Zarganar, who uses only one name, is seen joining a street protest in Yangon, Myanmar in Sep 23, 2007 AP file photo.
Zarganar, whose name means "tweezers" and whose comedy routines are banned for their jokes about the junta, and several other activists delivered donations of relief supplies to the Cyclone Nargis-shattered Irrawaddy delta. The May cyclone killed more than 84,000 people.
Zarganar has been imprisoned several times before, including a three-week stint for providing aid to Buddhist monks during 2007 demonstrations, said his lawyer, Khin Htay Kywe.
On Thursday, well-known hip-hop singer Zeyar Thaw, a member of the band "Acid," was jailed for six years, and 14 members of Suu Kyi's party got 2 1/2 years each for calling for her release on her birthday in June, party spokesman Nyan Win said. Zeyar Thaw is thought to be a leader of Generation Wave, an illegal student group formed in the wake of last year's pro-democracy protests.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press
November 21, 2008
MYANMAR: Court hands comedian 45-year prison term
.
YANGON, Myanmar (Associated Press), November 21, 2008
Myanmar's courts continued a crackdown on activists Friday, handing out a 45-year prison sentence to comedian and activist Zarganar. Zarganar, whose birth name is Maung Thura, was among at least 100 people to receive sentences of two to 65 years since early November.
Zarganar, who uses only one name, is seen joining a street protest in Yangon, Myanmar in Sep 23, 2007 AP file photo.
Zarganar, whose name means "tweezers" and whose comedy routines are banned for their jokes about the junta, and several other activists delivered donations of relief supplies to the Cyclone Nargis-shattered Irrawaddy delta. The May cyclone killed more than 84,000 people.
Zarganar has been imprisoned several times before, including a three-week stint for providing aid to Buddhist monks during 2007 demonstrations, said his lawyer, Khin Htay Kywe.
On Thursday, well-known hip-hop singer Zeyar Thaw, a member of the band "Acid," was jailed for six years, and 14 members of Suu Kyi's party got 2 1/2 years each for calling for her release on her birthday in June, party spokesman Nyan Win said. Zeyar Thaw is thought to be a leader of Generation Wave, an illegal student group formed in the wake of last year's pro-democracy protests.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press
Zarganar, who uses only one name, is seen joining a street protest in Yangon, Myanmar in Sep 23, 2007 AP file photo.
Zarganar, whose name means "tweezers" and whose comedy routines are banned for their jokes about the junta, and several other activists delivered donations of relief supplies to the Cyclone Nargis-shattered Irrawaddy delta. The May cyclone killed more than 84,000 people.
Zarganar has been imprisoned several times before, including a three-week stint for providing aid to Buddhist monks during 2007 demonstrations, said his lawyer, Khin Htay Kywe.
On Thursday, well-known hip-hop singer Zeyar Thaw, a member of the band "Acid," was jailed for six years, and 14 members of Suu Kyi's party got 2 1/2 years each for calling for her release on her birthday in June, party spokesman Nyan Win said. Zeyar Thaw is thought to be a leader of Generation Wave, an illegal student group formed in the wake of last year's pro-democracy protests.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press
