Agence France-Presse
YANGON - Myanmar's most famous comedian has been charged in a secret court, along with a sports writer and two activists, for delivering aid to survivors of deadly Cyclone Nargis, their lawyer said Friday.
The four were indicted Thursday in the secret tribunal inside the notorious Insein Prison, but were allowed no legal representation during the hearing, lawyer Aung Thein said.
"Only family members were allowed to see them, as the lawyers have no power to make arguments during the hearing," he told AFP.
The comedian, Zaganar, and sports writer Zaw Thet Htwe had been distributing aid to cyclone victims before their arrest, but authorities still have not revealed exactly why they were arrested.
Zaganar was charged with five crimes, including inciting public unrest and communicating with unlawful organizations.
But the most serious charge against him and Zaw Thet Htwe accuses them of violating Myanmar's electronics act, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
A 23-year-old activist, Tin Maung Aye, was charged with helping Zaganar, but the charges against the fourth activist, Thant Zain Aung, remained unclear, the lawyer said.
All four were arrest in June, when authorities seized computer or video equipment from them.
Zaganar and Zaw Thet Htwe had been organizing deliveries of aid to victims of Cyclone Nargis, which left 138,000 people dead or missing in early May.
Myanmar's military regime was criticized following the storm for blocking foreign relief supplies to about 2.4 million affected people.
Zaganar has been imprisoned at least four times for his political activities.
Zaw Thet Htwe was previously arrested in July 2003 after publishing a story questioning 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.