Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RANGOON454
2008-06-05 08:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
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C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000454
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: ZARGANAR ARRESTED
REF: RANGOON 434
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000454
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: ZARGANAR ARRESTED
REF: RANGOON 434
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) Summary. Police arrested comedian/activist Zarganar
at his home the evening of June 4. Authorities said they
will only hold him for two days, but did not specify the
reason for his arrest. Zarganar has been engaged in relief
efforts since Cyclone Nargis and had recently given a number
of interviews to international media in which he criticized
the regime's response to the disaster. End Summary.
2. (C) Authorities arrested comedian/activist Zarganar the
evening of June 4. Zarganar's colleague, Zaw Thet Htwe, told
us a team of special branch police and local ward authorities
raided the activist's home at 8:00 p.m. last night.
According to Zaw Thet Htwe, police searched Zarganar's home
for over two hours and seized his computer, approximately
$1,300 in cash, and some documentary CD's of Cyclone Nargis.
Police told Zaganar's sister-in-law that they would only
detain him for two days. Authorities did not specify why
Zarganar had been arrested. Prior to his arrest, Zarganar
told us that he was working with 88 Generation Students
leader Toe Kyaw Hlaing to deliver relief aid to cyclone
affected areas (reftel). Additionally, Zarganar has given a
number of recent interviews to international media in which
he criticized government relief efforts.
3. (C) Comment. Zarganar is a former political prisoner,
and was a key organizer of the September protests. He has
been a visible and vocal critic of the regime for several
years. His relief works since the cyclone, and those of
other private individuals, stand in sharp contrast to the
regime's callous response to the disaster. Though Zarganar's
detention is likely an attempt by the regime to muzzle his
public and vocal criticism of its slow and inept response to
Cyclone Nargis, it also demonstrates the regime's continuing
worries that relief efforts might be used to build political
opposition to the regime. End Comment.
VILLAROSA
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: ZARGANAR ARRESTED
REF: RANGOON 434
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) Summary. Police arrested comedian/activist Zarganar
at his home the evening of June 4. Authorities said they
will only hold him for two days, but did not specify the
reason for his arrest. Zarganar has been engaged in relief
efforts since Cyclone Nargis and had recently given a number
of interviews to international media in which he criticized
the regime's response to the disaster. End Summary.
2. (C) Authorities arrested comedian/activist Zarganar the
evening of June 4. Zarganar's colleague, Zaw Thet Htwe, told
us a team of special branch police and local ward authorities
raided the activist's home at 8:00 p.m. last night.
According to Zaw Thet Htwe, police searched Zarganar's home
for over two hours and seized his computer, approximately
$1,300 in cash, and some documentary CD's of Cyclone Nargis.
Police told Zaganar's sister-in-law that they would only
detain him for two days. Authorities did not specify why
Zarganar had been arrested. Prior to his arrest, Zarganar
told us that he was working with 88 Generation Students
leader Toe Kyaw Hlaing to deliver relief aid to cyclone
affected areas (reftel). Additionally, Zarganar has given a
number of recent interviews to international media in which
he criticized government relief efforts.
3. (C) Comment. Zarganar is a former political prisoner,
and was a key organizer of the September protests. He has
been a visible and vocal critic of the regime for several
years. His relief works since the cyclone, and those of
other private individuals, stand in sharp contrast to the
regime's callous response to the disaster. Though Zarganar's
detention is likely an attempt by the regime to muzzle his
public and vocal criticism of its slow and inept response to
Cyclone Nargis, it also demonstrates the regime's continuing
worries that relief efforts might be used to build political
opposition to the regime. End Comment.
VILLAROSA