Zarganar

Maung Thura " Zarganar " (also called " Zargana "; born January 27, 1961 in Yangon, Yangon today in Burma, now called Myanmar ) is a comedian, actor, film and television actor and film director of Burmese language. He has over 20 years a critic of the military regime in Burma / Myanmar. His swipes at the regime brought him repeatedly in jail.

Life and career

" Zarganar " is the child of the couple writers Hla Kyi (pseudonym: Yuwaddy Kyi Oo ) and Aung Thein ( Artist name: Nan Nyunt Swe). His birth name is Maung Thura. He is the youngest of three brothers of this politically engaged intellectual family. Thura joined the elite school Dagon 1 High School in 1977 in Rangoon. Later he visited the Yangon University of Dental Medicine, where he graduated his studies in 1985 as a dentist. During his studies he worked in Chin State as a volunteer at a literacy campaign. About his experiences during this time he wrote a book, which was published by Sape Beikman, the government publishing. 2008 Myanmar was hard hit by the effects of Cyclone Nargis. Zarganar collected donations and distributed relief supplies, criticized in interviews but also how the government dealt with the disaster.

Theater career

Thura got his stage name " Zarganar " when he performed the first comedian roles with other students during his time at university. " Zarganar " translates to " tweezers ". How a pair of tweezers he wants to take the fear from the hearts of the citizens of Burma, Zarganar led in the film, "This Prison Where I Live" from. He put the dance ensemble Mya Kyun Tha together. He also founded the theater group Moe Nat Thuza, with which he appeared in the Burmese television with the traditional Anyeint performances.

Upon completion of his studies, Zarganar dentist turned full to the theater and founded the Mya - Ponnama - Anyeint ensemble. He was known for his ability to ambiguous and mocking disclose the error of the ruling military to an astonished audience. It was known his piece beggar, in which the former dictator Ne Win and his clique were ridiculed. His colleagues and friends were surprised at first that Zarganar had no trouble with the authorities and did not have to serve a prison sentence in prison.

1988, Zarganar was arrested because he had participated in the national uprising and spent the next six years, with interruptions in prison. In 1994, he was discharged, but was not allowed to appear in public. Activities as a producer of video and film recordings, as a director, screenwriter and actor were allowed him, however, monitored by censorship and secret services. His other artistic activities were restricted. Also because of his movie Lun of 1997 he was on the instructions of the authorities three years do not work for the theater being. In 2000, Zarganar was able to make films, of which, however, comedies and theater productions were excluded. In 2006 he gave a television crew of BBC interview, which led to a comprehensive prohibition indefinitely.

Zarganar is married and has two children.

More arrests and releases

1990 Zarganar gave during a rally jokes the best of what made ​​him turn in Insein prison, where he was imprisoned five years in solitary confinement. In connection with the protests of the year 2007 of the Buddhist monks against the military regime Zarganar was arrested and imprisoned for three weeks. He had the protesters handed drinks and food. In June 2008, Zarganar was arrested because he made jokes about the government in connection with their behavior in the disaster after Cyclone Nargis. He was sentenced to two prison sentences totaling 59 years, who were reduced to 35 years in early 2009. First, he came again into the Insein prison, but then he was moved from December 2008 in the Myitkyina prison in northern Myanmar. Myitkyina is the capital of Kachin State.

The British documentary filmmaker Rex Bloom stone has the film This Prison Where I Live rotated together with the German comedian Michael Mittermeier Meier, consisting of former film footage and interviews with Zarganar and the attempted rapprochement between the two "tourists" on Zarganar prison and acquaintances after his arrest shows. the film was listed in October 2010 in German cinemas. During the night of 2nd and 3rd November 2011, the film went on ZDF.

The sister in law Zarganar told the AFP news agency by 12 October 2011, that the artist was one of the thousands of political prisoners who had been released by the rulers of Burma on the previous day.

Filmography

Awards

Zarganar is as vulnerable colleague honorary member of PEN Center Germany. In February 2011, Zarganar was awarded the Solidarity prize of the state of Bremen. In 2012, he received a Prince Claus Award for Culture and Development.