Mizzima News

Chiang Mai - Prominent Burmese Comedian and Poet Maung Thura, commonly known as Zarganar, will receive an international award tonight for his continued battle for freedom of expression in Burma.

PEN Canada, part of an international organization fighting for the right of freedom expression, announced on Monday that Zarganar would be the recipient of the 2008 One Humanity Award.

"Writers are routinely killed, imprisoned, threatened and harassed for expressing their ideas," said Nelofer Pazira, President of PEN Canada, of the organization's mission. "One such writer is our Honorary Member Zargana, whose steadfast courage and integrity over many years we are honouring by granting him the One Humanity Award."

According to PEN Canada, the honoree of the One Humanity Award is someone whose writings "reflect honesty, good judgement and a courageous belief in the peaceful expression of ideas through any medium."

More typically known to Burmese for his comedic endeavors, PEN Canada relates how the 46-year old celebrity first ventured into the world of poetry by means of scratching verses on the floor of his prison cell many years ago.

A prominent activist and member of society, Zarganar was first arrested in October of 1988. More recently, he was arrested in both 2007 and 2008, respectively, first for his support of Burma's monk-led protests and subsequently in response to his criticism of government-led relief operations following Cyclone Nargis.

Since 1988, Burma's military authorities have repeatedly sought to restrict Zarganar's public outreach, banning or confiscating his material on multiple occasions.

In conjunction with the One Humanity Award, Zarganar will also be honored with the International Festival of Authors 'Empty Chair'. In recognition of this title, an empty chair for the imprisoned Burmese poet-comedian will be reserved on stage during all readings, symbolizing the lack of freedom expression which prevents all writers from attending the festival.

Currently Zarganar is awaiting sentencing related to his most recent detention, which occurred while he was busy leading a personally directed relief effort to assist communities in Burma's cyclone-ravaged delta region.

The award will be presented in-absentia to Zarganar, an honorary member of PEN for 15 years, at a ceremony tonight in Toronto.

Of the several poems of Zarganar's posted on the PEN Canada website, is the following: