In the Weekly Freedom of Speech Roundup Sampsonia Way presents some of the week’s top news on freedom of expression, journalists in danger, artists in exile, and banned literature. This week news from Syria, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, and an essay by Ray Bradbury.
Read more...
Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has expressed her sadness at the death of former Czech President Václav Havel. Suu Kyi often cited Havel’s well-known writings, including quotes from “The Power of the Powerless,” in interviews and in her speeches.
Read more...
The release of political prisoners is part of an amnesty granted by the Burmese government. Observers estimate the number of political prisoners will be around 300.
Read more...
Video testimony of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi before US Congress. The pro-democracy advocate had been detained for 15 years by Burma’s ruling military junta. We also publish a transcript of her testimony.
Read more...
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) recently banned writer and poet Liao Yiwu, whose new books focuses on the chinese underclass, from attending international literary events in Sydney and New York.
Read more...
The following speech was given by WiPC Chair Marian Botsford Fraser the opening event of the Passa Porta Literary Festival in Brussels. She talked about current cases in China, Afghanistan, Mexico and Cuba.
Read more...
Larry Siems, Director of the PEN American Center’s Freedom to Write program, talked to Sampsonia Way about the current state of affairs in China, the mainstream media’s coverage, and the ways our readers can support freedom of expression in China.
Read more...
Tienchi Martin-Liao, Independent Chinese PEN Center President, gave a forceful speech at the opening event of the Passa Porta Literary Festival in Brussels. Read the speech in its entirety in this Sampsonia Way exclusive.
Read more...
Index on Censorship has published the shortlist for the Freedom of Expression Awards 2011. The awards honor those who, often at great personal risk, give voice to issues and stories from around the globe that may otherwise have passed unnoticed.
Read more...
The 2010 Burmese election, orchestrated by the military junta, has raised international awareness for Burma’s fight for democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
Read more...