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Campaign to free Burmese poet and stand-up comedian Zarganar

24 september 2010
English PEN have stepped up their campaign in support of poet, opposition activist and one of Burma’s leading comedians, Zarganar. Imprisioned on 4 June 2008, he has been sentenced to a total of fifty-nine years in jail for violating the Electronics Act and for peaceful opposition activities.

His case was highlighted in the UK as early as October 2007, in a Guardian article, which also published his poem, ‘My Blood Oath’. English PEN have been campaigning in support of Free Zarganar to see him nominated for the European Parliament’s 2010 Sakharov Prize and to put pressure on the Burmese regime to free him, and other activists.

You can read some of his poetry, written in temporary ink he made himself out of brick dust and water during his 1988 imprisionment, at the Free Zarganar website.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère