CALL FOR A PUBLIC MEETING for the release of ZARGANAR, Burmese artist and prisoner of conscience.50th birthday behind bars.
The poet and comedian Maung Thura, aka Zarganar, sentenced to 35 years in prison, will spend his 50th birthday behind bars in Myitkyina prison. On this special day, human rights and Burma pro-democracy NGOs, with the support of the Paris City Hall, call for a support meeting for his release.
Thursday January 27, 2011 at 6pm. In front of the City Hall
with the presence of Mr Pierre Schapira, Deputy Mayor of Paris, in charge of International Relations, European Affairs and Francophonie, and other Paris Council Members
and representatives of all signatory NGOs of this call :
- Amnesty International France
- Asian Countries Federation for Human Rights
- Human Rights Watch
- Info Birmanie
- Pen Club France
- Reporters Without Borders
The NGOs call to :
- The effective and unconditional release of comedian Zarganar and all 2189 political prisoners who remains imprisoned in Burma, under vague laws, frequently used to criminalize peaceful political dissent.
- Abolition of prior censorship that muzzles the press, and sanctions given even after the newspaper received the permission to publish.
- Abolition of the Electronic Act, one of the most repressive internet law in the world, accompanied by massive filtering and constant surveillance of Burmese internet users and bloggers.
- Denouncing repression against artists, their freedom of expression and creation
- Denouncing the November 7, 2010 elections and the issued Parliament, organized to legitimize the military dictatorship ; an 'election' process under a political repression backdrop.
- Abolition of the penal code provisions that criminalize peaceful protest and the creation of civic organizations, and lead to excessive periods of detention.
- The establishment of an international commission of inquiry under the auspices of the UN to end impunity in cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Burma.
After Aung San Suu Kyi, the political figure symbolizing the struggle for democracy, the Burmese government should release Zarganar, most famous Burmese actor and comedian, an artist engaged in humanitarian aid to victims of Cyclone Nargis, and a symbol for civic involvement.
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Paris Council expressed the wish to organize a public demonstration at the City Hall on January 27, to support of the Burmese comedian and artist Zarganar.
- Regarding the fact that this figure of Burmese opposition remains in prison, and that Zarganar, born on January 27, 1961, will spend his 50th birthday in jail ; - Regarding the constant support of the City, including a letter (July 2009) sent by the Mayor to the Burmese Ambassador in France to express his concern on Zarganars'swhereabouts and calling the authorities to release him ; - The Green Party wants to support Burmese political prisoner Zarganar, so that public attention remains on his case and all the prisoners, detained in Burma for political reasons,