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Burmese Comedian Bust Not Funny: UN

Popular funnyman had criticized junta and led team in relief effort

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 10, 2008 5:00 AM CDT

(Newser) – The UN's human rights official in Burma expressed concern over the arrest of a popular Burmese comedian who’d been helping cyclone survivors, the AP reports. The comedian, known as Zarganar, was nabbed Wednesday by authorities after traveling to the hard-hit Irrawaddy Delta to donate supplies, a relative said. He had led an aid group of 400 and  had criticized the government in foreign interviews.

The government didn't explain the arrest, and Zarganar's family hasn't heard from him since, the relative said. “The detention of Zarganar concerns me a lot,” said the UN rep. “I'm very concerned because I don't know so far about his whereabouts.”

Houses destroyed by last month's cyclone are seen in Labuta, Burma, Monday, June 9, 2008.
Houses destroyed by last month's cyclone are seen in Labuta, Burma, Monday, June 9, 2008.   (AP Photo)
Comedian Zarganar is seen joining the street protest Monday, Sept. 24, 2007 in Rangoon, Burma.
Comedian Zarganar is seen joining the street protest Monday, Sept. 24, 2007 in Rangoon, Burma.   (AP Photo)
In this May 18, 2006 file photo, Burmese comedian Maung Thura, better known by his stage name of Zarganar, talks on his mobile phone at his home in Rangoon.
In this May 18, 2006 file photo, Burmese comedian Maung Thura, better known by his stage name of Zarganar, talks on his mobile phone at his home in Rangoon.   (AP Photo)
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