Saw Wai
Encyclopedia
Saw Wai is a famous Burmese poet. On 22 January 2008, Saw Wai was arrested by Burmese authorities for publishing a poem that secretly criticized Than Shwe
, the head of Burma's ruling military junta. The poem, titled "February the Fourteenth" was published in the Rangoon-based Achit Journal (Love Journal). If the first letters of each line of the poem were put together, they read "Power Crazy Than Shwe" in Burmese.
In 1988, Saw Wai was fired from his job at the government communication office for taking part in the 8888 Uprising
. Until the time of his recent arrest, he headed White Rainbow, a group of artists and writers working to raise money for AIDS orphans. Saw Wai is well known for his romantic poems and is also a performance artist.
On 28 January 2008, Saw Wai's wife, Nan San San Aye tried to see her husband in Insein Prison
, but was denied access.
On November 11, 2008, National League for Democracy
(NLD) spokesman Nyan Win
said Saw Wai was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment
for publishing a poem mocking junta
head Than Shwe
in the weekly Love Journal ("Senior General Than Shwe is foolish with power").
On May 26, 2010, Saw Wai was released from prison.
Than Shwe
Senior General Than Shwe is a Burmese military leader and politician who was chairman of the State Peace and Development Council from 1992 to 2011. During the period, he held key positions of power including commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces and head of Union Solidarity and...
, the head of Burma's ruling military junta. The poem, titled "February the Fourteenth" was published in the Rangoon-based Achit Journal (Love Journal). If the first letters of each line of the poem were put together, they read "Power Crazy Than Shwe" in Burmese.
In 1988, Saw Wai was fired from his job at the government communication office for taking part in the 8888 Uprising
8888 Uprising
The 8888 Nationwide Popular Pro-Democracy Protests was a series of marches, demonstrations, protests, and riots in the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma...
. Until the time of his recent arrest, he headed White Rainbow, a group of artists and writers working to raise money for AIDS orphans. Saw Wai is well known for his romantic poems and is also a performance artist.
On 28 January 2008, Saw Wai's wife, Nan San San Aye tried to see her husband in Insein Prison
Insein Prison
Insein Prison is located in Yangon Division, near Yangon , the old capital of Myanmar. It is run by the military junta of Myanmar, the State Peace and Development Council, and used largely to repress political dissidents....
, but was denied access.
On November 11, 2008, National League for Democracy
National League for Democracy
The National League for Democracy is a Burmese political party founded on 27 September 1988. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi serves as its General Secretary. The party won a substantial parliamentary majority in the 1990 Burmese general election. However, the ruling military junta...
(NLD) spokesman Nyan Win
Nyan Win
Nyan Win is the Chief Minister of Bago Region. He won a Regional Hluttaw seat in an uncontested election in 2010, representing Zigon Township, and was appointed Chief Minister of the region on 30 March 2011. Prior to his election, he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, having been...
said Saw Wai was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment
Imprisonment
Imprisonment is a legal term.The book Termes de la Ley contains the following definition:This passage was approved by Atkin and Duke LJJ in Meering v Grahame White Aviation Co....
for publishing a poem mocking junta
Military dictatorship
A military dictatorship is a form of government where in the political power resides with the military. It is similar but not identical to a stratocracy, a state ruled directly by the military....
head Than Shwe
Than Shwe
Senior General Than Shwe is a Burmese military leader and politician who was chairman of the State Peace and Development Council from 1992 to 2011. During the period, he held key positions of power including commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces and head of Union Solidarity and...
in the weekly Love Journal ("Senior General Than Shwe is foolish with power").
On May 26, 2010, Saw Wai was released from prison.
External links
- "Power Crazy Senior General Than Shwe" - A chapbook anthology of poems published February 9, 2008, in response to Saw Wai's jailing.