Jailed Myanmar comedian gets medical checkup

YANGON, Myanmar — A popular comedian jailed by Myanmar’s military government for his political activism was briefly taken to hospital for examination after relatives said he was ill and being denied medical care.


The sister-in-law of Zarganar, who is serving a 35-year sentence in Myitkyina prison in northernmost Kachin State, said Wednesday he was taken to Myitkyina General Hospital late Monday and had a medical checkup lasting about two hours that included an ultrasound, X-ray and EKG. Like many people in Myanmar, Zarganar uses only one name.

“The EKG results showed an enlarged heart, and he needs proper medical care,” said sister-in-law Htway Htway, whose elder sister Ma Nyein spoke with doctors at the hospital in Myitkyina. The elder sister was not allowed to visit Zarganar, who was transported by several police guards.

The checkup came after Htway Htway said Monday that Zarganar had fainted in his cell for two hours on April 16 and had been denied a proper medical exam. Based on the test results, she said Wednesday she suspected he had suffered a heart attack.

Zarganar has high blood pressure and hepatitis.

Zarganar, 48, was arrested in June last year after he gave interviews to foreign news outlets criticizing the junta’s slow response to Cyclone Nargis, which left nearly 140,000 people dead or missing. He was convicted of causing public alarm and illegally giving information to foreign media.

Several activists including Zarganar — whose name means “tweezers” and whose comedy routines are banned for their jokes about the junta — delivered donated relief supplies to the storm-shattered Irrawaddy Delta.

Zarganar was initially sentenced to 59 years in prison in November but his term was reduced to 35 years in February.

Myanmar’s military, which has held power since 1962, tolerates little dissent. It frequently arrests artists and entertainers regarded as opposing the regime. It ramped up its crackdown on the opposition after Buddhist monks led pro-democracy protests in September 2007.