Images: Celebs, Politicians at Film for Burmese Comedian

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Lisa Chappel with her mouth covered. Photos by Vanessa Rushton.

Images: Lisa Chappell, Raybon Kan, Ginette Mcdonald, Gaylene Preston, Green Party Leader Russel Norman, MP Gareth Hughes and National candidate Paul Foster Bell Attends Charity Screening of This Prison Where I live

Celebrities, politicians, kiwis and former Burmese political prisoners unite for the screening of ‘This Prison Where I Live’ by Academy Award Winning Comedian Rex Bloomstein about the imprisonment of Burmese comedian Zarganar. Over 500 postcards were signed asking for his release and basic human rights.

“It is my fundamental belief that the basic human aspiration for freedom can never be subdued by brute force, no matter how powerful it may be. Values such as human rights, democracy and the rule of law are not just important, they are the foundation of a stable and peaceful society. I hope and pray that Burma's leaders come to understand that a nation's greatness only comes to fruit when it treats its own citizens with dignity and respect.”
- Dalai Lama on the screening ‘This Prison Where I Live’, June 10th, 2011

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Naing Ko Ko (former Burmese political prisoner) and National candidate Paul Foster Bell

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Raybon Kan, Lisa Chappel and Ginette Mcdonald

"Kiwis are very compassionate, if they know something wrong is happening they will do what they can about it. I was astonished when I heard about this especially about the Burma government locking Zarganar away for using comedy to speak out about the Burmese government trying to stop aid getting to its people after Cyclone Nargis. Can you imagine what would happen in New Zealand if our government tried anything like that after the Christchurch earthquake, it is outrageous! I am flying down to the Wellington screening on Monday and I hope everyone else will support it too."
- Lisa Chappell, singer/actress (McLeod's Daughters)

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Green Party Leader, Russell Norman and Ginette Mcdonald

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Lisa Chappell covering Fleur Saville's mouth

“This Prison Where I Live”, by British Academy Award-winning director Rex Bloomstein, is about Myanmar’s greatest living film star and comedian, 'Zarganar', who was sentenced to 59 years in prison, without basic human rights (food, water, medication) for using comedy to speak out against Myanmar’s oppressive and violent government. It has both comedy and serious elements to it.

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Ginette Mcdonald and Fleur Saville

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MP Gareth Hughes and Green Party Leader, Russell Norman

Amnesty International is also inviting New Zealanders to take action calling for Zarganar’s release, through a web petition, available at http://www.amnesty.org.nz/get-involved/take-action-online/free-zarganar-070611. Local groups around the country are organising further screenings of the film through out the year and it is also possible for communities to organise their own screening. Please go to www.amnestyinternational.org.nz for more details

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Gaylene Preston signing a postcard for Zarganar

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Fleur Saville and Gaylene Preston signing a postcard for Zarganar

International celebrities who support the fight for human rights in Myanmar/Burma include: Avril Lavigne,Eddie Izzard, Jennifer Aniston and Woody Harrelson, Damien Rice and Emma Thompson. Public and celebrity support recently enabled the high profile release of Myanmar’s political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi and we hope to achieve the same for Zarganar.

For more information about “This Prison Where I Live”, please visit: http://thisprisonwhereilive.co.uk

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ENDS

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