CLOSED: Burma: Free Zarganar

Popular comedian Zarganar is serving a 35-year prison sentence for leading a movement that collected money and supplies for the survivors of Cyclone Nargis, which hit Burma (Myanmar) on 2-3 May 2008.

Zarganar (aged 49) was arrested on 4 June 2008, after he criticised the government's handling of the cyclone relief situation in interviews with foreign journalists. Zarganar, who joined the 1988 uprising against military rule, has been arrested before for his pro-democracy efforts.

Background

Zarganar has been in Myitkyina Prison, in the northern Kachin State, since November 2008. According to Burmese exile media reports, the authorities banned all family visits in June 2010. He is in poor health. He lost consciousness in his cell for more than two hours on 16 April 2009, and was only taken to Myitkyina hospital 10 days later.

He is one of 20 people still behind bars for their independent post-cyclone relief efforts. They were arrested for delivering aid to the victims, reporting on the cyclone, and even for burying the dead.

About Zarganar

Zarganar - whose name means ‘tweezers’ in Burmese - is a writer, musician, poet and film director, as well as being one of Burma's biggest comedians. He has used his talent for humour and wordplay to speak out about human rights abuses in Burma.

He founded his own comedy troupe which performed satirical plays and sketches poking fun at the government. He has made numerous films, some of which have been banned in Burma. In 2006, Zarganar was excluded from the entertainment world following an interview with the BBC in which he criticised regulations imposed by the junta on performances during a festival in Burma.

He has been imprisoned twice before, the first time for taking part in the 1988 uprising and again for giving political speeches during the 1990 elections. In 2007, he supported the monks taking part in the "saffron revolution" by giving them food and water.

Because of his strong links to comedy and the arts, Zarganar has been chosen as one of the key cases Amnesty is campaigning on at the 2010 Edinburgh Festival.

Popular comedian Zarganar is serving a 35-year prison sentence for leading a movement that collected money and supplies for the survivors of Cyclone Nargis, which hit Burma (Myanmar) on 2-3 May 2008.

Zarganar (aged 49) was arrested on 4 June 2008, after he criticised the government's handling of the cyclone relief situation in interviews with foreign journalists. Zarganar, who joined the 1988 uprising against military rule, has been arrested before for his pro-democracy efforts.

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