Top 10 Must-Read Excerpts of 2011

From Kenyan poet Philo Ikonya to National Book Award-winner Terrance Hayes, Sampsonia Way has featured writers from around the world, many of whom have dealt first-hand with censorship and persecution. As part of our mission to “protect and advocate for writers who may be endangered,” Sampsonia Way provides access to writing that reminds us why freedom of expression should be fought for.

Click on the title to read the excerpt.


Film Review: Neither Burma nor Myanmar

They Call it Myanmar: Lifting the Curtain was screened for the first time at the prestigious International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam on November 19 to a packed cinema. It premiered in Vienna earlier this month, and was similarly well-received.

The film was conceived a few years ago when American author and filmmaker Robert H. Lieberman was invited by the US state department to shoot a documentary about Burma and got involved in some art projects with locals in the process. Liberman says the target of his film is the people who know nothing about the country.

The most relevant of these people may be American voters concerned over Obama’s foreign policy shift towards what Hillary Clinton now refers to simply as ‘this country,’ neither Burma nor Myanmar. After all, a very challenging election awaits Obama next year. His popularity rating needs to be maintained if he is serious about getting re-elected.

The US détente with Burma has been in the making over the last decade. Clinton’s December visit was not a knee-jerk reaction to recent reforms in Burma. Rather it is the first in a series of carefully calculated rewards to Naypyidaw for living up to some of Washington’s expectations, most importantly President Thein Sein’s accommodationist policy of the West, the government’s deepening role in ASEAN—and consequently lessened affiliation with China—and its dialogue with dissident leader Aung San Suu Kyi. We now know that some more benchmarks were set during Clinton’s visit.

As Lieberman stresses that Burma has been the most isolated and quaint country in the world in the opening scene of the film, another state-sponsored American documentary about Burma that came out after John Foster Dulles’ visit of the country in 1955 sprang to mind.

The opening lines of the old film are remarkable, “Today there are many new small nations around the world of which we know very little…in 1949 our foreign aid experts were inclined to write Burma off. A small nation, about nine-tenths of it already in the hands of the communists, with only a very small army, it was led politically by what was regarded as a religious fanatic, a little man who spent most of his time meditating.” Little did the US policy makers know which direction newly independent Burma was taking.

Unlike his predecessor, Lieberman does not attempt to explain the suffering of the Burmese people, nor reproach its leaders by name. His take is hands-off and non-judgmental—Burma as he saw it through his lens when he was passing by. From the black gaping holes in the pavement to the red propaganda billboards, it is a raw presentation of impoverished Burmese lives who comprise up to ninety-five percent of the country’s estimated fifty-five million.

Lieberman constructs a series of interviews to highlight the dire situation of economy, education, health care, infrastructure, and culture in one of the poorest nations, ruled by some of its wealthiest people. The film presents an uncompromised look at the paradox of a land still struggling with its new image, trying to grapple with developments and distribution of wealth, and attempting to be integrated into global politics, while ostentatiously hanging on to its old institutions, history, and economic dynamics.

Unlike the untitled documentary of the 1950s, Lieberman did not seek, or was not granted, interviews with movers and shakers of the new Burmese government. For security reasons, nor was he able to identify his interviewees, many of whom are very articulate and passionate about their country.

Ruthless edition of over 120 hours of footage shot over the past two years into just over an hour gives the viewer a film of mesmerizing diegesis. They Call it Myanmar is the type of documentary that asks more questions about its subject than it answers.

Unfortunately, some of the most enduring myths about the country have been strengthened by the film. Take, for instance, the myth of Burma’s prosperity before the 1962 military coup, or under colonial rule. It is true that Burma was ‘a rice basket of Asia’ before independence. Rangoon even shipped rice to a US hit by the Great Depression, but rice exports in colonial Burma did not translate into well-being for the Burmese populace, especially the peasantry. Take another instance, the Burmese kings’ alleged sacrifice of virgins as cornerstones in the construction of their palaces. Historian Dr. Than Htun attempted to break such myths when he asked, “Why don’t you go and dig the corners of palace sites and see if there are bones?”

All in all, They Call it Myanmar is sobering even for a Burmese. Gripped by one of the most graphic portrayals of destitution and dukkha (a combination of misery, suffering, and angst) of the Burmese people, I did not realize I had already marked “excellent” on the commentary form towards the end of the documentary. Despite problems at home and the waning of Washington’s global influence, perhaps American soft power is getting even softer.

Ko Ko Thett is a poet, literary translator and political commentator from Burma. With James Byrne, he is the co-editor of Bones Will Crow, Fifteen Contemporary Burmese Poets. He lives in Vienna.

Alaa Abdel Fattah, Egyptian Blogger and Critic of Military Regime, Speaks Out After Months in Jail

Alaa Abdel Fattah, a prominent Egyptian revolutionary activist and blogger, has been released from prison after nearly two months behind bars. Fattah was ordered jailed by a military court on October 30 and summoned to face charges that included inciting violence — a charge he firmly denies. He refused to cooperate, rejecting the legitimacy of the military court who wanted to try him as a civilian.

Democracy Now speaks to Fattah about the Egyptian revolution’s ongoing struggle against the military regime and his ordeal in one of Egypt’s worst prisons, which prevented him from attending the birth of his first son. Fattah’s trial comes just as Egypt’s ousted leader, Hosni Mubarak, returns to a Cairo courtroom today to face charges over the deaths of 840 protesters during the uprising against his rule. “What comes next might be even tougher and even more difficult,” Fattah says, “but I don’t think that this revolution is going to end without really completely renegotiating the order of power in Egypt and across the Arab world.”

Most-Read Sampsonia Way Articles of 2011

The following selection compiles 2011′s most-read articles and interviews in Sampsonia Way. Here you’ll read about the work and experiences of writers, editors, bloggers, cartoonists, journalists–and a musician–from Ireland, Kenya, China, Mexico, Burma, Afghanistan, and other countries around the world.

Readers have helped spread their words; now enjoy revisiting some of the year’s most-read on Sampsonia Way. Click on an image to go to its original article.

Freedom of Expression: the Dark and Light Sides of Cyberspace

John Kampfner, the Chief Executive of Index on Censorship, talks to Richard Burge from Wilton Park. Representing one of the UK’s most prominent organisations promoting freedom of expression, Kampfner expresses his view on how the change in circumstances caused by technological developments such as the internet should not change the principles at stake.

They discuss the ‘dark and light’ sides of cyberspace when it comes to freedom of expression.

Find out more about the London Conference on Cyberspace.

Best Of Sampsonia Way Daily Posts 2011

The following selection compiles 2011′s must-read Daily Posts in Sampsonia Way. Here you’ll read the first-hand experiences of musicians, writers, bloggers, filmmakers and journalists that are struggling to speak their minds. Great readings for the holidays.

Click on an image to go to its original article.


No Disconnect Strategy: EU to Give Anti-Censorship Software to Human Rights Activists Worldwide

The European Union is going to help human-rights activist worldwide by providing them with the means and the knowledge to communicate on the Internet without being spied on or traced by their governments. Apparently, European governments have realized that the Internet, social networks and modern digital communications in general can play a huge role in events like the recent “Arab spring”. Also, it is fair to say that being able to express oneself without fear of reprisal is a basic human right that does not exist in many parts of the world. The EU articulates this No Disconnect Strategy with four points – here’s the official text:

1/ Developing and providing technological tools to enhance privacy and security of people living in non-democratic regimes when using information and communication technology (ICT).

2/ Educating and raising awareness of activists about the opportunities and risks of ICT. In particular assisting activists to make best use of tools such as social networks and blogs while raising awareness of surveillance risks when communicating via ICT.

3/ Gathering high quality intelligence about what is happening “on the ground” in order to monitor the level of surveillance and censorship at a given time, in a given place.

4/ Cooperation. Developing a practical way to ensure that all stakeholders can share information on their activity and promote multilateral action and building cross-regional cooperation to protect human rights.

Apparently, the software already exist, and is currently used by computer experts, but the EU would like to educate human rights activists (and anyone else) to use these tools. It will also provide a download space. This is an interesting development and we will keep an eye to see how the EU implements this, what software they will recommend using, and if it works on the ground. [press release]

This article was originally published on Ubergizmo.com.

Václav Havel: A Pioneer of Cities of Asylum


blog.cytalk.com

In 1994 the President of the newly formed Czech Republic, Václav Havel, formed the International Parliament of Writers (IPW) with Salman Rushdie, Jacques Derrida, and Wole Soyinka, among others. Havel, a playwright who had faced persecution under Czechoslovakia’s Soviet-controlled government, was one of the founders of Charter 77, a Czech civic initiative to demand human rights and freedom of expression.

In 1994, inspired by the assassination of writers in Algeria, IPW was formed with the goal of providing a network of refuge cities for writers in danger. This later led to the establishment of the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) and the Cities of Asylum in the United States, which include City of Asylum/Pittsburgh.

Václav Havel served as the second president of IWP and later served as the chair of the International Council of the Human Rights Foundation.

Havel died last week, and we wish to remember this “global champion of democratic virtues.” Below Havel delivers a message to the 2009 Oslo Freedom Forum on the continuing importance of fighting for human rights.

Burundi: Media Ban Enacted, Journalist Still Missing

On November 28, Burundian radio reporter Hassan Ravakuki was arrested by security agents of the National Intelligence Service (SNR). He is being held incommunicado, after what Reporters Without Borders called “an abduction style arrest.” Ravakuki was charged with terrorism and his current whereabouts and condition are unknown. His home was searched and documents belonging to him were confiscated without warrant.

Ravakuki has been held since November 28 in an undisclosed location

Télesphore Bigirimana, a spokesperson for SNR said in an official statement that, “[Ravakuki] has been arrested along with other people, not as a journalist but as an individual, for the purposes of investigation. He is suspected of helping a rebel group. If he is innocent, I am sure he will be released quickly.”

Rabakuki is employed by Bonesha FM and the Swahili service of Radio France Internationale. On November 25 Bonesha FM aired an interview with Pierre Claver Kabirigi, the self-identified commander of the new rebel group Front for the Restoration of Democracy-Abanyagihugu, formed in reaction to corruption and extrajudicial killings allegedly carried out by the ruling party.

According to Committee to Protect Journalists, several days after the Kabirigi interview was broadcast, the state-run National Council for Communication issued an open-ended media ban on all news coverage of the rebel group. It was the second open-ended ban to be issued since September.

“Rabakuki’s arrest is part of a pattern of state-orchestrated intimidation of private media,” said Tom Rhodes, the East African consultant to CPJ. “Authorities have presented no evidence against Hassan Ruvakuki and he should be released immediately.”

A Growing Trend

Ravakuki’s arrest was one incident in a growing trend of media intimidation in Burundi. In 2010, two independent journalists were arrested: Jean Claude Kavumbagu was charged with treason for questioning the country’s ability to respond to an attack by Islamist militants. Thierry Ndayishimiye, the editor in chief of the Burundi weekly Arc-en-ciel, was accused of defamation and jailed in August 2010 for exposing corruption. A third, Eric Manirakiza, the director of Radio Publique Africaine, went into temporary exile in September of 2010 after he and his family received death threats.

“What is happening now shows clearly that the powerful people are hunting down journalists, to scare the Burundi press, which is known for its courage and determination in rooting out corruption,” Ndayishimiye’s lawyer said to Radio Netherlands Worldwide.

Criticism of the government, topics dealing with mass violence in post-conflict Burundi (such as the September 18 Gatumba massacre in which at least 30 were reported dead) and accusations of corruption are officially off-limits under President Pierre Nkurunziza’s leadership.

In an October 6 statement, Amnesty International wrote, “This media blackout severely curtails freedom of expression. It follows repeated judicial summonses and intimidation of prominent journalists and civil society activists over recent months.”

15 Must Read Author Interviews of 2011

The following selection of Sampsonia Way author interviews published in 2011 feature diverse voices from around the world sharing their views on a range of topics, including the creative process, politics and culture, and their own struggle to defend freedom of expression.



Click on an image to read the interview

Current Issue: Text-Only Version
Pittsburgh Literary Calendar