Burmese comedian charged on seven counts

by Phanida

Friday, 15 August 2008 13:10

Chiang Mai – The famous comedian and actor Zargarnar on Thursday was charged with seven counts during his third appearance at the Rangoon West District Court in the Insein prison precincts. His co-defendants, a sports columnist Zaw Thet Htwe, Thant Zin Aung and Maung Tin Maung Aye a.k.a. Kadone were also produced before the court and were charged on Thursday, said the defense counsel. The defense counsel, Khin Maung Shein, told Mizzima,"Thura a.k.a. Zarganar was charged on seven counts and Zaw Thet Htwe on two counts." The court on Thursday began the hearing of the case under section 505(b) of the Criminal Code and conducted cross examination by the prosecution, Khin Maung Shein said. Zarganar was charged by prosecutor Police Col. Ye Nyunt under section 505(b) of the Criminal Code, section 295 of the Criminal Code, defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion, section 17(2) of the Unlawful Associations Act, sections 32(b)/36 of the Video Act and sections 33(a)/38 of the Electronic Act. "One of the charges for Zarganar was causing disaffection on to the State and the Government by appearing on the websites of Burmese Exiled media such as Mizzima and the Irrawaddy and providing them with pictures," another defense counsel advocate Aung Thein, who was also present at the court, said. Aung Thein said the prosecution also submitted transcripts of radio interviews given by Zarganar to BBC and VOA. Zarganar's Mother, writer Daw Kyi Oo said, "I use to feel the same as mothers when their sons are met with same fate. Now its my son, and I am numb with these feelings. What my son did was for the sake of the country irrespective of how many counts they charge him with." Zaw Thet Htwe was charged under section 505(b) of the Criminal Code, inducing crime against public tranquility, sections 33(a)/38 of the Video Act and section 17(2) of the Unlawful Associations Act. Tin Maung Aye a.k.a Kadone was charged under section 32(a)/38 of the Electronic Act. If found guilty, they face a maximum of five to 15-years prison terms under sections 33(a)/38 of the Electronic Act and a maximum of two years prison term under section 505(b) of the Criminal Code, advocate Aung Thein said. Zarganar had earlier been arrested for five times since 1988. Authorities in May 2006, banned him from performing his artistic shows including acting, theatre shows, and directing films. Advocates Khin Maung Shein, Aung Thein and Daw Khin Htay Kywe were handed over the legal power by Zarganar and Thant Zin Aung to defend them in court, while advocate Zaw Lin will act as the defence counsel for Tin Maung Aye a.k.a. Kadone. The authorities arrested Zarganar and Zaw Thet Htwe in June this year while they were participating in relief operations in the cyclone hit regions. Zaw Thet Htwe was earlier arrested for writing sports articles on corruption among sports authorities and then he was awarded capital punishment on 28 November 2003. But, his death sentence was later commuted to three years imprisonment and was released from prison after serving the prison sentence. Officials of the Special Branch Police and nine local Peace and Development Council (PDC) members June 4 raided Zargarnar's residence seized copies of the wedding reception documentary video of Thandar Shwe, daughter of Senior Gen. The authorities also seized copies of VCDs of Rambo IV, documentary film on the impact of the deadly Cyclone Nargis, a Nargis song album sung by children, two cash register books, 30 FEC, USD 1,000 and a computer parts and peripheral from his home. Zaw Thet Htwe was also arrested during relief operations in Irrawaddy delta region. He was arrested along with a cell phone, a computer, a CD and other documents from his home. On Thursday, several other student activists including 88 Generation Student leader Myo Yan Naung Thein, Zaw Min from Syriam and Baung Baung a.k.a. Min Min were also produced before the court. Kyaw Soe and Khin Moe Wei from North Okkalapa were also produced before the court and charged under section 24 of the Foreign Currency Act, though their counsels argued of the legitimacy of charging them under these sections.   < Prev   Next >