46 year old Maung Thura who is known by his name of “Zarganar,” a popular comic was arrested today by Burma’s junta. Police in Yangon had gone to Zarganar’s home and had taken him away. Zarganar’s family witnessed the police take him away. He has been known for working to help those suffering from Cyclone Nargis.
While not a comedian, Zarganar works as a dentist to pay pills and put food on the table for his family.
Recently, Amnesty International has accused Burma’s junta of forcing the survivors to do labor in exchange for food. Also, the junta has started a campaign to kick the cyclone victims from the aid camps and place them back at their devastated villages.
Amnesty International accuses the junta for taking Zarganar for political reasons.
“There’s simply no doubt this was done for political reasons … but has an extra element because it can be presumed to be linked to the humanitarian assistance effort,” according to Benjamin Zawacki, a researcher for Amnesty International.
Before getting arrested, Zarganar had given interviews to international media outlets. As a comedian, he has been known for his barbs and cracks against Burma’s junta. But, this is not the first time he was arrested.
In the past, Zarganar was arrested two times. Back in 1988, he was arrested for helping out the National League of Democracy, the party led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
Back in 1990, Suu Kyi had won the elections. But, the junta refused to hand power over to Suu Kyi. The junta placed Suu Kyi under arrest. Recently, the junta had moved to extend Suu Kyi’s house arrest sentence.
Last year, there were pro-democracy demonstrations in Burma in which the junta had violently cracked down on. Zarganar was arrested for providing food to the Buddhist monks that started the demonstrations.