PEN Canada for Freedom of Expression

RAN Appeal #4: May 6, 2009

 

 

MYANMAR: Serious concerns for Zargana's health

Zargana

BACKGROUND: The Writers in Prison Committee of PEN Canada is disturbed by reports that the Burmese poet, comedian and activist Maung Thura, popularly known as Zargana, is in poor health and has not been given full access to medical care and family visits. Zargana is serving 35 years in prison for his peaceful opposition activities and criticism of the government. PEN Canada seeks assurances of Zargana's well-being, and urges that he is given full access to the specialist medical care he requires and is allowed family visits. PEN Canada also continues to call for Zargana's immediate and unconditional release in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, protecting the right to free expression.

According to PEN Canada's information, Zargana, aged 48, recently collapsed at the Myitkyina prison, Kachin state, northern Myanmar, where he is being held. He is said to be suffering from heart problems, jaundice and a stomach ulcer. Zargana was taken to Myitkyina Hospital where he underwent some tests, although the specialist medical care he requires is reportedly not available at this hospital. Furthermore, Zargana has been denied full access to family visits, and there are serious concerns for his well-being.

Zargana was arrested on the evening of 4 June 2008 after leading a private relief effort to deliver aid to victims of Cyclone Nargis which struck on 2 May 2008. He is believed to be sentenced for his outspoken criticism of the government's slow response to the cyclone, and his opposition activities. Many other opposition activists have been condemned by the Burmese government to harsh sentences in recent months, including journalist Zaw Thet Hwe, poet Saw Wei and musician Win Maw.

Useful information:

Irrawaddy on Zargana's health
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=15530

WiPC previous alert on Zargana:
http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/index.cfm?objectid=8A5A5026-3048-676E-26DC3E594E5CA2F9

For the statement by the Board of International PEN on the sentencing of Zargana, issued in November 2008, see:
http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/go/news/board-protests

For the BBC's country profile on Myanmar (Burma), go to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1300003.stm

Appeal letter:

Senior General Than Shwe
Chairman, State Peace and Development Council c/o Ministry of Defence,
Naypyitaw
Union of Myanmar

May 6, 2009

Dear General,

I write you to express my concerns for the health of the poet, comedian and activist Maung Thura, better known as Zargana. As you may know, he suffers from heart problems, jaundice and a stomach ulcer. These require careful medical supervision in the best of circumstances, and they have become especially difficult to treat since his arrest and imprisonment last year.

According to PEN Canada's information, Zargana recently collapsed at the Myitkyina prison in northern Myanmar and has yet to receive the specialist medical care he requires. We are also concerned by reports that he has been denied prison visits from his family. As a member of PEN Canada, the Canadian centre of International PEN, I urge you to do whatever you can to ensure that he receives the medical treatment he deserves and that his family be allowed to visit him forthwith.

PEN Canada is a literary and human rights organization which campaigns for writers who have been persecuted for peaceful free expression. Zargana is one of our Honorary Members. Last October, while he was being held in Insein prison, he received, in absentia, our One Humanity award, reserved for a non-Canadian writer, journalist, or academic whose work has in our opinion "transcended the boundaries of national divides and inspired connections across cultures."

We believe that Zargana's life and work brings honour to Myanmar and its people. We ask you to reconsider, yet again, the lengthy sentence he has received for alleged breaches of national security during private relief efforts in the wake of Cyclone Nargis. In February we were encouraged by reports that the Rangoon Division Court had reduced his sentence from 59 years to 35. We continue to hope that in time the remainder of this sentence will be commuted altogether.

General, on the 57th Anniversary of Independence Day, you spoke of your efforts to ensure that "Myanmar always steers her course towards friendly relations with the world." The members of PEN Canada believe that Myanmar will move much closer to this desirable state when it is ready to release political prisoners like Zargana instead of relying on censorship, intimidation and imprisonment to keep them silent.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

[Your address]

Appeals to:

Ye Gyaw Mra
First Secretary
Embassy of the Union of Myanmar
85 Range Road, Suite 902-903
Sandringham Building
Ottawa, ON K1N 8J6
Fax: (613) 232 6f435
Email: meott@rogers.com

Kyaw Tint Swe
Permanent Representative of the Union of Myanmar to the United Nations
10 East 77th Street
New York NUY 10021
Fax: (212) 737 2421
Email: myanmar@un.int

PENs efforts showed me that we writers around the world are not alone, even in our dark prison cells. I realize, perhaps more than any other writer, the nature and significance of such efforts. - Writer and editor Faraj Sarkoohi of Iran, who was imprisoned from 1996 to 1998.