Burma comedian Zarganar ‘shocked’ by first trip abroad

By Zin Linn Dec 20, 2011 7:26PM UTC

It seemed a very amazing and remarkable event with Burma’s most famous comedian Zarganar also known as Maung Thura at Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) at 8pm Monday. Popular for his political jokes and satire on military rule, regardless of dictatorship, 50-year-old Zarganar was thrown into jail four times by Burma’s previous military junta.

Former dental student Maung Thura is a poet and script-writer as well as actor and film producer. He was released from his latest prison term on October 12 from Myit-kyi-na prison. The comedian was set free under the Thein Sein Government’s amnesty, which included more than 200 political prisoners.

Zarganar is celebrated for his jokes on junta’s policies and for helping victims of Cyclone Nargis. The quasi-civilian government has recently granted him a passport.

It is his first ever trip outside of the country; the FCCT arranged a reception event with Zarganar as its special guest.

He started his speech using the word ‘shock’ since he saw differences between Thailand and Burma in physical appearance. “When I saw the airplane I got a shock! When I saw the airport I got a shock! When I saw good road and big bridge I got a shock! And seeing big buildings I got a shock!” he told a crammed audience.

He continued that the most shocking sight for him was the different faces of young citizens between two countries – neighboring Thailand and Burma. The faces of youths in Bangkok were pleasant with “freedom” and “self-confidence” while youths in Burma look unpleasant with “insecurity” and “fright” on their faces.

Burma seems to be moving towards change after the new government took office.
Thein Sein met with Aung San Suu Kyi at his presidential office in Naypyidaw. Over 200 political prisoners were released to exploit international optimism. Some media restrictions have been relaxed to show government’s soft stance.

Moreover, the National League for Democracy led by Suu Kyi was allowed to register as a political party to contest in the imminent by-election. Besides, the government has been holding ceasefire talks with some ethnic armed groups.

Responding to a question from the audience whether he will enter politics, the comedian said that he had no plan to take part in the parliament by contesting an upcoming by-election.

“I don’t want to go to Naypyitaw, and I don’t want to participate in the by-election,” Zarganar said.

“Aunty is aunty, Zarganar is Zarganar,” the comedian said, referring to Aung San Suu Kyi. Burma’s Nobel laureate was freed from house arrest on November 13, 2010, days after the first general election in 20 years.

The National League for Democracy (NLD) was deprived of its category as a lawful political party by the previous junta last year after it decided to stay away from the election in 2010, complaining the set of laws was unjust.

Last month, Lower House Speaker Thura Shwe Mann said that he welcomed the NLD’s return to parliament politics. Shwe Mann also said he welcomes her on behalf of the People’s Parliament if she was planning to compete for it.

Burma’s Union Election Commission allowed formation of the National League for Democracy as a political party last week. The NLD’s application for registration as political party has been submitted by 21 members including U Tin Oo and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. It is in harmony with law and rules as the commission is scrutinizing applications for registration and allowing formation of political parties.

Since elections in November 2010 were widely criticized for vote-rigging, the new government’s initial reforms have been watchfully welcomed.

“This is watch-and-see time, so we just open the window to watch the government, what they do, what they are going to do,” the famous comedian said.

As Burma seeks to recover from its secluded position, Zarganar said lifting sanctions imposed by the West would show the way to more development aid from foreign countries “for our people, not for our military”.

However, Suu Kyi has been supporting the Western sanctions as part of her struggle against highhanded military rule in Burma. In other words, she is using the sanctions as a tool to help the emergence of the reconciliation dialogue.

Zarganar sees current situation as an appreciation to some extent.

“Now I am here. That is an improvement,” Zarganar said.

But suspicion of the regime remains, since Thein Sein government is formed mainly of former military generals and there are more than a thousand political prisoners in its notorious prisons where human rights abuses are still happening.

http://asiancorrespondent.com/72452/burma