Zarganar
Winner of the 2008 Freedom to Create Imprisoned Artist PrizeZarganar is Burma's best known media celebrity, having achieved fame as a comedian, actor, director and writer. His work is in the tradition of Burmese satire and draws inspiration from the daily struggles of the Burmese people in the grip of nearly five decades of military dictatorship.
Zarganar has been arrested several times for making jokes about the Burmese junta. He was last arrested in June 2008 for making jokes about the government before international media covering Cyclone Nargis.
Media reports say officials were outraged after he mocked an article in a state-run newspaper in which the government said cyclone survivors could exist on what they could scavenge in the countryside, rather than on chocolate bars from Western aid groups.
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Zarganar is currently serving a 35 years sentence in Myitkyina Prison for creating disaffection towards the state and government and for violating the Electronic Act. All external communication is prohibited to him. His sentence was only recently reduced from 59 years.
Equity and ICAF are leading an international campaign to secure his release.
Please visit www.freezarganar.org
Supporters have also set up a youtube campaign to send postcards to the Burmese government requesting Zarganar's release. Click here to watch the video.
