Zarganar is on a trip to Thailand and Cambodia to study filmmaking in preparation for his role in organizing the “The Art of Freedom Film Festival” in Rangoon next month.
However, the 50-year old entertainer dissident said that he wished to help his country progress by working outside the formal political process. “I don’t wish to go to Naypyidaw. I don’t wish to go to the Parliament. I don’t wish to become an MP. I wish to work for my country’s youth, many of whom still don’t understand about democracy and human rights,” he said. “We must focus on the majority of our poor people, 70 percent of whom are peasants. Not on the rich people.”
Regarding his foreign country travel experience after years of incarceration, he said he was shocked to see many young people in Bangkok who, in contrast to the youth in Burma, seemed to have no sense of insecurity. “In our country, our young people lost their freedom and their self-confidence. Their faces are full of anxiety. There was quite a difference from what I saw in Bangkok and what I saw in Rangoon, although we are neighboring countries. So we have to change our attitudes and promote our young people.”
His plans on returning to Burma include an Art of Freedom film festival and a short film, “Hello Democracy”, about his “shock” on meeting the outside world. For him, the key is getting young people into education and politics.“I love my country and I love my people. To save my people — that’s my own principle, just like that,” he said.
Dressed in a traditional Burmese sarong, Zarganar also did not fail to perform his role of political satirist to a crowd of nearly 100 people at the FCCT.
Picture © The Irrawaddy
2011.12.20 The Irrawaddy - Zarganar Won’t Run for Parliament
2011.12.20 DVB zarganar-tells-of-shock-upon-bangkok-arrival
2011.12.20 Asian Correspondant - zarganar-shocked-after-seeing-liberty-in-bangkok/
2011.12.21 Taieai Times-Freedom ‘shocks’ Myanmar satirist
2011.12.21 Aia News Net-Ex-Myanmar prisoner makes first trip abroad