After more than a month in Mandalay's Ohbo prison, Par Par Lay is a
free person again. Burmese authorities released the prominent
comedian on 30 October 2007.

The eldest among the three famous siblings of the Moustache
Brothers vaudeville, known widely for their criticism of the ruling
junta, Par Par Lay was arrested on 25 September, a day before the
junta's ruthless crackdown on thousands of peaceful protesters in
Rangoon that killed at least 13 and detained some 3,000 citizens,
including Buddhist monks who led the marches. Par Par Lay was
blindfolded while being taken from his residence to Shwe San Yar
No. (4) police station in Mandalay.

The 60-year-old said that the authorities had suspected him of
involvement in organizing the protests and of having links with the
protesting monks. Although he told them he had simply been an
onlooker during the marches in his hometown, he was nonetheless
transferred from Shwe San Yar police station to Ohnbo prison, where
he was kept until his release.

The junta has been arresting not only protesters but also citizens
who had come out to watch the marching monks. Knowing that the
revered figures in the Buddhist-predominant country are taking to
the streets to speak out on behalf of the people against a severely
repressive regime, these onlookers are compelled, in turn, to stand
by the monks.

In retaliation, after the crackdown in the streets, troops raided
residences in downtown Rangoon to hunt down both protesters and
supportive onlookers based on photographs taken by informants and
plainclothes police personnel. Those who had sheltered the
protesters in the ensuing crackdown were also arrested in the weeks
after.

The junta also targeted artists who were at the rallies after
foremost comedian and poet Zarganar called on all artists to
support the monks by giving them alms at the country's holiest
temple, Shwedagon Pagoda. For attracting popular support to the
marches, Zarganar himself was arrested on 26 September and later
freed on 18 October.

"They mostly asked me about whether I had any connections with the
monks," a tired but happy-sounding Par Par Lay told Mizzima over
the phone. When finally released, he was told that the suspicions
were proved wrong, he added.

"I was released at 4:00 p.m. (local time) yesterday but because
they made me sign papers, took photographs and fingerprints and
all, I didn't arrive at home until 9.00 p.m. (local time). I had to
sign about 15 times. But none of it was a pledge," he added.

The Burmese junta banned the Moustache Brothers, who are famous for
their comedic acts that do not shy away from poking fun at the
government, from performing publicly about five years ago. However,
the artists are allowed to entertain tourists at their residence.

Par Par Lay's prior detention in 1996 had him serving five years
and a half of a seven-year prison sentence in a labor camp for
entertaining at the residence of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi, who has since been under house arrest for 11 years.