ASIA: Burmese comedian and sports writer given long prison terms<
21 Nov 2008 11:22 PMRANGOON, Nov 21 AFP - Burma's most famous comedian Zarganar has been sentenced to 45 years in prison, while sports writer Zaw Thet Htwe was handed a 15-year jail term, according to Zarganar's sister.
Both were arrested in June after organising deliveries of aid to victims ofCyclone Nargis, which left 138,000 people dead or missing when it pulverised the country the previous month.
"(Zarganar) was sentenced to 45 years imprisonment on three charges ... There are another four charges he has to stand trial for," Ma Nyein, Zarganar's sister told AFP. She was not allowed to attend the sentencing at the country's notorious Insein prison on Friday.
"I am proud of my brother. He did the right thing for the people," she added.
Two men were also jailed by the military-ruled courts for their work in aiding the victims of the devastating cyclone.
One was sentenced to 29 years in prison, while the other was given a 15-year term.
Friday's sentences come after the courts last week imposed prison terms of up to 65 years on democracy activists who joined protests against the regime last year.
Zarganar, in his 40s, was arrested on June 4 at his apartment in Rangoon, where police seized electronic equipment andUS1,000 ($A1,600) from him.
Zaw Thet Htwe, 42, was arrested June 13 in the central Burmese town of Minbu, where he was visiting his ailing mother. His computer and mobile phone were taken after a police search of his home in Rangoon.
Burma's military regime was criticised following the cyclone for blocking foreign aid agency relief supplies to about 2.4 million affected people.
Zarganar has been imprisoned at least four times for his political activities.
Zaw Thet Htwe was previously arrested in July 2003 after publishing a storyquestioning how authorities were spending a football development grant.
He had been sentenced to death after authorities charged him with treason over claims that he had plotted to overthrow the government. The Supreme Court commuted his sentence and he was released after 18 months.
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