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| Burma comic jailed for 45 years | Burma comic jailed for 45 years |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| A popular comedian active in Burma's democracy movement has been sentenced to 45 years in jail by a Burmese court. | A popular comedian active in Burma's democracy movement has been sentenced to 45 years in jail by a Burmese court. |
| Zarganar was found to have violated the Electronics Act, which regulates electronic communications. | Zarganar was found to have violated the Electronics Act, which regulates electronic communications. |
| He is the latest in a string of opposition activists to be jailed by the military government. | He is the latest in a string of opposition activists to be jailed by the military government. |
| He was detained earlier this year for criticising the government's slow response to Cyclone Nargis in interviews with foreign news groups. | He was detained earlier this year for criticising the government's slow response to Cyclone Nargis in interviews with foreign news groups. |
| Zarganar led a group of entertainers who organised private aid deliveries to cyclone victims. | Zarganar led a group of entertainers who organised private aid deliveries to cyclone victims. |
| More than 80 activists have been sentenced over the past two weeks in a judicial crackdown across the spectrum of Burma's pro-democracy movement. | |
| Some people have been sentenced to terms as long as 65 years. | |
| Many took part in protests against the ruling junta sparked by fuel and food price rises in August 2007. | |
| Zarganar was arrested in June 2008 after organising aid runs to victims of Cyclone Nargis, which hit in May. | |
| He had criticised the junta for obstructing foreign efforts to supply aid to victims. | |
| This wave of trials has been condemned by the UN and rights groups, as well as the United States and European countries. |