In a blow for U.S. efforts to secure his release, an American journalist held in Myanmar's military-run government on grounds of incitement now faces new charges of terrorism and sedition, his attorney said Wednesday.
Thirty-seven-year old Danny Fenster, the managing editor of Frontier Myanmar, a leading independent news site, was held in May at Yangon's international airport as he attempted to leave the country.
Fenster's attorney informed the Associated Press news agency that he had presented the court with documents and other proof proving Fenster's status as a Frontier Myanmar employee.
The first three cases brought against Fenster are being tried in a different Yangon court from the latest ones.
Since a February coup, Myanmar has been in upheaval, with the military attempting to quell widespread democracy movements and stamp out opposition.
Based on data by a local monitoring group, security personnel have killed over 1,200 individuals in a crackdown on opposition.
Conviction under the terrorist statute carries a potential life jail sentence.
The other offence included under Myanmar's Penal Code Section 124(A) is commonly referred to as treason and carries a sentence of seven to 20 years in jail.
On November 16, the trial is slated to begin.
The new allegations against Fenster came just days after Bill Richardson, a veteran U.S. ambassador and hostage negotiator, met with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in the capital Naypyidaw.
On February 1, Min Aung Hlaing staged a coup, detaining Aung San Suu Kyi and other officials from her elected government.
"We don't understand why they increased the accusations, but it's certainly not good," his lawyer, Than Zaw Aung, told Reuters.
Since its February 1 coup, the military has revoked media licenses, imposed restrictions on internet and satellite transmissions, and detained dozens of journalists, in what human rights groups have dubbed an attack on the truth.
"We are as devastated by these allegations as we were by the previous ones brought against Danny," his brother, Bryan Fenster, wrote in a text message.
The ruling military council's representative did not respond to requests for comment. The United States Embassy in Yangon did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
