

He is currently facing trial against the military for allegedly promoting dissent, which carries a maximum sentence of three years.

His lawyer Than Jae Aung said that during his last hearing on Monday at Insen Prison in Rangoon, he was charged with a second charge of illicit affair.

The accused can also face up to three years in prison for this charge.

The charge, stemming from colonial-era legislation, was used in the past against journalists who had contacted Burmese’s various armed ethnic groups who rose up against central authority.

The lawyer said Fenster’s second trial is scheduled to begin on October 15.

His client is “in good health, but has lost a little weight,” he said.

Burma has been in chaos since the February 1 military coup that toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

In its attempt to quell the unprecedented protests sparked by the coup, the junta also tightened its control over the press, limited Internet access and revoked media licenses.

According to a local watchdog group, more than 100 journalists have been arrested since the coup and 48 are still in prison.

bur-rma / pdw / qan / dbh / zm