Error when trying to use the parameter value "Emeritus"

[Kamaraj Jawahar]

I am using mysql with BIRT with JDBC connection.

Database encoding is utf-8

When I try to call a stored procedure with parameter value "Emeritus"
it fails.

com.mysql.jdbc.exceptions.jdbc4.MySQLSyntaxErrorException: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'BIPy+' at line 4 (Element ID:24180)

Here is the stored procedure that is being called:

call sp_vol_performance_report_test_upd(?,0,?,0,?,?,?)

Question marks are parameters and passed at run time..
Whenever I pass Emeritus or Provisional it fails with the above error.

The value Active works fine..

Some times I get the following error

Caused by: java.sql.SQLException: Invalid utf8 character string: '¯EPy'

Any one seen this problem. If yes, please let me know the solution.

Thank you
Raj