Zarganar Blog, Human rights in Burma

Zarganar is the most famous artist of Burma, and a former political prisoner.

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ARTISTS and Freedom of EXPRESSION

© Amnesty International France

Anyeint performance by Zarganar

On 27 March Ambassador Joan Boer presented the 2012 Prince Claus Award to Zarganar during a historic Anyeint performance by Zarganar in the People's Square in Yangon. The exciting theatrical performance lasted 5 and a half hours and was attended by

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Meikhtila riots : journalists threatened

The government announced the imposition of martial law in central Burma’s Meikhtila as rioting continued for the third day and reports surfaced that mobs, which included Buddhist monks, have been threating and destroying reporters’ footage and

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Repressive provisions in the new draft law on printing and publishing

Although eight privately-owned dailies are to be launched on 1 April in a development that is without precedent in the past 40 years, Reporters Without Borders is very concerned about a proposed new law on printing and publishing that was submitted

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Investigation about an anonymous critic

The investigation commission of the Union Parliament held a hearing in an attempt to expose the identity of Dr. Seik Phwar, an anonymous critic of the government who has published several scathing articles about parliament online, such as “Is

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Arbitrary laws remain

A new draft law has been slammed for retaining a series of restrictive provisions, including a ban on printing material that “violates” the country’s military-backed constitution, and imposing prison sentences of up to six months. The new law is set

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First publication in the Mon language

The Than Lwin Times will include news in the Mon language starting from February 12. “This is a trial run of our journal as private daily papers and ethnic language publications will be allowed from April,” said the journal's editor Min Min Nwe. “In

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Burmese media new challenge : to compete in the market

“I have to admit that today’s media landscape has changed; the media industry is booming, plus the government says it will allow private dailies,” said Thiha Saw, an editor. “But,” he added, “now is the time of self-censorship.” The government ended

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"The Burmese Spring”, a RSF report

Although censorship has been lifted, the censorship bureau, called the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division (PSRD), has still not been disbanded and still wields a great deal of repressive power because it can still suspend any weekly that

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Prison art is part of our history

"These paintings were really dangerous and also precious," said the 46-year-old former student protest leader, who produced more than 200 works during his six-and-a-half years in jail under the military. "I really wanted to tell the

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Visitors

VISITORS ARTICLES

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Free of censorhip, two novels raised top-ten list

For almost six weeks in a row, two debut novels in the Myanmar language were featured in the top-ten list of the nation’s biggest and most prestigious bookstore. The pair share many similarities—the authors, Min Ko Naing and Mya Aye, are prominent

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How humour has an existential register

Artists Htein Lin, Sitt Nyein Aye and Zarganar have been using the medium of art to convey their angst against the injustice occurring in their country since August 8, 1988. Titled ‘ICU Jest’ — an anagram of the word ‘justice’ — the exhibition sees a

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No-one had seen a Myanmar films before

Myanmar filmmakers Wiya and Lwin Ko Ko Oohave received “Film Creativity and Artistic Talent” award at Asean-ROK Film Leaders Incubator. The workshop, held in City of Davao, Philippines, aimed to find out talented young filmmakers from the region and

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Preparing the Human Rights Film Festival of Rangoon

International human rights documentary films were introduced amid last weekend’s film festival to the local audience at the Mahasantisukha Buddha Sasan Centre in Yangon. The film festival covers five documentaries from Malaysia, China, Czech

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Burmese journalists discover the world

Burmese journalists are youthful and dynamic. They are learning their Ps and Qs as well as Asean secrets, such as how best to report complex issues, plus cultural sensitivities. They must discover how to decipher bloc jargon as well as diplomatic

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Moustache Brothers still banned from public shows

Famous comedy troupe the Moustache Brothers will not travel abroad to perform until they believe the country is firmly on the way to democracy, members of the trio said last week. Brothers Par Par Lay and Lu Maw said they were unhappy about conflicts

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300 daily-wage workers on strike for 12 days

Around 300 daily-wage workers from Taw Win carpentry factory have been on strike for 12 days. Ten started a hunger strike on Thursday which continued for five days and left one person hospitalized. The other five victims were apparently attacked by

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1,200 workers protested this month

Workers from 12 factories in industrial zones in Yangon staged protests on October 23. Due to these demonstrations, some companies are likely to stop operations or shut down and pay compensation after failing to reach an agreement with the workers,

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Artist Win Pe back to Myanmar : I asked for his help (Zarganar)

The literary and acting communities in Myanmar rejoiced at the homecoming on September 8 of well-known cartoonist, artist, writer and film director U Win Pe. U Win Pe, now 78 years old, left Myanmar in 1994 when he was invited to attend the

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International Day of Peace

About 200 activists, including a large number of ethnic Kachins and members of civil society groups, gathered in Rangoon at 4am this morning to head out for Naypyidaw when police arrived to stop the group. According to the officials, the activists

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