The parents of an American journalist detained by authorities in Myanmar detailed the “heart-wrenching” experience they have undergone since he was captured on Monday, calling for his immediate release.
Danny Fenster, 37, was stopped at the Yangon airport last Monday by authorities as he was attempting to board a plane to the United States. His family told CNN‘s Reliable Sources on Sunday that the experience since his detainment has been “a total nightmare.”
“It’s a total nightmare; it’s a total feeling of no control. It’s heart-wrenching,” his mother, Rose Fenster, said. “I just want my son home no matter what it takes. Please release him and send him home to his family.”
US JOURNALIST DETAINED IN MYANMAR AS HE TRIED TO BOARD FLIGHT OUT OF COUNTRY
Danny Fenster is an editor at Frontier Myanmar, which describes itself as “an unbiased voice in transitional Myanmar.”
Buddy Fenster, the journalist’s father, said his son notified him two weeks ago about a worsening situation for reporters in Myanmar following the military coup earlier this year.
He added that his son informed him many journalists had begun leaving the country, saying, “I got a feeling he thought it may be time to start heading home.”
The journalist’s parents said they supported their son’s decision to travel for his work despite concerns for his safety, noting he visited Bangkok before traveling to Myanmar.
“I’m trying to be strong and positive — and it’s minute by minute, running on fumes, keeping my mind on the positive and not letting my mind going to where it could go,” Rose Fenster said. “We’ve always had a sense of danger when he went there — yes, a sense of danger and awareness — but trust.”
When the military junta took over Myanmar in February, it ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Since then, roughly 80 journalists have been arrested in Myanmar, half of whom are still detained or are awaiting charges or trial. Danny Fenster marks the third foreign journalist to be detained after Polish and Japanese journalists were also expelled, according to a report by the Detroit News.
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At least 739 people have been killed so far since protests against the junta began, and more than 3,300 people have been detained for revolting against the military presence, according to an Anadolu Agency report from April 22.
