Friday 21 October, 9-11pm
Chiang Mai Writers Club & Wine Bar
141/3 Rachadamnoen Road, Ampur Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand 50 200
On Friday 21 October, the Free Burma VJ campaign will hold a poetry night at the Chiang Mai Writers club & Wine Bar to raise awareness of U Zeya, a video journalist (VJ) for the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) currently in prison in Burma.
PROGRAMME:
It will take place in an ‘open mic’ format – we will read works of several jailed Burmese poets, and we invite to others to read poems of their own choice. A video clip demonstrating worldwide concern at U Zeya’s sentencing will also be shown.
Drinks are also provided.
WHY U ZEYA?
U Zeya is a poet and journalist for the Democratic Voice of Burma, who was handed a 13 year prison sentence in April 2010 for his work as an undercover reporter. His son, Sithu Zeya, also a reporter, is serving 18 years in jail.
WHY 21 OCTOBER 2011?
The date marks 555 days since U Zeya’s arrest on 16 April 2010, shortly after he had filmed footage of the aftermath of the Rangoon grenade attacks.
The FREE BURMA VJ campaign and English PEN:
On the same day, the Free Burma VJ campaign and English PEN will also be holding a poetry protest outside the Burmese embassy in London to call for the immediate and unconditional release of the many Burmese writers currently detained in violation of their right to free expression. We will focus on:
U Zeya - Poet and journalist for Democratic Voice of Burma sentenced to 13 years in prison on 4 February 2011, the same day that Burma's parliament nominated Thein Sein as the country's eighth President.
Zaw Thet Htwe - Journalist and poet arrested alongside Zarganar for delivering aid and support to the victims of Cyclone Nargis - now serving a 19 year prison sentence.
Nay Phone Latt - Blogger and poet serving a twelve year prison sentence for critical writings published on his blog.
Min Ko Naing - Poet and political activist sentenced to sixty five years in prison for his role in the Saffron Revolution.
We will also be calling for the release of Aung Than, Zeya Aung, Maung Maung Oo and Sein Hlaing who were sentenced to between seven and 19 years in prison for the publication of an 'anti-government' book of poems entitled Dawn Mann (The Fighting Spirit of the Peacock), and of songwriter Win Maw and editor Nyi Nyi Tun.
Please find more information about this event here:
http://www.englishpen.org/events/penevents/worldwidereadingburmassilencedpoets/
