Free Zarganar

Dear Minister Thein Sein,

We are writing to plead for the release of Mr. Maung Thura, also known as Zarganar.

Mr. Thura is currently held in the Myitkyina Prison and has been sentenced to 35 years in prison by the Yangon Divisional Court on 16 February 2009 for violating the Electronics Act. He was charged after giving interviews to the media related to his relief effort for victims of Cyclone Nargis in 2008.

We would like to emphasize that the freedoms of opinion and expression are both anchored in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Furthermore, Mr. Thura's only intentions were to help the people in the aftermath of the disaster. He organized 400 volunteers to deliver aid to 42 villages in need, demonstrating honorable commitment to help others in need.

We are also concerned about the weight of the sentence as well as reports that he is currently ill and is not receiving the medical attention he needs. If Mr. Thura's immediate release is not possible, we would like to request that he at least receive adequate medical treatment, as well as permission for his family to visit him for the duration of his sentence.

Thank you for your consideration.