MYANMAR: Zargana’s sentenced reduced to 35 years

18 February 2009

Update #4 to RAN 31/08

The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN has learned that the fifty-nine year prison sentence handed down to leading comedian and poet Zargana has been commuted by twenty-four years. He must now serve thirty-five years in prison for his peaceful opposition activities and criticism of the government. International PEN continues to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Zargana, and of all those currently detained in Myanmar in violation of Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, protecting the right to freedom of expression.

According to the news agency Mizzima,com, on 13 February 2009 the Rangoon Division Court reduced Zargana's prison term by twenty-four years. He has therefore to serve the remaining thirty-five years in prison. Zargana's relatives have announced that they will file an appeal against his conviction before the Supreme Court. He is currently serving his term at the Myitkyina prison, in the Kachin state, northern of Myanmar.

Maung Thura, aged 47, best known by his stage name, "Zargana" (also transcribed as ‘Zarganar'), was sentenced to forty-five years imprisonment on 21 November 2008 for violating the Electronics Act, and received an additional fourteen year prison term on 27 November 2008 for offences under four sections of the criminal code-17/2, 32 (b), 295 (a) and 505 (b), for his peaceful opposition activities, making a total of fifty-nine years.

Zargana was arrested on the evening of 4 June 2008 after leading a private relief effort to deliver aid to victims of Cyclone Nargis which struck on 2 May 2008. He is believed to be sentenced for his outspoken criticism of the government's slow response to the cyclone, and his opposition activities. Many other opposition activists have been condemned by the Burmese government to harsh sentences in recent months, including journalist Zaw Thet Hwe, poet Saw Wei and musician Win Maw (see previous alerts).

Useful links
For the press release on Mizzima,com, see:
http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/1715-zarganas-prison-term-reduced-by-24-years-zarganas-prison-term-reduced-by-24-years-.html

For the previous WiPC alert on Zargana, go to: http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/index.cfm?objectid=E3E21D0B-3048-676E-260B79376B1514DC

For the statement by the Board of International PEN on the sentencing of Zargana, issued on 25 November 2008, see: http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/go/news/board-protests

For the BBC's country profile on Myanmar (Burma), go to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1300003.stm