Support the Release of Zarganar and the Removal of a Work Ban on U Kyaw Thu in Burma

ARTISTS IN BURMA – ZARGANAR & U KYAW THU
Since 1962 Burma has been ruled by a military junta which suppresses all dissent. They stifle the voices and activities of human rights defenders, independent journalists, members of the Buddhist clergy, humanitarian activists and of numerous artists. Many are now imprisoned or banned from working simply for their opposition to the government, for peacefully demonstrating or for engaging in humanitarian activities.

THE FATE OF ZARGANAR
ZARGANAR is Burma’s most famous social satirist and activist. A former dentist (hence his stage name Zarganar, “Tweezers” in Burmese), he became famous in the late 1980s for his stage and TV performances, which poked fun at the corruption of Burma’s military leaders, deteriorating living standards, and the lack of basic freedoms in Burma. In November 2008, a Ragoon court sentenced the prominent comedian, actor and director to 59 years in jail – a sentence later reduced to 35 years – for disbursing relief aid and talking to the international media about the Government’s failure to assist victims of Cyclone Nargis. Zarganar was previously detained for a year following the 1988 pro-democracy demonstrations in Burma, and jailed for four years from 1990 – 1994 for making political speeches. He was again arrested in September 2007 for publicly supporting the monks during the Saffron Revolution, and detained for three weeks. Zarganar is serving his current sentence in Myitkyina, Kachin State, northern Burma, over a 1000 kilometres from any of his family in Rangoon. Both his parents have died since he was jailed. He was not allowed to attend either of their funerals.

THE FATE OF U KYAW THU
Censorship in Burma is draconian, and freedom of speech highly constrained. Burmese actor/director and Myanmar Academy Award winner U KYAW THU, a close artistic and humanitarian colleague of Zarganar, cannot work as an actor and director because his work would be banned. Like him, many artists find themselves unable to have work published or screened if they speak out against the government or even engage in humanitarian activities. Performers and artists are often at the front line in the fight for freedom of expression.

ARTISTS IN BURMA
The conditions of Burmese prisons are devastating: Prisoners suffer torture and beatings. They receive no or poor medical treatments and are deported to remote areas which are difficult to reach for their families. Until recently, the International Red Cross and other humanitarian help organizations were not allowed to visit the prisons. Zarganar describes his time in prison to Human Rights Watch as follows:

“I was held in the dog cells in solitary confinement for eight days and was not allowed to bathe for three days. I had to relieve myself on a tray. When it became full, I tried to urinate under the door but the dogs tried to bite me.”

To change the situation of artists in Burma, international pressure can be extremely effective. It is crucial that the international community uses its influence to support human rights and make calls for the release of wrongfully detained human rights defenders, journalists, and activists. In her video message, Aung San Suu Kyi stresses the influence of the cinema to change the situation of artists in Burma:

“We depend on artists, actors, producers, directors, people who are connected with the cinema to reach out to all the people to whom we are not in the position to reach out by making the world not only a bigger place but at the same time a closer community. You will be able to help all those of us who have been deprived of their basic human rights.”
By following Aung San Suu Kyi’s call on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary Cinema for Peace Gala 2011, you can give hope to the people of Burma for a change of their situation.

Exact wording of the petition:
We, the undersigned artists, filmmakers and members of civil society call for creative freedom in Burma, the immediate removal of work bans for artists like U Kyaw Thu and the immediate release of the comedian Zarganar who is currently imprisoned for his humanitarian work and political views.

The Undersigned,