The news from 'International PEN' and it's Centers around the globe

English PEN warns Leveson against state regulation

2012-01-24T18:59:00.000-08:00

English PEN warns Leveson against state regulation

Heawood: 'We would rather live in a noisy, open society than a quiet and over regulated one.'

Giving evidence to the Leveson Inquiry, English PEN Director Jonathan Heawood today argued strongly against moves towards statutory press regulation, describing proposed co-regulation as a veiled form of statutory regulation, that is subject to political influence.

He urged immediate reform of libel law and a review of privacy law, saying: 'It is essential that the underlying law is right, and that it is accessible to all, not just those with the largest chequebooks.'

Heawood cautioned against focusing too much on regulation as the panacea to all problems. He noted that the media industry is changing rapidly and that some publishers may choose to stay outside the regulator. 'We shouldn't try to regulate the stable door after the horse has bolted,' he warned.

Read more...English PEN's written submission to the Leveson Inquiry was submitted in November and is available to view online here.

View a summary of the key points of English PEN's evidence session on Storify.

Jonathan Heawood was giving evidence to the Leveson Inquiry with John Kampfner, Chief Executive of Index on Censorship. A full transcript of their evidence will be published on the Leveson Inquiry website.

English PEN is part of the Libel Reform Campaign, together with Index on Censorship and Sense About Science. The campaign calls for major reform of England & Wales's outdated libel laws, as well as reforms to procedures and legal costs. Visit www.libelreform.org to sign up to the campaign.

mailing address is:

English PEN

Free Word Centre

60 Farringdon Road

London, Eng EC1R 3GA

Muslim organizations file cases against authors who read from Rushdie's book

2012-01-24T18:25:00.000-08:00

source : Times of India

Muslim organizations file cases against authors who read from Rushdie's book

Bhanu Pratap Singh, TNN | Jan 24, 2012,

JAIPUR: After the police complaints lodged a day earlier, at least half-a-dozen court cases have been filed against four authors and three organisers of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) where extracts from Salman Rushdie's banned book 'The Satanic Verses' were publicly read on January 20.
In Jaipur, five complaints have been filed by different individuals and organizations, including the All India Milli Council and the BJP minority cell, in a lower court demanding action against four authors Hari Kunzru, Amitava Kumar, Jeet Thayil and Ruchir Joshi and festival organizers Sanjoy Roy, Namita Gokhale, William Dalrymple.
Four of the complaints in Jaipur are scheduled to be heard by different courts on Tuesday, while the Milli Council's case is slated for a hearing on January 30. The case in Ajmer court by an individual allegedly linked to the ruling Congress party would be heard on January 25.
"We did not know that Rushdie would be participating at the literary event through video conferencing, otherwise we would have requested the court to order a stay on this too," the Mili Council secretary Abdul Latif told TOI on Monday.
The Council has sought action under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). "The book is banned in India so, legally, the authors cannot even read from it at a public event," Latif said. "We have sought action under IPC sections 153, 153A, 295, 295A, 298, 505, 504 and 120B," he added.
IPC Section 153 involves prosecution for wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot, Section 153A relates to punishment for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, Section 295A pertains to deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious covers beliefs and Section 298 is invoked for uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person.
"A series of complaints have been filed in separate courts, including five at Jaipur and one at Ajmer against the authors and organizers. One complaint at Jaipur is by the BJP minority cell's Daulat Khan and the one at Ajmer by Muzaffar Bharti, who represents a local group, is a primary member of the Congress," alleged Kavita Srivastava, the civil rights organization PUCL's secretary.
The hardliner Muslim organizations and community leaders have been opposing Rushdie's participation in the literary event this year even though the author attended it as one of the speakers in 2007. The Muslim community protestors maintain that Rushdie's book has hurt its religious sentiments.

Source : Times of India

English PEN statement of solidarity with Jaipur authors

2012-01-23T18:23:00.000-08:00

English PEN statement of solidarity with Jaipur authors

The board of trustees of English PEN today issue a statement of support in solidarity with five writers who have faced harassment for defending free expression in India.

Amitava Kumar, Hari Kunzru, Jeet Thayil, Ruchir Joshi and S. Anand, all attendees at the Jaipur Literary Festival, staged symbolic readings of The Satanic Verses after their fellow writer Salman Rushdie was forced to cancel his planned appearance. Soon after, local police arrived and began making enquiries about ‘illegal conduct’ at the festival.

Salil Tripathi, English PEN Trustee and Chair of its Writers in Prison Committee, said:

These events paint a worrying picture of the state of free expression in India. The Rajasthan police offered no support to Salman Rushdie when he was threatened. And instead of protecting authors who take a stand defending free expression, the police appear to be harassing them instead. The way the security services have handled this incident falls way short of India’s aspirations and claims to be a democracy.

Gillian Slovo, President of English PEN, said:

The Jaipur Literary Festival should be able to showcase a commitment to artistic expression. Unfortunately, the threats against Rushdie, and the subsequent harassment of those who stood up to defend him, demonstrate how difficult it can be to do this in India.

The organisers of the Jaipur Literary Festival issued a statement distancing the organisers from the actions of the five authors, saying that “any action by any delegate or anyone else involved with the Festival that in any manner falls foul of the law will not be tolerated and all necessary, consequential action will be taken”. Responding to the statement, Gillian Slovo said:

The ban on The Satanic Verses is an affront to free expression. It allows the kind of police harassment we have seen this week in Jaipur, and legitimises the threats of violence against authors like Salman Rushdie. It is disappointing that the organisers of the festival did not use their position to condemn this ban and so support a group of writers who did nothing more than read from a work of literary fiction.

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Why I quoted from The Satanic Verses

I wanted to give a voice to Salman Rushdie, a writer silenced by a death threat, not offend anyone's religious sensibilities

Salman Rushdie, who decided not attend the Jaipur Literature Festival in India after he had been told of new death threats. Photograph: Alberto Estevez/EPA

On Friday, over lunch, I heard the news that Salman Rushdie would not be attending the Jaipur Literature Festival. His visit had been in doubt for some time. Initially we had been scheduled to have a conversation on stage that afternoon, but since Maulana Abul Qasim Nomani, the head of the Darul Uloom seminary in Deoband, had called for him to be prevented from entering India, the festival organisers had been fighting a storm of manufactured controversy, not unconnected with the upcoming Uttar Pradesh state elections.
Salman has been visiting India without incident for many years, and spoke at the JLF in 2007. Clearly, the sudden eruption of righteous indignation at his presence was not spontaneous. The manipulation of religious sentiment for political ends has a long history in India, and this was merely a particularly cynical example of a traditional election-time activity.
Initially, the directors of the JLF asked Salman to delay his arrival while they worked with the authorities to provide security, and attempted to defuse a planned protest. Our Friday event was moved to Tuesday morning, and his name was removed from the festival programme. Then came the news, apparently originating in police intelligence reports seen by the festival team, that three assassins had been dispatched from Bombay with orders to murder him. Now there appears to be doubt about the veracity of these reports – Mumbai police deny that they communicated any such intelligence, and the Hindu newspaper has reported that the story of the assassins was concocted by the Rajasthani police. Whatever the truth of this, it was enough to prevent Salman from travelling to India.
Amitava Kumar and I were extremely angry. We felt that it was important to show support for Salman, who is often misrepresented and caricatured as a sort of folk-devil by people who know little or nothing about his work. This situation has arisen in India at a time when free speech is under attack. Recent moves to institute "pre-screening" of internet content, and kneejerk bans of books such as Joseph Lelyveld's masterly biography of Gandhi, show that these are not good times for those who wish to say unpopular things in the world's largest democracy.
We decided that we would use our afternoon session, in which Amitava was due to interview me about my novel Gods Without Men to highlight the situation. We decided (without consulting the festival organisers, or anyone else) that I would make a statement, and then we would quote from The Satanic Verses. We knew this little-read and much-burned book was banned in India, but it was our understanding that this meant it was a crime to publish, sell or possess a copy. We knew it would be considered provocative to quote from it, but did not believe it was illegal. A pirated text exists on the internet, and we downloaded two passages, 179 and 208 words in length respectively.
Our intention was not to offend anyone's religious sensibilities, but to give a voice to a writer who had been silenced by a death threat. Reading from another one of his books would have been meaningless. The Satanic Verses was the cause of the trouble, so The Satanic Verses it would have to be. We did not choose passages that have been construed as blasphemous by Muslim opponents of the book – this would have been pointless, as these passages have overshadowed the rest of the content of the novel, which concerns the relationship between faith and doubt, and contains much that has nothing to do with religion whatsoever. We wanted to demystify the book. It is, after all, just a book. Not a bomb. Not a knife or a gun. Just a book.
To the audience in the Durbar Hall, I read the following statement. It is a little rough, as it was written in haste:

Today, I am sad to say, is a bleak day for Indian literature. We heard earlier from Gurcharan Das, Alex Watson and Oscar Pujol about the place that doubt, dissent and argumentation held in the very origins of Indian thought [this is a reference to an earlier session, which dealt with scepticism in Vedic philosophy]. Today, one of India's greatest novelists, Salman Rushdie – a writer whose work enshrines doubt as a necessary and valuable ethical position – has been prevented from addressing this festival by those whose certainty leads them to believe that they have the right to kill anyone who opposes them. This kind of blind, violent certainty is in opposition to everything the festival stands for – openness, intellectual growth and the free exchange of ideas. There are many rights for which we should fight, but the right to protection from offence is not one of them. Freedom of speech is a foundational freedom, on which all others depend. Freedom of speech means the freedom to say unpopular, even shocking things. Without it, writers can have little impact on the culture. Unless we come out strongly in support of Rushdie's right to be here, and to speak to us, we might as well shut the doors of this hall and go home.

Then I read from the novel. I had already finished when Sanjoy Roy came to the side of the stage and told us that we shouldn't continue. Amitava and I spoke for some time about the influence of Rushdie on my work, and of the themes of doubt and certainty in Gods Without Men. He then quoted the second excerpt, a description of what London might be like if it was "tropicalised", one of many comic passages in The Satanic Verses which have no religious content. I would link here to the passages we read, which I maintain are absolutely inoffensive to even the most delicate religious sensibility, but given my current legal circumstances, this does not seem wise.
At the end of the session, I signed books. Quickly a mob scene developed as I was surrounded by journalists who wanted to know why Amitava and I had made our protest. Backstage, the festival organisers were upset. This was something about which they had no foreknowledge, and over which they had no control. The bad atmosphere was compounded by the news that, completely independently, two other writers – Jeet Thayil and Ruchir Joshi – had also read from The Satanic Verses. I was not present at that reading, and I'll leave it to them to give an account of their actions and intentions.
News of the readings travelled fast. Sanjoy Roy was soon taking calls from clerics and politicians, including one from the chief minister of Rajasthan. The Jaipur police commissioner arrived, interviewed us briefly, and went away, apparently reassured that no law had in fact been broken.
A lawyer appeared who closeted himself with the festival organisers. He drafted a statement, which we were asked to sign, making clear that the festival was not responsible for our actions. It was left to my friend Sara Chamberlain to find someone to provide legal advice to me. This advice was blunt: I should leave India immediately, as otherwise I risked arrest and might well find myself unable to return home to New York until any resulting cases had been resolved.
The festival organisers later informed me that they had been advised that it was unsafe for me to stay in Jaipur, and my continued presence at the festival would only inflame an already volatile situation. I left early on Saturday morning, and left India the same day.
I would like to reiterate that in taking this action I believed (and continue to believe) that I was not breaking the law, and had no interest in causing gratuitous offense. I apologise unreservedly to anyone who feels I have disrespected his or her faith.
I refute absolutely the accusation of Asaduddin Owaisi, the Hyderabad MP who has accused me of "Islam-bashing under the guise of liberalism". I stand on my public record as a defender of the human rights of Muslims, notably my work for Moazzam Begg and other British Muslims detained without trial in Guantánamo Bay.
To Mr Owaisi, and others who feel that the notion of "freedom of speech" is just a tool of secular western interests, a license to insult them, I say that the contrary is true. Freedom of speech is the sole guarantee of their right to be heard in our complex and plural global culture. It is the only way of asserting our common life across borders of race, class and religion. Just as I reach out my hand to Salman Rushdie, I do so to Mr Owaisi, and to Maulana Abul Qasim Nomani, whose seminary is, after all, called the "House of Knowledge", in the hope that, as fellow believers in the vital importance of words, we can resolve our differences – or at least come to understand them correctly – through speech and writing, instead of violence and intimidation.
• Comments on this article will be switched off overnight and turned on again at 9am Monday (23 January, UK time)
Source :The Guardian

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Writers take a stand against Rushdie ban

23 Jan 2012

As the controversy surrounding Salman Rushdie’s withdrawal from the Jaipur Literary Festival rumbles on, Indian writers are organising against censorship
Liverpool had its Fab Four, but now Jaipur in India has its own Fab Five — writers Amitava Kumar, Hari Kunzru, Jeet Thayil, Ruchir Joshi and Anand.
When the Rajasthan police apparently concocted a fictitious assassination plot leading Salman Rushdie to stay away from the Jaipur Literature Festival, the mood in Jaipur was glum. Everyone took the plot to be real, until The Hindu reported the convoluted manipulation by the police.
Many in India wanted to hear Rushdie, who avoided India during the fatwa years and has been able to make only a few visits since 2000. Festival goers were hoping to hear him speak about the filming of Midnight’s Children and his forthcoming memoir. But protests from Muslim groups and the plausible threat made him change his mind.
Which is where the Fab Four came in. On Friday, Poughkeepsie, NY-based Kumar, who teaches at Vassar and who has irritated Hindu nationalists in the past with his magnificent, in-your-face memoir, Husband of a Fanatic started reading passages from The Satanic Verses. Hari Kunzru, a British-Indian novelist based in New York also took a stand at the same panel discussion. Both novelists stopped reading after the alarmed festival organisers pleaded with them.
Kunzru, a former English PEN vice-president, takes freedom of expression seriously. When the European Writers’ Parliament met in Istanbul and Turkish authors protested against the presence of VS Naipaul, forcing Naipaul to cancel his appearance, Kunzru spoke out. Reading from Rushdie’s controversial novel was no different.
The mood in Jaipur had changed. By Friday afternoon, unexpectedly, the poet and novelist Jeet Thayil picked another passage from The Satanic Verses, and read aloud. Finally, Ruchir Joshi, film-maker and novelist, whose magical The Last Jet-Engine Laugh is an uproarious account of a futuristic India, read from The Satanic Verses. Tensions rose.
Soon thereafter, the police arrived, making inquiries about illegal conduct at the festival. Importing The Satanic Verses into India is prohibited but the law is unclear if possessing the novel is a crime, or reading aloud an extract from it is a crime. A lawyer or the People’s Union of Civil Liberties, the only local civil society group to support Rushdie last week, said that as the four authors read extracts from downloads, and not a book, it may not be a crime. Shashi Tharoor, novelist, diplomat, and parliamentarian pointed out he has routinely quoted and cited from The Satanic Verses and never been troubled.
In any case, the police should not throw around terms terms such as “guilt” and “crime”, as they have been doing, when they haven’t filed charges, nor proved their case before a judge.

The government could claim that by reading from the novel the authors incited the public. But incited to do what? Demand overturning the ban, nothing more. In fact, eyewitnesses say that the four authors were listened to in respectful silence, and warmly applauded. In any case, if the government wishes to proceed against the authors and is really mean-spirited, it could do so under S. 295A which gives the state the power to use criminal law against individuals who may have intended to cause trouble. But was there criminal intent, or mens rea? Sure, this is defiance, and it challenges a governmental act but it is Gandhian in its peaceful nature.
Police are seeking recordings of the reading, which, at the time of writing, the festival organisers are refusing to hand over. It is clear that the Rajasthan Police’s actions are meant to intimidate the authors and their supporters.
The role of the festival organisers — while their position is delicate — also requires scrutiny. If an author read from Ma Jian’s Beijing Coma, or Liu Xiaobo’s poems, or displayed Ai Wei Wei’s art at a public event in China, one would expect that the police would swoop down, and the organisers would very likely be forced to hand over the author to the Chinese security.
But this is India; a nation that holds elections, calls itself a democracy, and has a constitution that offers some protection for free speech. The actions of the Indian government in recent days, the intimidation of the five writers and its pusillanimity over Rushdie’s visit fall considerably short of India’s aspirations and claims.
While the organisers haven’t yet handed over the tapes, they told the authors to leave Jaipur immediately, lest they be arrested. It is not known if they offered them any protection. Worse, a lawyerly statement was issued, which in effect blamed the authors for “disturbing the peace”, because they acted outside the confines of the law. The organisers dissociated themselves from the action — which they can make a case for, but did not uphold the four’s right to speak freely, which is harder to justify. They should have said that even though they disagreed with the action, they’d defend the principle of free speech. But India isn’t there yet, it seems.
Future participants, apparently, will have to conform to rules not yet defined, so that they act within the confines of the law. Such rules defeat the rationale of a festival of literature, where ideas are expressed to be argued over and debated; such rules restrict fundamental freedoms.
On Sunday, the writer Anand —who publishes dalit literature under the imprint Navayana — joined the protests, reading an eloquent passage from The Satanic Verses, which underscores the spirit of the protests:

What kind of idea are you? Are you the kind that compromises, does deals, accommodates itself to society, aims to find a niche, to survive: or are you the cussed, bloody-minded, ramrod-backed type of damnfool notion that would rather break than sway with the breeze? The kind that will almost certainly, ninety-nine times out of hundred, be smashed to bits: but, the hundredth time, will change the world.

On Monday, leading Indian writers began to circulate a petition to the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, calling for the ban on The Satanic Verses to be lifted. The battle to undo the damage of the past quarter century has begun.
There are no ifs and buts. As Rushdie wrote in The Satanic Verses:

A Poets work (is) to name the unnamable, to point at frauds, to take sides, start arguments, shape the world and stop it from going to sleep.

It is time for India to wake up.

Source : Index censorship

An annual report 2011: The PEN community in West Bengal, India

2012-01-21T16:16:00.000-08:00

An annual report 2011: The PEN community in West Bengal, India

22nd Jan 2012

The PEN West Bengal together withBudhBikel (Wednesday Afternoon) has been holding as usual weekly sittings withrendering of literary contributions and discussion.

On 26 01 2011 The PEN, West Bengal had arranged a literary programme inthe A/C hall of the Kolkata bookfair organized by the Publishers and Bookselleres Guild. Many poets andliterary personal, besides the members of the PEN participated to make theprogramme success.

The Annual literary Evening of the PEN West Bengal was arranged on 25.042011 in the hall of Bangla Academy. Eminent poets and literary personalattended and participated the programme which was presided by Sri SunilGangopadhyay, Chairman of the PEN West Bengal.

A general body meeting of the PEN West Bengal was arranged on 21 08 2011at the Theosophical Society Hall. It wasattended by the members in large numbers. The following agenda were discussed.

1.Accounts 2. Membership 3. Publication of the annual literary volume 4.Election of the new excutive committee members 5. Annual literary awards 6.Miscellanious

The PEN West Bengal organized a programme on 09. 09. 2011. In the Jibananda Hall of BanglaAcademy where in The Nilima Gupta memorial award for theatre was awarded. ToSmt Usha Ganguly an eminent person of the theatrical world of Kolkata Nilima Gupta memoriallecture was delivered by Dr. Anirban Roy Chowdhury.

The PEN Westbengal Arranged anexcursion to Digha, on 23. 09 . 2011. On the occasion a literary session on 2409. 2011 was also arranged which was chaired by Sri Surojit Dasgupta, executivechairman of PEN. And Fajlul Alam, a well known writer from Bangladesh washonoured in the programme. He was also the chief guest. The excursion ended on25.09.2011

Besides members of the PEN West Bengal assembled in the house of SriNisith Roy chowdhury on 18. 08.11 and 05. 10.11 and arranged a literaryprogramme as usual. We, PEN community inWest Bengal visit any place or join any literary event anywhere in India if anyorganization or individual expresses a sponsorship.

Albert Ashok

Spl. and communication executive

9330858536

Kolkata

January 12 letter from John Ralston Saul, International President

2012-01-21T15:50:00.001-08:00

News: Monthly letter from John Ralston Saul, International President – January 2012

January 18, 2012
Dear friends, Dear PEN members,
A few days from now a large delegation – ten of us – will go to Mexico City. This will be a strong expression of solidarity for Mexican writers and journalists. It will also be unprecedented, with the entire Executive going – Hori Takeaki, Eric Lax and myself – as well as the Chair of the Writers in Prison Committee – Marian Botsford Fraser – and representatives of all four North American Centres, as well as the English and Japanese, all going to stand in public with our Mexican colleagues. Émile Martel, Russell Banks, Adrienne Clarkson, Gillian Slovo, Larry Siems and Adam Somers, as well as Renu Mandhane, head of the International Human Rights Program of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law, will join the Executive.
We will be working with the three Mexican PEN Centres – Mexico, Guadalajara and San Miguel Allende. The culmination of this will be a public event organized by Jennifer Clement, President of PEN Mexico, and her members, involving the delegation and some 50 Mexican writers on Sunday, January 29.
There is also a public letter of solidarity to Mexican writers which I hope you will all sign. It is coming to you separately.
This is not a delegation of experts. It is a delegation of writers using our public voice. And what we do and say will be quickly transmitted to you in the hope that you will respond in your own countries.
This is all part of a sustained Mexican PEN campaign. Recently the Day of the Dead initiative initiated by Jens Lohman of Danish PEN and Tony Cohan of San Miguel PEN, spread our concerns about the threats faced by Mexican journalists throughout our membership. We hope that these new Mexican initiative will take on our campaign a stage further.
A lot of you are already sending material to the new website. This is what we need: Centres all over the world telling the rest of PEN about their work and their risks. Please contribute.
Finally, these last few weeks have been moving and historically important for Czech writers and for the belief in freedom of expression that all of us have. First, our former President, Jiří Gruša, one of the leading dissident writers of the post war period died. Then Václav Havel, about whom a great deal has rightly been written around the world. Then Ivan Jirous, whom Paul Wilson called the “leader of the Cultural Opposition”. Jirous was a poet, essayist and leader of the psychedelic rock band Plastic People of the Universe. The struggle to get him out of prison in part inspired the Chapter 77 movement. And finally, Josef Škvorecký has died, another great writer and leading dissident. Living in exile in Toronto he created 68 Publishers in 1971 and for two decades published banned Czech and Slovak writers. The books then made their way illegally back into Czechoslovakia. Of course, there are many more names, but when four courageous and inspired writers die almost together it should be marked as an important moment for all of us in PEN.
Best wishes,
John Ralston Sau

PEN Statement on Death Threat to Salman Rushdie

2012-01-20T17:26:00.001-08:00

News: PEN Statement on Death Threat to Salman Rushdie

PEN International is appalled to learn that the author Salman Rushdie has once again been the subject of a death threat; we condemn this criminal attempt to silence an international exponent of free speech.
Rushdie was warned of the threat to his life shortly before he was due to attend the Jaipur Literary Festival, Asia’s largest event of its kind. The author had intended to discuss one of his earlier novels, the Booker-prize winning Midnight’s Children. The threat caused Rushdie to withdraw from the festival.
A brief statement was issued by the writer explaining that he had been warned by intelligence sources that members of Mumbai’s criminal underworld had put a price on his head. He said that he was unwilling to risk appearing at the festival, where there would be some risk to his family and other festival attendees.
Rushdie was the victim of an infamous attack on free speech over the publication of his book The Satanic Verses (1988), when the Ayatollah Ruohollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for Rushdie’s death, forcing him to remain in hiding for many years.

Source: PEN

2012-01-19T19:03:00.000-08:00

17 January 2012

Article written by Soutik Biswas Delhi correspondent

Why Salman Rushdie should turn up at Jaipur festival

Muslim groups have protested against Mr Rushdie

The uncertainty over Salman Rushdie's participation in the Jaipur Literature Festival following protests by an Islamic seminary has a sense of déjà vu about it.

To be sure, the 64-year-old author hasn't officially called off his trip at the time of writing. The organisers say that he's not turning up on the first day of the five-day festival, but have removed his name from the list of speakers. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has made it abundantly clear he would prefer Mr Rushdie to stay away.
India swiftly banned Mr Rushdie's Satanic Verses in 1988 because some clerics said it had insulted Islam. (The author said he was "hurt and humiliated" by the decision.) Now Darul Uloom, a leading seminary, has kicked up a storm saying Mr Rushdie should not be allowed into the country.
Darul Uloom is based in Uttar Pradesh which is going to the polls next month. Several political parties have said they support the seminary's demand. None of them want to antagonise Muslims, who make up 18% of the state's voters. Hosting Mr Rushdie, many in the ruling Congress party privately believe, would hurt its prospects.
Predictably there's a Twitter storm over the developments.
Keeping Mr Rushdie out, says one tweet, is a "sign of an immature democracy".
There were angrier tweets aplenty. If Mr Rushdie doesn't turn up, it will be a reflection of "the slimy cowardice of the soft state bit". "This isn't a society... Not a democracy... But the biggest hypocrisy in the world !!!", screamed another. "Nothing remains untouched by politics... not even literature," tweeted an exasperated journalist.
All of this, unfortunately, appears to be true. India, say many, has become an opportunistically soft state, unwilling to make its writ run for narrow political and religious ends. Both Muslim and Hindu groups have been responsible for launching attacks on freedom of expression, with the state usually capitulating without offering any resistance, critics say. They also question whether members of these groups have actually read the works they are so quick to criticise.
India's record of protecting freedom of speech has been patchy. Hardline religious groups - sometimes supported by governments - have burnt books, vandalised paintings, threatened scholars, forced a painter into exile, and pressurised authorities to ban books and essays.
Many believe Mr Rushdie should make a point by turning up at the festival, and the organisers and book lovers should force the government to give him protection. A no-show would be another damning indictment of a country which never tires of advertising itself as the world's largest democracy. This is the time to stand up.

Source: BBC

[English PEN] Protect Salman Rushdie at the Jaipur Literary Festival

2012-01-19T05:15:00.000-08:00

English PEN calls upon Indian government to protect Salman Rushdie

English PEN protests against the failure of the Indian authorities to offer adequate protection to the author Salman Rushdie, who is apparently facing pressure to withdraw from the Jaipur Literature Festival in the wake of extremist threats.

English PEN understands that, rather than defending Rushdie’s right to freedom of expression, officials urged the festival organisers to stop him attending, nominally in order to maintain public order.

Gillian Slovo, author and President of English PEN, said: ‘Salman Rushdie was born in India and has every right to visit the country of his birth. The Indian Government had earlier said it would not stop Rushdie from attending the festival and it should honour its commitment to freedom of expression.’

Salil Tripathi, author and Chair of English PEN’s Writers in Prison Committee, said: ‘We urge the Indian Government to uphold its own laws, and protect artistic freedoms and the rights of people to read, debate, and argue peacefully so that the country lives up to the ideals of Rabindranath Tagore: a heaven of freedom where the mind is without fear and the head is held high.’

Salman Rushdie participated in the Jaipur Literature Festival in 2007 and is a regular visitor to India. In 2010 he said at a public lecture in New Delhi: ‘The best way to avoid getting offended is to shut a book. … The worst thing is that artists are soft targets. … We do not have armies protecting us.’

Notes

English PEN is the founding centre of an international writers’ association with centres in 104 countries. It is a registered charity (no. 1125610) that promotes the freedom to write, and the freedom to read, in the UK and internationally.
The Indian government is committed to upholding freedom of expression under the Indian Constitution, and under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which India is a signatory.
Salman Rushdie has won the Man Booker Prize and the Booker of Bookers and the James Joyce Prize. In 2010, English PEN awarded him its highest honour, the Golden PEN award, for a lifetime’s achievement. Rushdie’s 1988 novel, The Satanic Verses, prompted the Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini to issue a fatwa. India was the first country in the world to ban the novel. English PEN condemned the fatwa then, and vigorously supported Rushdie's freedom to write.

Writers in Translation supports the best new literature in translation

2011-11-30T19:28:00.001-08:00

Writersin Translation continues to support the best new literature in translation

29November 2011

Awindow into the personal and professional life of highly acclaimed eyewitness journalistRyszard Kapuścinśki; a compelling and powerful story ofPalestinian identity and exile; a riveting novel that is also a powerfulreflection on the life and death of languages; and a poignant collection ofpoems from each of the 204 Olympic nations.

EnglishPEN has announced the recipients of their Writers in Translation awards for thefirst half of 2012. Announcing the awards, Ros Schwartz, Chair of the Writersin Translation Committee, said:

Once again Writers in Translation isdelighted to support an exciting and eclectic choice of excellent books whichwill contribute to the ‘bibliodiversity’ of the UK book scene.

Thefour titles are:

· TheBiography by Ryszard Kapuścinśki, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones (Verso)

· TheLady from Tel Avivby Rabai al-Madhoun, translated by Elliott Colla (TelegramBooks)

· TheLast of the Vostyaksby Diego Marani,translated by Judith Landry (Dedalus Books)

· TheWorld Record byvarious poets and translators (Bloodaxe Books).

Youcan read more on each of these titles by visiting the Writers in Translation SupportedTitles 2012page on the English PEN website.

EnglishPEN’s Writers in Translation programme supports between 6-8 books a year,helping publishers to market, promote, champion and celebrate literature intranslation.

Establishedin 2004, its first supported title was the late Anna Politkovskaya’s Putin’sRussia (translated by Arch Tait) which went on to sell over 20,000 copies.Since then, more than 40 books have received grants to help bring them to awider British audience.

Thenext call for submissions to the Writers in Translation programme (for bookspublished from July-December 2012) will be in January 2012. For moreinformation about English PEN’s Writers in Translation programme, contactEmma Cleave: emma@englishpen.org

Supported Titles 2012

A window into the personal and professional life of highly acclaimed eyewitness journalist Ryszard Kapuścinśki, a compelling and powerful story of Palestinian identity and exile, a riveting novel that is also a powerful reflection on the life and death of languages, and a poignant collection of poems from each of the 204 Olympic nations.

We are delighted to announce that the following books have received awards for the first half of 2012:

Ryszard Kapuścinśki: The Biography, by Artur Domosławski, translated from the Polish by Antonia Lloyd-Jones

This is the definitive biography of one of the most significant journalists of the twentieth century. From postcolonial Africa to revolutionary Iran, from the military dictatorships of Latin America to Soviet Russia, the Polish journalist and writer Ryszard Kapuścinśki was one of the most dauntless and important eyewitnesses of his time. In his committed reporting of the great revolutions of the age, and his resolute anti-colonialism, Kapuścinśki created a new genre of creative reporting: one that brought him immense renown in the Western world. In this biography, Artur Domosławski shines new light on the personal relationships of this intensely charismatic, highly private man, and the intractable issue at the heart of Kapuścinśki's life and work: the question of where journalism ends and literature begins. Close to Kapuścinśki, and with unparalleled access to his private papers, Domosławski traces his mentor's footsteps and delves into the files and archives that Kapuścinśki himself examined.
To be published by Verso.

The Lady from Tel Aviv, by Rabai al-Madhoun, translated from the Arabic by Elliott Colla
In the economy class of a plane bound for Tel Aviv, the lives of two passengers intersect: Waleed Dahman, a Palestinian novelist returning to Gaza for the first time in thirty-eight years; and Dana Ahova, a famous Israeli actress seeking the comforts of home after the disappearance of her boyfriend. Desperate for consolation, Dana confides in Waleed. Soon, forgotten fears resurface - Dana's paranoid fear for her own life and Waleed's suspicions about Mossad. As the night sky hurtles past, the course of both their lives begins to change, and so too does the novel that Waleed is working on. By the time Waleed arrives in Gaza, he seems no more real - and no less imaginary - than his fictional character. The Lady from Tel Aviv is one of the great achievements of modern Arabic literature. At times a literary thriller, an exploration about lost family history and a meditation on the nature of fiction itself, it is, above all, a reflection on Palestinian identity and exile.
To be published by Telegram Books.

The Last of the Vostyaks, by Diego Marani, translated from the Italian by Judith Landry

As a child, Ivan and his father worked as forced labourers in a mine in Siberia, the father having committed some minor offence against the regime. He is then murdered in front of his young son, after which Ivan - who is a Vostyak, an imaginary ethnic group of whose language he is the last remaining speaker - is struck dumb by having witnessed his father's murder. Some twenty years later the guards desert their posts and Ivan walks away free, together with the other inmates. Guided by some mysterious power, he returns to the region he originally came from… A roller-coaster ride whisking the reader alternatively through zones of darkness, hilarity, cruelty, tenderness, the near-lubricious, and pleasingly light-hearted yet telling considerations on the nature and life and death of languages; and that's without even mentioning the sub-plots.
To be published by Dedalus Books.

The World Record, by various poets and translators

The World Record is an international anthology of work by poets from all the countries taking part in the 2012 London Olympics, featuring a translated poem from each of the 204 Olympic nations, from Armenia to Tuvalu, Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan. With this book you can discover the world through its keenest observers, political activists and most articulate wordsmiths. There's something for every taste: new voices as well as world greats, rappers and spoken-word artists as well as poets and storytellers. The World Record marks the first time so many living poets from so many countries have been gathered together in one anthology - and 2012 is the first time so many poets have been gathered in one place. Up to 204 poets come together in London for Poetry Parnassus, a week-long celebratory gathering as part of the finale of the Cultural Olympiad, the Festival of the World and the London 2012 Festival. Poetry Parnassus is a monumental poetic happening worthy of the spirit and history of the Olympics. Introduced by the festival's curator, Simon Armitage, The World Record shows how poetry crosses all international boundaries to speak to readers everywhere.
To be published by Bloodaxe Books.

'Once again Writers in Translation is delighted to support an exciting and eclectic choice of excellent books which will contribute to the 'bibliodiversity' of the UK book scene.' Ros Schwartz, Chair, Writers in Translation

We're also looking forward to supporting the delayed publication of these two excellent titles:

The Patagonian Hare by Claude Lanzmann, translated from the French by Frank Wynne

Born to a Jewish family in Paris, 1925, Lanzmann's first encounter with radicalism was as part of the Resistance during the Nazi occupation. He and his father were soldiers of the underground until the end of the war, smuggling arms and making raids on the German army. After the liberation of France, he studied philosophy at the Sorbonne. In Paris he met Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir and started an affair with the latter that would last for seven tumultuous years. He became the editor of her political-literary journal - a position which he holds to this day - and joined the ranks of the most important literary and philosophical figures of post-war France. Lanzmann's memoir is a cry of witness to the 20^th century that transcends cultural and geographical boundaries. To be Published by Atlantic Books

Three Strong Women by Marie NDiaye, translated from the French by John Fletcher

This is the story of three French women of African heritage who refuse to be bowed by circumstances or submit to expectations. Forty-year-old Norah leaves Paris, her family and her career as a lawyer to visit her father in Dakar. It is an uncomfortable reunion - she is asked to use her skills as a lawyer to get her brother out of prison - and ultimately the trip endangers her marriage and her relationship with her daughter, and drives her to the very edge of madness. Fanta, on the other hand, leaves Dakar to follow her husband Rudy to rural France. And it is through Rudy's bitter and guilt-ridden perspective that we see Fanta stagnate with boredom in this alien, narrow environment. Khady is forced into exile from Senegal because of poverty, because her husband is dead, because she is lonely and in despair. With other illegal immigrants, she embarks on a journey which takes her nowhere, but from which she will never return. To be published by MacLehose Press

Dawit Isaak death rumours cast dark cloud over Day of the Imprisoned Writer

2011-11-21T02:50:00.001-08:00

16 November 2011

Dawit Isaak death rumours cast dark cloud over Day of the Imprisoned Writer

http://www.freedawit.com

Free expression advocates around the world showed solidarity with jailed and murdered writers on 15 November, International PEN's annual Day of the Imprisoned Writer.

Events included readings, speeches, performances and demonstrations held to raise awareness of prisoners who have been jailed for their writings, statements or activism. Among the most pressing cases featured by PEN Canada was that of Dawit Isaak, the co-founder of "Setit," Eritrea's first independent newspaper, who has been held without charges in Eritrea for 10 years now. Rumours circulating in social and online media allege Isaak died in prison on 27 October, according to IFEX members who launched a joint appeal to call for the authorities to reveal his whereabouts.

Some of the other political prisoners highlighted by the Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) PEN International included Tashi Rabten, a Tibetan poet and essayist jailed for writing articles about the brutal suppression of Tibetan independence protests; Abdul-Jalil Al-Singace, a human rights blogger sentenced to life in Bahrain for his role in pro-democracy protests; and Reeyot Alemu, an Ethiopian columnist who has been cut off from all contacts, including lawyers, but is believed to be detained under repressive antiterrorism laws.

The day also honoured the 33 writers and journalists killed in the past year, almost half of who were murdered in Mexico and Pakistan alone. A Mexican poet and human rights activist, Susana Chavez, was also one of WiPC feature cases. She was murdered on 6 January this year, says WiPC, "in an attack many have claimed was the result of her writing and activism."

In an event organised by English PEN, Actors for Human Rights brought to life the comedic writings of persecuted writers, including Turkish playwright Ali Taygun and Burmese comedian Zarganar.

Turkish PEN meanwhile held a press conference with journalists and publishers who drew attention to the recent arrests of professor Ragip Zarakolu and publisher Busra Ersanli. WiPC also called attention to the cases of Nadim Sener and Ahmet Shik, who were detained for writing books and articles that named police and other high level individuals connected to the Ergenekon case.

PEN Canada invited pedestrians in Toronto to have their pictures taken with large portraits of Isaak and Nasrin Sotoudeh and write to the relevant authorities to demand their release. Sotoudeh is an Iranian human rights lawyer and journalist serving a six-year journalist in the notorious Evin prison for "propaganda against the regime."

Earlier this week, 31 IFEX organisations sent a letter to Eritrea's president Issayas Afewerki, expressing deep concern about rumours of Isaak's death. The organisations, led by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), requested information on Isaak's location (which is currently unclear) and health condition, called on authorities to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit Isaak and demanded that the journalist be immediately released if he is still alive.

RSF additionally called on the European Union and Swedish government to demand information on the whereabouts and health condition of Isaak, who has dual Eritrean and Swedish nationality. "If they cannot get a response or if it is confirmed that Dawit died in detention, all relations between Eritrea and Sweden and the EU will have to be reviewed," RSF said in a statement.

Phone Hacking and the Freedom of the Press

2011-11-08T19:13:00.000-08:00

This fortnight, English PENasks tough questions about the future of press freedom in the UK and rememberswriters who have stood up for free speech around the world.

FREE SPEECH CAFE: WHATPRICE PRESS FREEDOM?

6.30pm, Thursday 10November, Free Word Centre

Read more and book ticketshere: http://bit.ly/ivkCHd

There have been shockingrevelations this week about the use of video surveillance by the News of theWorld against lawyers of the phone hacking victims. As the hacking scandalgrows, and James Murdoch prepares to face MPs once more, we ask: ‘Whatprice press freedom?’ StephenAbell, Director of the Press Complaints Commission, and Brian Cathcart,founder of the Hacked Off campaign, lead an EnglishPEN debate chaired by journalist and activist Rowenna Davis.

English PEN is developing itsresponse to the escalating crisis. We want to know what you think. Is it timeto replace self regulation of the press with state regulation? Or is the freepress too important to sacrifice because of one scandal? Is the PressComplaints Commission at fault for failing to stamp out phone hacking; or isthis a case of one rogue newspaper?

Read more and book ticketshere: http://bit.ly/ivkCHd

NIGHT OF THE IMPRISONEDWRITER

7:30pm (door, 7pm),Tuesday 15 November, The Tabernacle, London W11 2AY

To read more and booktickets, clickhere.

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English PEN and ice&fire Theatre present:
NIGHT OF THE IMPRISONED WRITER
A unique performance evening to mark the 30^th annual Day of the Imprisoned Writer.
HELLO MR MILLER, HELLO MR PINTER

Don’t miss your chance to see this special one-off performance in which the powerful words of persecuted writers from Mexico to Bahrain, from Kenya to Azerbaijan, have been woven together by award-winning playwright Sonja Linden and English PEN’s Cat Lucas.

‘Hello…’ features letters and other writings by eleven writers that PEN has supported in the last 30 years, including Turkish playwright Ali Taygun who was in regular correspondence with the late Harold Pinter and Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, the only Nobel laureate currently in detention. Also featured are Azerbaijani editor Eynulla Fatullayev, Vietnamese essayist Tran Khai Thanh Thuy and Burmese comedian and poet Zarganar, all of whom have been released in the last six months thanks to our combined efforts.

Directed by Christine Bacon and performed by Actors for Human Rights, ‘Hello…’ is both a moving celebration of PEN’s work on behalf of imprisoned and persecuted writers around the world and a concrete testament to the bravery of those writers who, often at great risk to themselves and their families, continue to speak out.

STAND UP FOR WRITERS IN PRISON

And because no-one speaks out quite like a comic, we’re delighted to be bringing you some of today’s finest acts to illustrate what freedom of speech is all about…

NICK DOODY

The fantastic Nick Doody will be bringing his own very special brand of political comedy and satire to ‘Night of the Imprisoned Writer’. The creator and head writer of BBC Radio 4′s ‘Bigipedia’, Nick has also written for ’8 out of 10 cats’ and ‘Armando Ianucci’s Charm Offensive’ and supported the legendary Bill Hicks on his final tour of the UK. We’re delighted to have him on board!

For more on Nick, click here.

"All hail Nick Doody…true comedy gold: polished, rich in material and a find among all the fools" Metro

"Some of the best political material I have heard in a while…comic genius" – The Scotsman

"very impressive … unfailingly good punchlines … intelligent and funny … comes with the chortle seal of approval" – CHORTLE

MARCEL LUCONT

The hilarious Marcel Lucont is a self-proclaimed ‘flâneur, raconteur, bon-viveur’ and easily the greatest UK-based French comedian around. Marcel’s ‘Chat Show’ was voted one of the top 25 Best-Rated Comedy Shows at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, and he won the Spank! Award for Best Headliner in 2010. We look forward to seeing him in action!

For more on Marcel, click here.

"Fresh, accessible and hilarious" – The Guardian

"Wonderful French wit … superb stuff … His elegant, sardonic turns of phrase are an utter joy" – Time Out

"Deadpan delivery and surreal musings… A stand-up star in the making" – Thelondonpaper

Show starts: 7.30pm (Doors: 7pm)

Tickets are £10 – and all proceeds go directly to English PEN’s Writers in Prison Programme to cover the costs of our campaigning activities. (www.englishpen.org/writersinprison)

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English PEN has been markingthe Day of the Imprisoned Writer since 1981. This year we present agroundbreaking, moving – and surprisingly funny – event at theTabernacle in Notting Hill. In collaboration with ice&fire theatre we have devised HelloMr Miller, Hello Mr Pinter, featuring the powerful words of persecutedwriters for whom PEN has campaigned over the decades.

And because no-one speaks quiteas freely as a stand-up comic, we’re proud tobring you some of today’s finest acts to illustrate what freedom ofspeech is all about. The fantastic Nick Doody will be performing his ownvery special brand of political comedy. The creator and head writer of BBCRadio 4′s Bigipedia, Nick has also written for 8 out of 10 catsand Armando Ianucci’s Charm Offensive and supported the legendaryBill Hicks on his final tour of the UK. Nick will be joined by the hilarious MarcelLucont, a self-proclaimed ‘flâneur, raconteur, bon-viveur’ andeasily the greatest UK-based French comedian around. Marcel’s ChatShow was voted one of the top-25 Best-Rated Comedy Shows at this year’sEdinburgh Fringe, and he won the Spank! Award for Best Headliner in 2010.

"All hailNick Doody…true comedy gold: polished, rich in material and a find amongall the fools" Metro

"WonderfulFrench wit … superb stuff … His elegant, sardonic turns of phraseare an utter joy" – Time Out

To read more and booktickets, clickhere.

Week of Action for Dawit Isaak

2011-09-19T07:59:00.001-07:00

PEN CALLS FOR A WEEK OF ACTION (19-23September 2011)

All this week, 19-23 September 2011, PEN members around the world will betaking part in a week of action for to protest the decade-long imprisonment ofEritrean-Swedish journalist and author DawitIsaak who has been detained incommunicado without charge since 23September 2001. Dawit is said to be held in appalling conditions and to be inpoor physical and mental health; there are serious concerns for his wellbeing. Wewill be calling on the Eritrean authorities to provide details of hiswhereabouts and assurances that he is receiving all necessary medical treatmentas a matter of urgency. We will also be calling for his immediate andunconditional release as well as that of the many other Eritreans imprisonedfor their writings since September 2001. For more information on how to getinvolved, please see below.

Dawit Isaak (born 1964), owner of the now defunct weekly newspaper Setit,playwright and writer, was arrested on 23 September 2001 during the crackdownon Eritrea's private press that saw all eight independent newspapers closeddown. He is one of nine print journalists who were arrested at the time and tobe held incommunicado, apparently indefinitely, without ever being charged ortried. The only accusations made against them have been uncorroboratedallegations by the authorities that the journalists were "traitors".

Information about the detained journalists is scant. However, at least four ofthem have reportedly died in custody since 2005 due to harsh conditions andlack of medical attention. There have also been unconfirmed reports of thedeaths of nine out of 11 former government cabinet ministers also arrested inSeptember 2001 for publishing a letter criticising the Eritrean government.

Dawit Isaak and the other surviving journalists are presumed to remain indetention in secret locations, despite a 2007 ruling by the African Union's Commissionon Human and People's Rights that their detention was arbitrary and unlawfuland that the Eritrean government should release and compensate them. There areongoing concerns about severe ill treatment, possible torture, poor health andlack of access to medical care.

The most recent reports indicate that Dawit is being held at the Eiraeiromaximum-security prison camp, 10 miles north of the capital Asmara , along with a number of the otherdetained journalists. They are reportedly not allowed any contact with eachother or the outside world, are routinely shackled and receive almost nomedical care. Some are said to be held in metal containers or underground cellsin temperatures of around 50 degrees Celsius.

Dawit suffers from a diabetic condition that requires medical supervision andhe is said to be in poor psychological health. He has been hospitalised severaltimes since his imprisonment, including in 2002 for treatment for injuriessustained through torture. In November 2005, Dawit, who holds dual EritreanSwedish citizenship, was briefly released for a medical check-up and to callhis family and friends following pressure by groups in Sweden .

In July 2011, Dawit's younger brother, Esayas Isaak, who lives in Sweden , filed a writ of habeas corpus with Eritrea 'sSupreme Court calling for information on the journalist's location and a reviewof his imprisonment. The habeas corpus writ was reportedly not supported by theSwedish government; according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, SwedishForeign Minister Carl Bildt has said the country's goal was to have Dawitreleased on humanitarian grounds rather than stand trial. In 2010, Esayas Isaakwrote an open letter to the Swedish government and European Union expressingconcern that they were not doing enough to pressurize the Eritrean governmentto release Dawit.

Background

- Dawit Isaak is an Honorary Member of Finnish PEN and SwedishPEN.
- He was awarded the 2009 Tucholsky Award by Swedish PEN and the 2011 GoldenPen of Freedom, the annual press freedom prize of the World Association ofNewspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).
- A collection of his writings, entitled Hope- the Tale of Moses and Manna'sLove, was launched at Sweden 'sGothenburg book fair in September 2010.

Useful links

Information on Isaak:

- Update from the Committee to Protest Journalists (3 August 2011)
- Update from Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (24 May 2011)
- Free Dawit campaign (co-founded by Esayas Isaak) (Click here)
- PEN International profile (Click here)

Information on Eritrea:

- Eritrea has now been the lowest ranking of all the countries included inRSF's annual Press Freedom Index for four consecutive years (Clickhere)
- BBC country profile (Clickhere)
- Amnesty International's 2011 report on human rights in Eritrea (Clickhere)

Suggested actions:

We are asking all of our members to do at least one of the following during theweek leading up to the 10th anniversary of Dawit Isaak's imprisonment (19-23September 2011):

1. Send protest letters (NB a sample letterfollows):

- Protesting the 10-year imprisonment of Dawit Isaak, at least four journalistsand 11 former cabinet members detained incommunicado since September 2001;
- Calling on the Eritrean authorities to release details of his health status,medical treatment and whereabouts, as well as that of the otherdetainees;
- Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Isaac and the othersurviving journalists, in line with the 2007 African Commission on Human andPeople's Rights ruling, as well as that of the former ministers detained fortheir writings.

Appeals to:

His Excellency Mr. Tesfamicael Gerahtu Ogbaghiorghis
Embassy of the State of Eritrea
96 White Lion Street ,
London
N1 9PF
Fax: 020 7713 0096
Email: tesfamicaelg@eriembauk.com

President Isaias Afewerki
c/o Embassy of the State of Eritrea
96 White Lion Street,
London
N1 9PF
Fax: 020 7713 0096
Email: tesfamicaelg@eriembauk.com

2. Write to the British Embassy in Eritrea , askingthe Ambassador to raise concerns about Isaak and the other detainees.

Mrs. Sandra Tyler-Haywood
British Embassy
66-68 Mariam Ghimbi Street
Zip Code 174
PO Box 5584
Asmara
Eritrea

3. For Facebook users: Change your profile picture.

For those of you on Facebook, please change your profile picture to one ofDawit Isaak for the duration of the week of action (19-23 September 2011).

4. For Twitter users: Tweet #freedawitisaak

Please tweet regularly, and particularly on Fridays, using the hashtag#freedawitisaak and including links to more information on his case.

***Please keep theEnglish PEN office informed of your activities and any response you receivefrom the authorities by emailing cat@englishpen.org ***

SAMPLE LETTERS

Please do write more personal letters if you have time; the following are justexamples.

His Excellency Mr. Tesfamicael Gerahtu Ogbaghiorghis
Embassy of the State of Eritrea
96 White Lion Street,
London
N1 9PF

[DATE]

Your Excellency,

I am writing to you as a member of English PEN, the founding centre of theworldwide association of writers, to protest the decade-long imprisonment of myfellow writer Dawit Isaak and a number of other writers detained in Eritrea inviolation of their right to free expression. According to PEN's information,there are at least a further four journalists and 11 former cabinet members allof whom have been detained since September 2001.

Eritrean-Swedish journalist and author Dawit Isaak has been detainedincommunicado without charge since 23 September 2001. He is said to be held inappalling conditions and to be in poor physical and mental health; there areserious concerns for his wellbeing.

I call upon the Eritrean authorities to release Dawit Isaak and all thosedetained in Eritrea in violation of their right to free expression immediatelyand unconditionally, in line with the 2007 African Commission on Human and People'sRights ruling that their detention was arbitrary and unlawful and that theyshould be released and receive compensation.

In the meantime, I strongly urge Your Excellency to ensure that details of thehealth status, medical treatment and whereabouts of Dawit Isaak and the otherdetained writers are released as a matter of urgency.

I would be most grateful if you would forward the enclosed letter of appeal toHis Excellency President Isaias Afewerki and would welcome your comments on myappeal.

Yours sincerely,

[NAME, OCCUPATION, ADDRESS]

*

President Isaias Afewerki
c/o Embassy of the State of Eritrea
96 White Lion Street,
London
N1 9PF

[DATE]

Your Excellency,

I am writing to you as a member of English PEN, the founding centre of the worldwideassociation of writers, to protest the decade-long imprisonment of my fellowwriter Dawit Isaak and a number of other writers detained in Eritrea inviolation of their right to free expression. According to PEN's information,there are at least a further four journalists and 11 former cabinet members allof whom have been detained since September 2001.

Eritrean-Swedish journalist and author Dawit Isaak has been detainedincommunicado without charge since 23 September 2001. He is said to be held inappalling conditions and to be in poor physical and mental health; there areserious concerns for his wellbeing.

I call upon the Eritrean authorities to release Dawit Isaak and all thosedetained in Eritrea in violation of their right to free expression immediatelyand unconditionally, in line with the 2007 African Commission on Human andPeople's Rights ruling that their detention was arbitrary and unlawful and thatthey should be released and receive compensation.

In the meantime, I strongly urge Your Excellency to ensure that details of thehealth status, medical treatment and whereabouts of Dawit Isaak and the otherdetained writers are released as a matter of urgency.

I would welcome your comments on my appeal.

Yours sincerely,

[NAME, OCCUPATION, ADDRESS]

*

Her Excellency Mrs. Sandra Tyler-Haywood
British Embassy
66-68 Mariam Ghimbi Street
Zip Code 174
PO Box 5584
Asmara
Eritrea

[DATE]

Your Excellency,

I am writing to you as a member of English PEN, the founding centre of theworldwide association of writers, to protest the decade-long imprisonment of myfellow writer Dawit Isaak, and a number of other writers detained in Eritrea inviolation of their right to free expression. According to PEN's information,there are at least a further four journalists and 11 former cabinet members allof whom have been detained since September 2001.

Eritrean-Swedish journalist and author Dawit Isaak has been detainedincommunicado without charge since 23 September 2001. He is said to be held inappalling conditions and to be in poor physical and mental health; there areserious concerns for his wellbeing.

I have written to the Eritrean authorities urging them to release Dawit Isaakand all those detained in Eritrea in violation of their right to free expressionimmediately and unconditionally, in line with the 2007 African Commission onHuman and People's Rights ruling that their detention was arbitrary andunlawful and that the Eritrean government should release and compensate them. Ihave urged the authorities to ensure that details of the health status, medicaltreatment and whereabouts of Dawit Isaak and the other detained writers arereleased as a matter of urgency.

I would be most grateful if, as the diplomatic representative for the UK , you would consider raising my concerns aboutDawit Isaak and the other detainees with the relevant authorities in the Eritrea .

I would welcome your comments on my appeal.

Yours sincerely,

[NAME, OCCUPATION, ADDRESS]

John Ralston' speech and Photos from PEN International’s 77th annual Congress in Belgrade

2011-09-16T03:32:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy and credit :Antonio G. Della Rocca and Facebook

John Ralston Saul delivers the Opening Speech at the 77th PEN International Congress in Belgrade

A Few Photos from PEN International’s 77th annual Congress in Belgrade

Discussions, 13th sept

Audience, Saul's book promotion

Brainstorming, 13th Sept

Chatting, 13th Sept

John Ralston Saul delivers the Opening Speech at the 77th PEN International Congress in Belgrade

September 13, 2011

Thank you Serbian PEN! Thank you Vida and thank you to all of your members. You have organized a wonderful Congress. People who attend have no idea how much work is involved and how many hours are taken up that could have been used for writing. So, a very personal thank you from all of us who have come from other countries.
......
....

Yesterday, I was asked - quite rightly - what difference does it make that writers from 89 PEN centres are gathered in Belgrade. It is the right question.

The first answer is that this Congress is a public expression of reconciliation. Of course, writers in the Balkans have never stopped talking to each other. But, this Congress is a formal evocation of the imagination of the Balkans.

Today, the leaders of 10 Balkan PEN centres sat together on a stage and created the Balkans PEN International Network. The founding members are Bosnian PEN, Bulgarian, Croatian, Kosovar, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Romanian, Serbian, Slovenian and Turkish. This is an historic event. It is a message to the world.

Second, the gathering of hundreds of writers from around the world matters because it is a force for imagination and transparency. Our charter is clear. We believe in unlimited freedom of expression. But we also believe that no matter how controversial or difficult our words are, the ultimate purpose is to bring people together. The great Serbian Canadian writer, David Albahari, has rightly written that “knowledge can never catch up with the power of ignorance”. This is true. But the imagination can catch up. Imagination can leap over ignorance. Let me give you an example: When a virtually unknown radio journalist is killed in Mexico – the most dangerous place in the world today to be a writer – they leave, in Ivo Andrić’s words, “a memory clearer and more lasting than that of so many other more important victims”.

This year our former President, Mario Vargas Llosa, won the Nobel Prize for literature. And the founding president of our Independent Chinese PEN Centre, Liu Xiaobo, won the Nobel Peace Prize. Two men of courage. Two masters of the imagination. One of whom remains unjustly in prison. And several of our centres were central to what is called the Arab Spring. In some cases they are now a key part of the rebuilding civil society in their country.

The core of what we do is this: imagination and the transparency that imagination creates, and the acceptance of complexity – all of this is above politics and below politics. It’s everything except politics. In a society without this democracy of the mind it becomes possible for lies to install themselves, as if they were language. And as Danilo Kiš put it, “when everyone lies, no one lies”.

We are in the business of open memories, memories that do not oppose people, one against the other. We represent an open idea of how people can live together.

This is the 77^th Congress. The Congress in 1933 in Dubrovnik was organized by this Centre. It was a complex, but historic moment for PEN. We were faced by the rising forces of authoritarianism, even within our own centres. The divisions of European society had become the divisions of PEN. Our President, a great writer, H. G. Wells, but also an anti-Semite with confused public views, found himself caught in an atmosphere of impossible divisions. But, complex thought it was, Wells and the delegates found their way through in order to stand with the imagination and transparency and therefore against authoritarianism.

In 1933 we found an ethical shape - long before governments took a stand. And at every PEN Congress since 1933, those ethical standards stand before us as the measure of what we do. I like to think that in leading with wisdom in Dubrovnik, Wells found his own way to a personal understanding of PEN’s ethics. It was a noble moment for him and for PEN.

There are always those who believe that writers can be dragged away from their independence in the public place. And I believe that the next few years will be difficult. There are many strong and negative forces at work. But the meaning of PEN is simple. Our central ethical force is the independence of our imagination and our creativity. And we know what this means because for 90 years we have defended that independence.

Hvala!

PEN International Assembly approves the Girona Manifesto and calls for protection and promotion of linguistic diversity.

2011-09-16T03:25:00.001-07:00

PRESS RELEASE-----------------------------------

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
15th September 2011

PEN International Assembly approves the Girona Manifesto and calls for protection and promotion of linguistic diversity.

Today at PEN International’s 77th annual Congress the PEN General Assembly approved the Girona Manifesto which calls for the protection and promotion of linguistic diversity. This Manifesto developed by PEN’s Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee is a significant step toward protecting and promoting all world languages, including those in danger of disappearing.

John Ralston Saul, International President of PEN said, “Many languages are in danger. Many are actually disappearing. The loss of one's language, and through that loss much of one's culture, can be seen as the ultimate removal of freedom of expression“.

The Girona Manifesto is a ten point document designed to be translated and disseminated widely as a tool to defend linguistic diversity around the world.

Josep Maria Terricabras, Chair of the Translations and Linguistic Rights Committee of PEN International said, “Language defines us. To lose one’s language is to lose one’s voice, identity and spirit. Languages are the homes we live in“

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14th September 2011
Hundreds of writers, editors, translators and publishers from across the globe celebrate the achievement of 2010 Nobel Prizes by Mario Vargas Llosa and Liu Xiaobo and call for the release of Xiaobo and his wife.
At PEN International's 77th annual Congress in Belgrade today, delegates from over 80 PEN Centres worldwide unanimously passed a motion to congratulate Mario Vargas Llosa, former PEN International President and 2010 Nobel Laureate for Literature, and Liu Xiaobo, founding president of the Independent Chinese PEN Centre and 2010 Nobel Laureate for Peace. John Ralston Saul, PEN International President, said: "we follow the model of writers like Mario Vargas Llosa and Liu Xiaobo. They are illustrations of PEN International's indivisible commitment to both literature and freedom of speech."
PEN members also took the opportunity to use their collective voice and call on the Chinese authorities: "We seize on this historic moment to call for the release from prison of Liu Xiaobo and the release from house arrest of this wife, Liu Xia."
Liu Xiaobo, the prominent Chinese dissident writer who was sentenced to 11 years in prison in December 2009, was the founder and first president of the Independent Chinese PEN Centre. He has since been made honorary member of nine PEN Centres. Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in absentia in 2010. Marian Botsford Fraser, Chair of the Writers in Prison PEN Committee, attended the award ceremony. "Members of the PEN community were honoured to attend the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo last December," said Botsford Fraser. "But not a single member of Liu's family or anyone from mainland China was allowed to attend, and the award was laid upon an empty chair. The PEN community will continue to fight for the unconditional release of our colleague, Liu Xiaobo."

-----------------------------------------------------

Notes to editors:

PEN International celebrates literature and promotes freedom of expression. Founded in 1921, our global community of writers now comprises 144 Centres spanning more than 100 countries. Our programmes, campaigns, events and publications connect writers and readers for global solidarity and cooperation. PEN International is a non-political organization and holds consultative status at the United Nations and UNESCO.

For more information and to request interviews please contact our press office:
penoffice@pen-international | press@pen-international.org | + 44 (0) 20 7405 0338.

Or contact our Executive Director Laura McVeigh: +44 (0)7824640527 www.pen-international.org

GIRONA MANIFESTO ON LINGUISTIC RIGHTS

2011-09-16T03:22:00.000-07:00

The Girona Manifesto - A letter from John Ralston Saul to the membership about The Girona Manifesto

Exactly 15 years ago the same Committee led a coalition of civil society and international organizations in the production of the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights. This large and complex document was approved by PEN's annual Assembly of Delegates and has gone on to play an important role in specialist circles around the world. What has been missing is a short, clear Manifesto laying out the Declaration's essential arguments in a way that can be made use of by everyone.
The Girona Manifesto is precisely that. On one page containing ten points and written in a language which is both literary and practical, this Manifesto creates a tool we can all use.
Of course, our Assembly in Belgrade will be asked to approve it. But I thought it important to lay out the context in which this Manifesto can be read.
We are all concerned about pressures being put on languages with a smaller population base. We are concerned about the lack of translation from these languages and the difficulty they have making themselves heard in the world. Many languages are in danger. Many are actually disappearing. The loss of one's language, and through that loss much of one's culture, can be seen as the ultimate removal of freedom of expression.
The Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee began working on this Manifesto in our three official languages after its 2010 meeting.
At its 2011 meeting, in which both Hori Takeaki and myself took part, everyone present spent much of their time debating this short text in three languages. The result was The Girona Manifesto, which was unanimously adopted.
This Manifesto could give us a clear public document with which to defend and advance languages with smaller populations, as well, as endangered languages.
I encourage all of you to read it, to translate it into your own languages before Belgrade, and to think about how we could best use it to advance the multiplicity of languages and cultures that PEN International represents.
Sincerely,
John Ralston Saul

GIRONA MANIFESTO ON LINGUISTIC RIGHTS

PEN International bringstogether the writers of the world.

Fifteen years ago, theUniversal Declaration of Linguistic Rights was first made public in Barcelona by PENInternational’s Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee.

Today, that same Committee,gathered together in Girona, declares a Manifesto of the UniversalDeclaration’s ten central principles.

1. Linguistic diversity is aworld heritage that must be valued and protected.

2. Respect for all languagesand cultures is fundamental to the process of constructing and maintainingdialogue and peace in the world.

3. All individuals learn tospeak in the heart of a community that gives them life, language, culture andidentity.

4. Different languages anddifferent ways of speaking are not only means of communication; they are alsothe milieu in which humans grow and cultures are built.

5. Every linguistic communityhas the right for its language to be used as an official language in itsterritory.

6. School instruction mustcontribute to the prestige of the language spoken by the linguistic communityof the territory.

7. It is desirable forcitizens to have a general knowledge of various languages, because it favoursempathy and intellectual openness, and contributes to a deeper knowledge ofone’s own tongue.

8. The translation of texts,especially the great works of various cultures, represents a very importantelement in the necessary process of greater understanding and respect amonghuman beings.

9. The media is a privilegedloudspeaker for making linguistic diversity work and for competently andrigorously increasing its prestige.

10. The right to use and protect one’s ownlanguage must be recognized by the United Nations as one of the fundamentalhuman rights.

Committee ofTranslation and Linguistic Rights of PEN International

Girona, 13^th of May 2011

English PEN: Updates on Cameroonian playwright Lydia Besong and Sudanese journalists

2011-09-14T23:39:00.000-07:00

English PEN: Updates on Cameroonian playwright Lydia Besong and Sudanese journalists

Dear Reader,

We wrote to you last week asking you to take urgent actionon behalf of Cameroonian playwright LydiaBesong and her husband BernardBatey who was due to be deported from the UK on Saturday evening.

Thanks to the overwhelming support from members of EnglishPEN and the other campaigning groups we have been working with on their case,we are relieved to report that Bernard received a call from his lawyer onFriday evening stating that the injunction had been successful and the flighthad been cancelled.

However, according to our most recent information, Bernardis still being detained in Colnbrook, whilst Lydia has gone into hiding to avoidthe same fate. We are still awaiting legal clarification as to their situation,but in the meantime will continue to pressure the relevant authorities here inthe UK to ensure that he is not deported.

TAKE ACTION:

For those of you that have already written to Theresa Mayand Nick Clegg, we would be grateful if you could send copies of your appeal to Lydia and Bernard's MP, David Nuttall MP via nuttallburynorth@aol.comand david.nuttall.mp@parliament.uk.

Many thanks for your support. It is much needed,much-appreciated and really does make a difference.

***************************************************************************************

We are also pleased to let you all know that Sudanesejournalists Abu Zar Al-Amin and Jaafar Alsabki Ibrahim, on behalf of whommany of you sent urgent appeals back in July, were released from prison on 22and 28 August 2011 respectively. Both men had been detained on anti-statecharges since 2010. Ibrahim has reportedly been pardoned, whilst Al-Amin wasreleased on bail.

However, according to our information, in the case of Al-Aminfurther anti-state charges were introduced shortly before he completed hisprison sentenced, for which he could still face the death penalty. As such, we arecalling on the authorities to drop all remaining charges against him and urgeyou to do the same. Guidelines, addresses, and a sample letter follow.

Abu Zar Al-Amin, deputy editor of the opposition dailynewspaper Rai Al-Shaab, wasreleased on bail on 22 August 2011 after spending over 15 months in prison.Arrested in May 2010, he was sentenced to five years' imprisonment on 15 July2010 for allegedly 'undermining the constitutional system' and 'publishingfalse information'. The case reportedly stemmed from an article alleging that Iran had built a weapons factory in Sudan to supply insurgents in Africa and the Middle East . The sentence was reduced to a one yearsentence on appeal, with the journalist due to be released on 3 July 2011. However,Al-Amin's release was delayed indefinitely after he was subsequently accused ofattacking a security official. Al-Amin says that he was subjected to torture bythe officer in question during his pre-trial detention in May 2010; however theauthorities have failed to investigate these claims.

Jaafar Alsabki Ibrahim, Darfuri journalist with the opposition newspaper Al-Sahafa, was released on 28 August 2011after almost 10 months in detention. Arrested on 3 November 2010, he was heldincommunicado until June 2011 when he was finally charged with 'undermining theconstitutional system'. His release followed an announcement by President OmarAl-Bashir on 27 August 2011 that he intended to free all journalists imprisonedin Sudan after local journalists requested pardons for their colleagues to coincide withthe Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The charges against Ibrahim are presumed tohave been dropped.

For more information, please see http://www.englishpen.org/writersinprison/wipcnews/sudantwojournalistsreleasedonestillfacesdeathpenalty/

TAKE ACTION

Please send appeals (NB. A sample letter follows):

- Welcoming the release of Rai Al-Shaab deputy editor Abu Zar Al-Amin andAl-Sahafa journalist Jaafar Alsabki Ibrahim on 22 and 28 August 2011 respectively;
- Expressing concern that Al-Amin, who was released on bail, still faces thedeath penalty if convicted on new charges introduced shortly before hecompleted his prison sentence;
- Calling on the Sudanese authorities to drop all remaining charges againstAl-Amin;
- Calling on President Omar Al-Bashir to fulfil his recent promise to releaseall journalists detained in Sudan.

Appeals to:

HE President Omar Al Bashir
Office of the President
People's Palace
PO Box 281
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: 249 183 782 541/ 249 183 774339
Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Justice
Mr Mohammed Bushara Dousa
Ministry of Justice, PO Box 302
Al Nil Avenue
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: 249 183 764 168
Salutation: Your Excellency

And copies to:

Mohamed Atta Al-Moula Abbas
Director of the NISS
NISS Headquarters
Khartoum
Salutation: Dear Director Abbas

Please also send copies of your appeal letters to the diplomatic representativefor Sudan in your country if possible.

His Excellency Mr Abdullahi Hamad Ali Alazreg
Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan
3 Cleveland Row
London
SW1A 1DD
Fax: 020 7839 7560
Email: mtsudanembassy@yahoo.co.uk

NB. Please do let us know if you send appeals, and certainly if you receive aresponse by emailing cat@englishpen.org

SAMPLE LETTER

Please do write a more personal letter if you have time - the following is justan example:

His Excellency Mr Abdullahi Hamad Ali Alazreg
Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan
3 Cleveland Row
London
SW1A 1DD
Fax: 020 7839 7560
Email: mtsudanembassy@yahoo.co.uk
[DATE]

Your Excellency,

I am writing to you as a member of English PEN, the founding centre of theinternational association of writers, to welcome the release of Rai Al-Shaab deputy editor Abu Zar Al-Amin and Al-Sahafa journalist Jaafar Alsabki Ibrahim. However, I remaindeeply concerned for Abu Zar Al-Amin who could still face the death penalty ifconvicted of further anti-state charges.

According to PEN's information, Abu Zar Al-Aminwas released on bail on 22August 2011 after spending over 15 months in prison. Arrested in May 2010,Al-Amin was sentenced to five years' imprisonment on 15 July 2010 for allegedly'undermining the constitutional system' and 'publishing false information', butthe sentence was reduced to a one year sentence on appeal. I understand thatAbu Zar Al-Amin is now facing further anti-state charges relating to articleswritten for Rai al-Shaab prior tohis imprisonment and that he would face the death penalty if convicted. I amtherefore writing to respectfully urge the Sudanese authorities to drop allremaining charges against him.

Journalist for the opposition newspaper Al-SahafaJaafar Alsabki Ibrahim was alsoreleased in August 2011, after almost 10 months in detention. Arrested on 3November 2010, he was held incommunicado until June 2011 when he was finallycharged with 'undermining the constitutional system'. The charges againstIbrahim are presumed to have been dropped.

Jaafar Alsabki Ibrahim's release followed an announcement by His ExcellencyPresident Omar Al-Bashir on 27 August 2011 that he intended to free alljournalists imprisoned in Sudan .Whilst I welcome the release of Jaafar Alsabki Ibrahim, I would therefore liketo take this opportunity to respectfully call upon President Omar Al-Bashir tofulfil this promise by releasing all journalists currently detained in Sudan immediately and unconditionally.

I would welcome your comments on my appeal.

Yours sincerely,

[NAME, PROFESSION, ADDRESS]

Earlier post on this topic click here

Golden Pen of Freedom Award open for nominations

2011-09-11T21:10:00.000-07:00

7 September 2011

Golden Pen of Freedom Award open for nominations

The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) is inviting nominations for the 2012 Golden Pen of Freedom Award, the annual prize which honours an individual or group for outstanding action in the cause of press freedom. Hurry: the deadline for nominations is 16 September 2011.

Past laureates include Dawit Isaak, the Eritrean writer, poet and publisher currently jailed by Eritrean authorities; and Ahmad Zeid-Abadi, an Iranian journalist and political analyst who was imprisoned following Iran's disputed presidential election in June 2009.

Please send your nominations to Alison Meston at alison.meston (@) wan-ifra.org by 16 September 2011. Provide your name and contact details, plus the name of the nominee and a brief statement as to why you are nominating them.

For more information on the Golden Pen of Freedom, click here.
-----------------------------------------------------------

2011 WAN-IFRA Golden Pen of Freedom Awarded to Dawit Isaak

Article ID:

12081

A journalist with dual Eritrean-Swedish citizenship, Dawit Isaak is one of the founders of Eritrea’s first independent newspaper, Setit, and is currently one member of a group of reformist political prisoners who have been detained without charge or trial for the past nine years.

Dawit Isaak

Eritrean by birth, Mr Isaak was forced to flee his native country in 1987 and arrived in Sweden as a beleaguered refugee during Eritrea’s bloody war for liberation. He became a Swedish citizen in 1992 after working for years as a cleaner, and he later returned to Eritrea when the country finally gained independence in 1996. Eager to develop the country’s independent press, Mr Isaak co-founded the country’s first independent newspaper, Setit, which would rise to national prominence as a professional paper and gain a reputation for investigative reporting which often focused on abuse of power by the government.
In May of 2001, a group of 15 cabinet members (prominent reformist politicians later dubbed the G-15), published an open letter to the government demanding democratic reform, and a thorough investigation of the events leading up to Eritrea’s recurring war with Ethiopia. The letter was published by the free press, most notably by Mr Isaak’s paper, Setit, which also went on to publish a series of similar open letters to president Isayas Afeworki demanding sweeping democratic reforms. The government acted in swift retaliation following the published demands of G-15, and by September, had effectively suspended all civil liberties in Eritrea.
On 23 September, all private press outlets in the country were officially shut down, and 11 of the G-15 politicians were arrested, along with Dawit Isaak and 13 other newspaper owners, editors and journalists. To date, none have been formally charged or tried, and Mr Isaak and the other journalists and politicians imprisoned with him have all been branded as traitors, accused of receiving financial aid from abroad, an act of criminal treason according to Eritrean press laws. According to reports, four of the journalists that were detained in 2001 have since died in prison.
In 2001, Sweden’s then honorary consul in Eritrea, Lis Truelsen, managed to get a glimpse of Mr Isaak through the prison bars and exchange a few words with him. The government of Sweden and the Swedish media community have undertaken numerous efforts to advocate for Mr Isaak’s release, without any success, as the Eritrean government has made it clear that his status as a dual citizen of Sweden is of little consequence. This position was reflected in public statements made in May 2009 by the country’s president, and in which he announced: "To me, Sweden is irrelevant. The Swedish government has nothing to do with us."
On 13 December 2008, it was reported that Mr Isaak had been moved to a maximum-security prison in Embatkala, along with 112 other political prisoners. The move was allegedly by the explicit order of the President, and the Embatkala prison is reportedly one of the harshest prison environments in the country. Several weeks later, on 11 January 2009, reports surfaced that Mr Isaak had been transferred to a military hospital, and despite government assurances that he is receiving all necessary medical treatment, the details of his actual whereabouts remain sketchy.
A controversial Swedish interview with Eritrean president Issayas Afwerki drew the attention of human rights watchdog organisations when he declared unceremoniously that there were no plans to release Mr Isaak, nor to conduct a trial in which the journalist would be formally charged. The interview, which was broadcast on 26 May 2009, stirred international controversy when the Eritrean president dismissed the issue of Mr Isaak’s imprisonment altogether, stating without qualm: "We will not have any trial and we will not free him. We know how to handle his kind."
-------------------------------

About the Golden Pen of Freedom

Article ID:

13061

The Golden Pen of Freedom is an annual award made by WAN-IFRA to recognise the outstanding action, in writing or deed, of an individual, a group or an institution in the cause of press freedom.

Behind the names of the laureates lie stories of extraordinary personal courage and self-sacrifice, stories of jail, beatings, bombings, censorship, exile and murder.
One of the objectives of the Golden Pen is to turn the spotlight of public attention on repressive governments and journalists who fight them. Often, the laureate is still engaged in the struggle for freedom of expression and the Pen has, on several occasions, secured the release of a publisher or journalist from jail or afforded him or her a degree of protection against further persecution.

Join PEN American Center for an Evening with Liao Yiwu and at Brooklyn Book Festival‏

2011-09-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

SAVE THE DATE

September 18:
Stop by the PEN booth [#93] at Brooklyn Book Festival

October 12:
PEN Literary Awards Ceremony

November 1:
PEN New Members/New Books Party

PEN and The New School Present: An Evening with Liao Yiwu

With Liao Yiwu, Wen Huang, Salman Rushdie, and Philip Gourevitch

When: Tuesday, September 13
Where: The New School, Tishman Auditorium, 66 W. 12th St.
What time: 8 p.m.

Tickets: $20/$15 for PEN Members and students with valid ID (free to New School Students with valid ID). Purchase tickets at ovationtix.com.

PEN American Center is honored to present poet, novelist, musician, and documentarian Liao Yiwu, one of China’s most exciting and most censored writers, in his first U.S. appearance in nearly two decades.

This very special evening of music and words will include a reading from his forthcoming book and a performance of the xiao, or Chinese flute, which Mr. Liao learned to play while incarcerated. PEN World Voices Festival founder and chair Salman Rushdie will introduce the event and Mr. Liao will be joined by his translator Wen Huang and journalist Philip Gourevitch for an on-stage interview. [More]

PEN Literary Pub Quiz at Brooklyn Book Festival

With team captains Christopher Beha of Harper’s, George Prochnik of Cabinet Magazine, James Yeh of Gigantic Magazine, Scott Lindenbaum and Andy Hunter of Electric Literature, translator Susan Bernofsky, Ben Greenman, Matthea Harvey, Amy Sohn, and more; hosted by Katie Halper.

When: Friday, September 16
Where: St. Ann’s Warehouse, 38 Water Street in Dumbo, Brooklyn
What time: 7-9 p.m.

Free and open to the public.

PEN is pleased to announce the return of our popular Literary Pub Quiz! This Brooklyn Book Festival Bookend event gives you the chance to compete with (and against!) editors and writers from your favorite literary magazines, including Cabinet, Gigantic, Harper’s, and Electric Literature, as well as authors Matthea Harvey, Ben Greenman, and many more. Come early to reserve your spot on the team with the writer-captain who also knows where Hemingway was born. We’ll supply the paper and the pencils; you bring the literary smarts!

Also look for PEN at the Brooklyn Book Festival on Sunday at Booth 93. [More]

PEN American Center | 588 Broadway, Suite 303 | NY, NY 10012 | (212) 334-1660

Mother language : UNESCO

2011-09-11T19:32:00.000-07:00

Many things I do not know, I have to explore, Many times, due to lack of information I cant reach at the right place and at right time, so when I come across I think I should take action... and this is the way we all common people live.

Recently I have come across a wonderful information that is :

Mother language instruction “a powerful way to fight discrimination” says UNESCO Director-General

©UNESCO

“We know how important education in the mother language is for learning outcomes,” declared Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of International Mother Language Day, 21 February 2011. “Mother language instruction is a powerful way to fight discrimination and reach out to marginalized populations.”

“Projects on Linguistic Diversity and New Technologies”, UNESCO’s IMLD information meeting, will feature debates on ICTs and bilingual education. Amidou Maïga and Papa Youga Dieng, programme leaders at Department of Education and Training Organisation internationale de la Francophonie will present, respectively, an overview of language teaching in multilingual contexts, notably the use of ICTs in the «School and national Language» project (which aims to promote bilingual and multilingual education) and the use of ICTs in the Francophone Initiative on Distance Education for Teacher Training (IFADEM).

Celebrated annually since 2000, International Mother Language Day provides an occasion to recognize the vital importance of languages in education and to mobilize efforts in favour of multilingualism and linguistic diversity.

Links

Programme for IMLD at UNESCO

Focus on new information technologies for International Mother Language Day

“Language, Education and the Millennium Development Goals”

<- Back to: Languages in Education

Source : UNESCO

--------------------------o---------------------------------

Languages in Education

: ©UNESCO/Roger Dominique
The preamble to UNESCO's Constitution in ten languages

UNESCO promotes mother tongue-based bilingual or multilingual approaches in education - an important factor for inclusion and qualilty in education. Research shows this has a positive impact on learning and learning outcomes.

The Organization provides normative frameworks for language policy and education and shares good practices in bilingual and multilingual education and mother tongue instruction.

News

Diversity :Translation & Linguistic Rights Committee of the International P.E.N.

2011-09-11T18:41:00.000-07:00

Source : Linguistic Declaration

An old legend says that, a long time ago, there was a king that heard that in his country there lived a truly wise man. He was so wise, they said, that he could speak all the languages in the world. He knew the song of the birds and understood it as if he were one of them. He knew how to read the shape of the clouds and immediately understand their meaning. Any language he listened to, he could answer without hesitation. He could even read the thoughts of men and women wherever they came from. The king, impressed by all the qualities that were attributed to him, called him to his palace. And the wise man came.

When he was there, the king asked him:
"Wise man, is it true that you know all the languages of the world?"
"Yes, Sir," was the answer.
"Is it true that that you listen to the birds and you can understand their song?"
"Yes, Sir."
"That you know how to read the shape of the clouds?"
"Yes, Sir."
"And, as I have been told, that you can even read people's minds?"
"Yes, Sir."

The king still had a last question…

But, which question would we put to the wisest of all the wise men?

Which languages from all over the world are spoken by the authors of the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights? Countless, we would dare to say. In any case, from more than 90 states and 5 continents, more than 200 people gathered on June 6th, 1996, in Barcelona to proclaim the Declaration. Some represented small local NGOs committed to teaching a language not recognized by the official education system of their country. There were writers in many different languages who make use of their language everyday to create literary universes open to all. Other represented international NGOs whose mission is the defence of linguistic rights. Other were experts in law, in languages, in sociolinguistics and in various domains of knowledge which converge in the academic study of linguistic rights.
For all of them, the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights promises a future of coexistence and peace thanks to the recognition of the right that each linguistic community has to shape its own life in its own language in all fields. And so they proclaimed. Since then, the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights has spread: each month there is news about its translation into a new language, a new affiliation of some organization that might not have been associated to the process, or about an international personality who has decided to support the Declaration and with it the defence of all languages in an international context which threatens the survival of many of them.

That original text, written, amended, approved and proclaimed at a non-governmental level wants nevertheless to contribute to the work of the United Nations. It aims to be a strong motivation, an appeal to the states so that, in the dynamics started by the Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, they would recognize the linguistic rights of the individuals and of their communities. The association of UNESCO to our process from the very beginning and the work it has been doing along these lines gives us hope that some day a normative body of the United Nations regulating the defence of linguistic rights all over the world will be approved. This book wants to contribute to this work.

In this book the text of the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights appears and it is explained how it was written and proclaimed in the World Conference on Linguistic Rights. It is the work done by 61 NGOs, 41 PEN Club centres and over 40 experts in linguistic rights, coming from the five continents. The testimony of well-known personalities from all over the world also appears, as well as that of writers and people who fight for rights, for peace and who wanted to join us in this project.

We all, like that king in the fairy tale, may put the last question to that wise man who knew all the languages of the world. The king looked at him as if defying him, as if testing him, and asked him the final question:

"In my hands, which are hidden behind my back, there is a bird. Wise man, answer me: is it alive or dead?"

The answer of the wise man was addressed to everybody. In our case, to everybody who has any responsibility in promoting linguistic rights, from the militant to the writer, from the teacher to the legislator. For that wise man, surprisingly, felt scared. He knew that, whatever the answer, the king could kill the bird. He looked at the king and remained silent for a long time. Finally, with a very serene voice he said:

"The answer, Sir, is in your hands."

The answer is in our hands.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Friends and Collegues,
I am using this opportunity, only a few days before the start of the 77th Congress of International PEN, to inform you about the activities of the Office of the Vice President of International PEN and of the Diversity PEN Project (website and Collection of Poetry, Fiction & Essays).

1. Few regional, bilateral and other projects (conferences, intercultural exchanges, translation workshops, creative writing practices, readings), were realize during the last year, on my initiative, as the Vice President of PEN International and editor-in-chief of Diversity:
- Balkans regional conference for young writer on the topic of the New Image of the Balkans (May 2011);
- The bilateral conference with the Turkish PEN centre and the presentation of the contemporary Turkish poetry and short story in Skopje and Ohrid, in May 2010. The project was supported by the Macedonian PEN;
- Translation workshop The New Macedonian poetry in Spanish, organized in Skopje in the period from September - December 2010 (with mostly young translators);
- Creative writing project on essays followed by the workshop;
- Workshop on the Norwegian and Nordic literatures and cultures in Skopje, November 2010;
- Preparation for the next translation workshop on the Romanian poetry into Macedonian (October 2011).

2. Electronic multilingual presentation of the texts and translation on the Diversity web site of Diversity.
3. Public promotion of the PEN Charter Principles in the frame of regularly commemoration of the PEN and UNESCO International Days such as the Day of imprisoned writers, the Day of Cultural diversity, the Day of Mother languages, the Day of European languages, the Day of Poetry, Short story Day, etc.
4. During our activites , several times we have encountered with the necessity of modernisation and simplification of the aproach to the context of the on-line eddition and web-page of Diversity, so in order for us, as an organisation to be more approacabble to all audiences, we have re-designed ourweb site (http://www.diversity.org.mk/ ), thus making it easy accesible and easy to use.We have also opend an account on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Poetiki-Center-for-Creative-Writing/157472640972400), for is it not one of our goals to keep in touch with the informations in this modern times.
5. New Diversity practice with hard publishing of selected editions. Besides publishing text from poets, writers and essayists in electronic form as a standard publishing procedure of our project we have published a few printed printed book-editions as well. Through out wich we acted in the benefit of amplifying the process of favorising the translation as lingua franca, and as a phenomen that narrows the gap between the nations, countries and cultures.

I am presentig you the list of our printed edition:
Mozaik 1: Anthology of the Turkish poetry and Mozaik 2 - Antology of Turkish short story. This project – translation of selected poems and short storyes from Turkish to Macedonian came out as a result of the undisputed friendship and total cooperation between the our organistaion and the Turkish PEN center.
Mannuel pour seduire des princesses - a translation from Spanish into Macedonian of the poetry of the contemporary Spanish poet and essayist, Jose Maria Pas Gago from Spain.
Naked eye - a compilation of my haiku poetry originally written in Macedonaian, and subsequetially translated in five languages (Croatian, English, Spanish, Italian and Portugees)
Cartea a chirolui (in English - Book of time) - Anthology of Contemporary Aromanian poetry which was our biggest project of our anual activities. By publishing this book, we have finally realized on of the the intentions that was imposed as a nessesity with the implementation of the Declaration on Aromanian linguistic and cultural rights. Held in September 2008, at the International PEN Congress in Bogotá - Columbia, This bilingual selection (Aromanian and Macedonian) was promoted on the Day of Cultural Diversity in Skopje.

Notes:
- All of our printed editons will be presented on the Congress in Belgrade.
See you on Monday.
- A new Diversity Flayer will be distributed during the Belgrade PEN Congress.
- Our new Diversity assistant, Ms. Lydia Nikolova will be present on the meetings of the Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee and available for the extra explanations.

Kind regards from Macedonia
Kata Kulavkova, Vice President

Diversity

www.diversity.org.mk

------------------------------------------

DIVERSITY

What is Diversity?

Diversity is a multilingual literary collection of the Translation & Linguistic Rights Committee of theInternational P.E.N. Each author is presented in at least three languages: the original, Macedonian and one of the three official P.E.N. languages.

Diversity was founded in spring 2003, as the first massive electronic publishing and translation project of the P.E.N. International.

The idea for Diversity was initiated at the P.E.N. Conferences in Ohrid, Skopje and Pula, after the relocation of the TaLRC seat from Barcelona (the Catalan P.E.N.) to Skopje. Hosted by the Macedonian P.E.N. Center, Diversity is based in the Macedonian capital, where the Diversity web site is technically maintained.

Diversity is a digital collection that focuses on the selection and translation of literary works, or fragments of larger poetry texts, fiction, theatre plays and essays.

Diversity is concerned with inter-literary and inter-cultural dialogue, subtlety, originality, cultural tradition, literary innovation, and practical exploration of innovative literary sensitivity and discourses.

Diversity promotes literary and linguistic heritage as world heritage, and as an immanent and eminent anthropological and cultural value.

Why Diversity?

Diversity was formed to give its own particular mark and contribution to the realization of the International P.E.N. Charter.
Diversity was founded with the purpose of contributing to the affirmation of the essential UNESCO strife for protection of the World`s linguistic, literary and cultural diversity.
Diversity is designed in accordance with the Standing Orders of the Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee and it represents an actualization of one of its crucial functions.

Diversity responds to the need of literary exchange, according to the proposal adopted at the 1997 Ohrid P.E.N. Conference (PETL).

The major guideline of this multilingual electronic project is to form a collection of literary works translated from the so-called languages of lesser currency into other world languages, and into the official languages of the P.E.N. International (English, French and Spanish).

Diversity multilingual e-collection promotes minor languages and literatures of great value. At the same time, it presents works translated from the major languages into the minor languages of the world.

Diversity aims to form an open and continuously up-to-date circle of literary communication, translation, understanding, interpretation and dialogue between different cultures, traditions, civilizations and worldviews.

How does Diversity function?

Diversity publishes works by contemporary and living authors.

Diversity promotes already published and previously unpublished works, depending on the copyright agreement with the author.

The e-published works are translated in at least two languages, although, in principle, the collection aims to present each author in a number of languages.

The translation from the so-called langages of lesser currency into the official P.E.N. languages (English, French and Spanish) is organized and coordinated with the aid of a team of consultants and translators of Diversity. Translation into Macedonian is organized at the seat of the TaLRC in Skopje. Translation from the original language of the work is a preference: translation from one of the major languages, and not from the original language (in case the original is a language of lesser currency) is accepted only by exception.

Each e-publication offers basic biography and bibliography of the author, as well as critical reviews.

The Diversity database provides search options by various criteria, allowing searches for various aims and reasons.

In its first phase, the P.E.N. collection Diversity wil be exclusevely electronic, and hard copy published books are expected as soon as the project finds financial support that would make the printing possible.

When the circumstances allow, the TaLRC will organize a House of Translationin Ohrid, Macedonia, where one-month residence will be granted to Diversitytranslators. Diversity can organize translation workshops in the TaLRC Seat in Skopje, or in other countries upon an invitation of other P.E.N. Centres.

Diversity builds and maintains a network of instiutions and individuals interested in giving their contribution to the world linguistic and literary diversity.

Who is published on Diversity?

Excerpts from poetry books, selections and anthologies, short stories, excerpts from novels and essays from distinguished authors, mainly members of the P.E.N. International are taken into consideration for publishing. The authors are mainly (although not exclusively!) members of P.E.N. centres, regardless of their nationality, ethnic, linguistic and religious background.

The works can be previously published in the original language, and for the first time published in electronic format, as well as in Macedonian languagel.

The Diversity Editorial Board and the Editor-In-Chief are responcible for the sellection of the authors and their work.

Editor-In-Chief:
KATA KULAVKOVA - Macedonian P.E.N.
poetics@sonet.com.mk

Editor:
CASIMIRO de BRITO - Portuguese P.E.N.
casimirodebrito@netcabo.pt

Web Editor:
Igor Isakovski (previously Ana Pejchinova, Jasminka Markovska, andJasmina Ilievska-Marjanovic)
diversity@diversity.org.mk

There are three basic collections of texts: poetry, fiction and non-fiction published on Diversity.

Diversity values the diverse nations, literatures, languages and cultures from around the world and one of its basic values is to preserve this diversity in the works presented on the site. The authors belong to different generations as well.

The Diversity people:

The Editorial Board consists of the following editorial bodies:
- Editorial Board,
- International Team of Consultants or the Advisory Board, consisting of representatives of all P.E.N. Centres, members of the TaLRC,
- Editor-in-Chief;
- Web editor.

The Diversity Editorial Board:

It has the following authorization:
- to determine the orientation of the collection,
- to form an international network of authors and translators,
- to select authors and works, and to plan the collection,
- to protect the copyright laws of the published authors and translators,
- to promote and protect the fundamental conceptual principles of multilinguism, diversity and aesthetical qualities of the Diversity.
- to maintain cooperation with corresponedent institutes, fondatons and sponsors,
- to coordinate the project with other P.E.N. projects,
- to maintain a multi-national editorial board,
The Editorial Board is appointed by the Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee at the proposal of the Editor-in-Chief of the Diversity.
The Board meets at least annually in Skopje, Ohrid (within the framework of the Ohrid P.E.N. Conference Programme) or elsewhere (within the International P.E.N. Conference, etc.)

The International Team of Regional Consultants

The team is an informal body of the Diversity.
The Team is open and consist of writers, critics, essayists, anthologists and publishers, all nominated by theP.E.N. Centres - members of the TaLRC. The Team can have 42 members at the most.

Considering that the International P.E.N. has 138 members, and the Committee 43, the consultants are invited to recommend authors and works not only from their regions, but also from the wider areas kindred to them in linguistic and cultural sense.

Each of the Consultants has the right to recommend authors and translators primarily from their own linguistic, literary and cultural region. The Consultants are responsible for establishing and maintaining relations between the Editorial Board and their publishers, with the aim to regulate the copyright laws.

The Consultans report about their activities at their home P.E.N. Centres.

Regional Consultants/Advisory Board:

Judith Rodrigues (Australian P.E.N. - Melbourne)
Aysu Erden (Turkish P.E.N.)
Esther Allen (American P.E.N. - NY)
Bente Christensen (Norwegian P.E.N.)
Philipe Cujas (French P.E.N.)
Sibila Petlevski (Croatian P.E.N.)
Yang Lian (Ind.Chinese P.E.N.)
Ivo Frbezar (Slovenian P.E.N.)
Vida Ognenovic (Serbian P.E.N.)
Reza Baraheni (Canadian P.E.N.)
Tomas Burghart (German P.E.N.)
Gulere Cornelius (Uganda P.E.N.)
Sulumba Maureen (Malawi P.E.N.)
Lasse Soderberg (Swedish P.E.N.)
Anna Hakobian (Armenaian P.E.N.)
Cecilia Balcazar (Columbian P.E.N.)
Justo Jorge Padron (Spanish P.E.N.).

What is the location of Diversity?

The Diversity Office is hosted by the Macedonian P.E.N. Centre and is located at the following address:

Translation & Linguistic Rights Committee
Macedonian P.E.N. Center
MKC, Dimitar Vlahov Quay bb
1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Tel.+ 389 (2) 32 39 155
Fax: + 389 (2) 31 30 054
E-mail:diversity@diversity.org.mk

source : Dibversity

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ZARGANAR

2011-09-10T17:47:00.001-07:00

ZARGANAR

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: BURMA

OCCUPATION: COMEDIAN, POET, DIRECTOR, ACTIVIST

STATUS: IMPRISONED FOR 35 YEARS

Zarganar is Burma's leading comedian and an accomplished poet, writer, and director who throughout his career has used his artistic talents to draw attention to political repression in Burma.

Zarganar was first arrested in 1988 following the pro-democracy demonstrations, in which he played a leading role. As reading and writing were forbidden in his cell in Insein Prison, he mixed dust with water and wrote poetry on the floor, committing the poems to memory and sweeping away the evidence. He was freed after six months.
He was arrested again in 1990 while making jokes at a political rally, and was returned to Insein, where he spent five years in solitary confinement. Following his release, he was increasingly involved in social activism and worked closely with international NGO's. During the 'Saffron Revolution' of 2007, Zarganar was one of the key figures to lead public support. This led to a further three weeks in detention.

Zarganar's arrest in June 2008 resulted from his criticism of the Cyclone Nargis relief effort. He had personally organised support from the Burmese arts community and oversaw its delivery to the delta. He was angered by the neglect and corruption he encountered and spoke out about this in interviews. In November 2008, he was convicted of 'public order offences' and sentenced to 59 years in prison, later reduced to 35 years.

In late 2008, Zarganar was moved to Myitkyina Prison in northern Burma, 1,500 km from his family home, where he remains today.

Zarganar was awarded the inaugural PEN/Pinter Prize for an International Writer of Courage in 2009.

Untitled
by Zarganar
Translated by Vicky Bowman

It's lucky my forehead is flat
Since my arm must often rest there.
Beneath it shines a light I must invite
From a moon I cannot see
In Myitkyina

Myitkina Jail, 2010

TAKE ACTIONSend a message of supportIf you would like to send a letter or card to Zarganar, please send it to the English PEN office and we'll arrange for it to be passed on:

Zarganar c/o Cat Lucas
English PEN
Free Word Centre
60 Farringdon Road
London
EC1R 3GA
Write to the authoritiesPlease write to the Burmese Embassy in London:

- Condemning the harsh sentence handed down to Zarganar, and calling for his immediate and unconditional release from prison;
- Seeking assurances of his well-being, and that he is being granted full access to any medical attention he requires, and to his family;

- Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all those currently detained in Myanmar in violation of their right to free expression.

Appeals to:

His Excellency Mr U Kyaw Myo Htut
Embassy of the Union of Myanmar
19A Charles Street,
London
W1J 5DX
Fax: 020 7409 7043
Email: melondon@btconnect.com

Join the Worldwide Reading for Burma's Silenced Poets
English PEN and the Free Burma VJ campaign (www.freeburmavj.org/) are organising a Worldwide Reading to pay tribute to Burma's Silenced Poets, including Zarganar, and we'd love you all to get involved...

On 21 October 2011, we will be hosting public readings of poetry by our imprisoned colleagues including Zarganar, Nay Phone Latt, U Zeya, Zaw Thet Htwe and Min Ko Naing, in order to raise and maintain awareness of their plight and of all those currently detained in Burma.

We already have events lined up in England, France and Thailand, but to help our message that these writers should be released immediately get through loud and clear we are hoping that PEN centres, other campaigning groups and individuals all around the world will take part by organising a similar event in other countries.

Please join us in giving a voice to our silenced colleagues and in paying tribute to their incredible courage in the face of continued persecution. Together we can send a strong message to the authorities in Burma that these writers have not and will not be forgotten.

Source : English PEN

Two women journalists found strangled in Mexico City

2011-09-10T17:40:00.000-07:00

MEXICO: Two women journalists found strangled in Mexico City

6 September 2011

RAN 47/11

The Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International (WiPC) protests the murder of Contralinea founder Ana María Marcela Yarce Viveros who, along with freelance journalist Rocio González Trápaga, was found dead in Mexico City on 1 September 2011. Both women were reportedly abducted the previous night and strangled. Yarce's murder brings the number of print journalists killed in Mexico this year to eight. The WiPC calls on the federal and state authorities to investigate the women's murder as a matter of the utmost urgency, focusing on their journalistic work as a possible motive, and to bring the culprits to justice.
Ana María Marcela Yarce Viveros (pictured, left), founder, reporter and head of public relations of the bimonthly political magazine Contralinea, was found dead near a cemetery in a park in a poor neighbourhood of the capital Mexico City on 1 September 2011, along with freelance journalist and former Televisa reporter Rocio González Trápaga (pictured, right). Yarce and González, both 48, were reportedly abducted as they left their office in the city centre the previous night and strangled. Their bodies were found naked with nooses around their necks and their hands tied behind their backs.
The Mexico City attorney general's office is investigating the murders and has yet to give any motive. According to the international free expression organisation Article 19, the attorney general said that although they were not ruling out any line of investigation, Yarce had not been working on any specific journalistic investigation at the time of her death and that the authorities were focusing on González' case. González, who owned a currency exchange point at Mexico City's international airport, apparently withdrew a large amount of money on the afternoon of 31 August, reports Article 19. A spokesperson for Contralinea also said that Yarce was no longer writing or leading projects for the magazine at the time of her death. Mexico's human rights commission reportedly planned to open its own investigation into the murders.
Contralinea has frequently exposed corruption in its coverage and has been the target of intimidation and judicial harassment, particularly since 2007 when it published reports that proved embarrassing for the national oil company PEMEX. The magazine's office was reportedly broken into last year and journalistic material and a laptop were stolen.
Journalist killings in Mexico City are relatively rare: the last recorded was of José Manuel Nava Sánchez, author and former director and editor of the newspaper Excelsior, who was stabbed to death in his apartment on 16 November 2006.
Background
Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries in the world to work as a journalist. Since January 2004, 42 print journalists and two writers have been murdered, while 10 print journalists have gone missing in the same period. Nine of the killings and three of the disappearances occurred in 2010 alone; the toll for 2011 to date stands at eight and one respectively. Few if any of these crimes have been properly investigated or punished. PEN International believes that it is likely that many of these writers were targeted in retaliation for their critical reporting, particularly on drug trafficking. While organised crime groups are responsible for many attacks, state agents, especially government officials and the police, are reportedly the main perpetrators of violence against journalists, and complicit in its continuance.
On 3 June 2011, PEN Canada, in collaboration with the International Human Rights Program at the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, published a timely and provocative report on the situation in Mexico: Corruption, Impunity, Silence: The War on Mexico's Journalists (also available in Spanish). The same day Canada's national newspaper The Globe and Mail published an op-ed by John Ralston Saul, President of PEN International, on the report.
Useful links

The Guardian (2 September 2011): English
Article 19 (2 September 2011): English; Spanish
Reporters Without Borders (2 September 2011): English; Spanish

Please send appeals:

Protesting the murder of Contralinea founder Ana María Marcela Yarce Viveros and freelance journalist Rocio González Trápaga, who were abducted in Mexico City on the night of 31 August 2011 and found strangled the next day;
Calling for a full and impartial investigation into the killings, focusing on Yarce's and González' journalistic work as a possible motive, with the involvement of the Special Prosecutor for Crimes against Freedom of Expression, as well as into all other unsolved journalist killings and disappearances in Mexico;
Calling on the government of President Felipe Calderón to fulfil promises to make crimes against journalists a federal offence, by amending the Constitution so that federal authorities have the power to investigate, prosecute and punish such crimes.

Appeals to:

PresidentLic. Felipe De Jesús Calderón Hinojosa
Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Residencia Oficial de los Pinos Casa Miguel Alemán
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec, C.P. 11850, DISTRITO FEDERAL, México
Fax: (+ 52 55) 5093 4901/ 5277 2376
Email: felipe.calderon@presidencia.gob.mx
Salutation: Señor Presidente/ Dear Mr President
Attorney General Lic. Marisela Morales Ibáñez
Procuradora General de la República
Av. Paseo de Reforma No. 211-213, Piso 16
Col. Cuauhtémoc, Defegacion Cuauhtémoc
México D.F. C.P. 06500
Tel: + 52 55 5346 0108
Fax: + 52 55 53 46 0908 (if a voice answers, ask "tono de fax, por favor")
E-mail: ofproc@pgr.gob.mx
Salutation: Señora Procuradora General/Dear Attorney General
Special Prosecutor for Crimes against Freedom of ExpressionDr Gustavo Salas Chávez
Fiscal Especial para la Atención de Delitos Cometidos contra Periodistas (FEADP)
Email: feadp@pgr.gob.mx
Please also send copies of your appeals to the Mexican Embassy in your country.
See http://www.sre.gob.mx/index.php/representaciones/embajadas-de-mexico-en-el-exterior
***Please send appeals immediately. Check with International PEN if sending appeals after 5 November 2011.***
For further details please contact Tamsin Mitchell at the Writers in Prison Committee London Office: PEN International, Brownlow House, 50-51 High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER Tel: +44 (0) 207 405 0338 Fax +44 (0) 207 405 0339 email: tamsin.mitchell@pen-international.org

Dawit Isaac still detained incommunicado: PEN calls for a week of action

2011-09-10T17:35:00.000-07:00

ERITREA: Tens years on, Dawit Isaac still detained incommunicado: PEN calls for a week of action (19-23 September 2011)

6 September 2011

Update #2 to RAN 51/05

The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN protests the decade-long imprisonment of Eritrean-Swedish journalist and author Dawit Isaac, who has been detained incommunicado without charge since 23 September 2001. Isaac is said to be held in appalling conditions and to be in poor physical and mental health; there are serious concerns for his wellbeing. PEN invites its members and anyone interested in joining us to take part in a week of action (19-23 September 2011) calling on the Eritrean authorities to provide details of Isaac's whereabouts and assurances that he is receiving all necessary medical treatment as a matter of urgency. PEN also calls for Isaac's immediate and unconditional release as well as that of 15 other Eritreans imprisoned for their writings since September 2001.
Dawit Isaac (born 1964), owner of the now defunct weekly newspaper Setit, playwright and writer, was arrested on 23 September 2001 during the crackdown on Eritrea's private press that saw all eight independent newspapers closed down. He is one of nine print journalists who were arrested at the time and held incommunicado, apparently indefinitely, without ever being charged or tried. The only accusations made against them have been uncorroborated allegations by the authorities that the journalists were "traitors".
Information about the detained journalists is scant. However, at least four of them have reportedly died in custody since 2005 due to harsh conditions and lack of medical attention. There have also been unconfirmed reports of the deaths of nine out of 11 former government cabinet ministers also arrested in September 2001 for publishing a letter criticising the Eritrean government.
Isaac and the other surviving journalists are presumed to remain in detention in secret locations, despite a 2007 ruling by the African Union's Commission on Human and People's Rights that their detention was arbitrary and unlawful and that the Eritrean government should release and compensate them. There are ongoing concerns about severe ill treatment, possible torture, poor health and lack of access to medical care.
The most recent reports indicate that Isaac is being held at the Eiraeiro maximum-security prison camp, 10 miles north of the capital Asmara, along with a number of the other detained journalists. They are reportedly not allowed any contact with each other or the outside world, are routinely shackled and receive almost no medical care. Some are said to be held in metal containers or underground cells in temperatures of around 50 degrees Celsius.
Isaac suffers from a diabetic condition that requires medical supervision and he is said to be in poor psychological health. He has been hospitalised several times since his imprisonment, including in 2002 for treatment for injuries sustained through torture. In November 2005, Isaac - who holds dual Swedish-Eritrean citizenship - was briefly released for a medical check-up and to call his family and friends following pressure by groups in Sweden.
In July 2011, Isaac's younger brother, Esayas Isaac, who lives in Sweden, filed a writ of habeas corpus with Eritrea's Supreme Court calling for information on the journalist's location and a review of his imprisonment. The habeas corpus writ was reportedly not supported by the Swedish government; according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has said the country's goal was to have Isaac released on humanitarian grounds rather than stand trial. In 2010, Esayas Isaac wrote an open letter to the Swedish government and European Union expressing concern that they were not doing enough to pressurize the Eritrean government to release Isaac.
Background

Dawit Isaac is an Honorary Member of Finnish PEN and Swedish PEN.
Isaac was awarded the 2009 Tucholsky Award by Swedish PEN and the 2011 Golden Pen of Freedom, the annual press freedom prize of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).
A collection of Isaac's writings, entitled Hope- the Tale of Moses and Manna's Love, was launched at Sweden's Gothenburg book fair in September 2010.

Useful links
Information on Isaac:

Update from the Committee to Protest Journalists (3 August 2011): http://cpj.org/blog/2011/08/habeas-corpus-writ-seeks-dawit-isaac-jailed-for-36.php
Update from Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (24 May 2011): http://www.cjfe.org/resources/features/eritrea-ten-years-journalists-remain-imprisoned
Free Dawit campaign (co-founded by Esayas Isaac): http://www.freedawit.com/
PEN International profile: http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/index.cfm?objectid=22738991-3048-676E-265D5C266126D22F

Information on Eritrea:

BBC country profile: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13349078
Amnesty International's 2011 report on human rights in Eritrea: http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/eritrea/report-2011

Suggested actions:

PEN members are asked to do at least one of the following during the week leading up to the 10th anniversary of Dawit Isaac's imprisonment (19-23 September 2011):
1. Send protest letters to President Issayas Afewerki via your nearest diplomatic representative of Eritrea (see http://eritrea.embassyhomepage.com/ or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diplomatic_missions_of_Eritrea):

Protesting the 10-year imprisonment of Dawit Isaac, at least four journalists and 11 former cabinet members detained incommunicado since September 2001 for their writings;
Calling on the Eritrean authorities to release details of Isaac's health status, medical treatment and whereabouts, as well as that of the other detainees;
Calling for the immediate and conditional release of Isaac and the other surviving journalists, in line with the 2007 African Commission on Human and People's Rights ruling, as well as that of the former ministers detained for their writings.

2. Organise a petition to present to your nearest Eritrean embassy or consulate and/ or hold a protest outside the premises
3. Request the ambassador or other diplomatic representative of your own country based in Eritrea to raise the WiPC's concerns about Isaac and the other detainees.
***Please keep PEN International informed of your activities and any response received from the authorities, if possible; please also check with us if sending appeals after 18 November 2011.***
For further details please contact Tamsin Mitchell at the Writers in Prison Committee London Office: International PEN, Brownlow House, 50-51 High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER Tel: +44 (0) 207 405 0338 Fax +44 (0) 207 405 0339 email: tamsin.mitchell@pen-international.org

Urgent Appeal for Cameroonian playwright Lydia Besong and her husband Bernard Batey

2011-09-06T16:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader,

As you may remember, we have been in touch on a number ofoccasions over the last couple of years with news of Cameroonian playwrightLydia Besong and her husband Bernard Batey who have been living in the UK since 2006.

We have just learnt from our colleagues at the Lydia and Bernard Must Stay Campaign that at7.30am yesterday, Monday 5 September, at least five UK Border Agency officerswent to Lydia and Bernard’s home in Bury, Greater Manchester. They took Bernard fromthe address - Lydia was not at the house at the time as she was on her way to the local immigrationreporting centre.

Bernard is currently being held in Colnbrook IRC and is due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Kenya Airways flightKQ526 at 8pm this Saturday, 10 September 2011, from UK to Nairobi foronward transit to Cameroon .The indications are that the UKBA want to deport Lydia as well.

Lydia andBernard’s supporters were shocked to learn that Bernard had been detainedwhilst the UKBA were deemed to still be considering fresh evidence put forwardby the couple's lawyer in July. There had been no indication to the couple ortheir legal representative that the new evidence had been rejected. It wasonly when their lawyer phoned Dallas Court Reporting Centre to find out why Bernardhad been detained yesterday morning that the UKBA informed them that thefurther submissions had been turned down. The UKBA later faxed the legalrepresentative with the reasons for rejection and removal instructions forBernard, indicating that the decision to reject the further submissions wastaken on 17 August, but it remains unclear why no-one was informed of thisdecision.

Lydia and Bernardare human rights activists who fled Cameroon ,where they suffered from persecution as a result of their membership of theSouthern Cameroon National Council, a peaceful pressure group which campaignsfor the rights of the English speaking minority in Cameroon . Both had been imprisonedand tortured, and Lydia had been raped by a prison guard. There are widespread fears that both Lydia and Bernard will be in grave danger ifthey are returned to Cameroon .

Further information on Lydia and Bernard’s case canbe found here:

Cameroonian playwright faces deportation:

http://www.englishpen.org/writersinprison/bulletins/ukplaywrightfacesdeportation/

Lydia Besong appeal for funds successful:

http://www.englishpen.org/writersinprison/wipcnews/cameroonlydiabesongappealforfundssuccessful/

Playwright refused asylum:

http://www.englishpen.org/writersinprison/wipcnews/cameroonukplaywrightrefusedasylum/

Justice for asylum seekers 60 years on:

http://www.englishpen.org/writersinprison/wipcnews/justiceforasylumseekers60yearson/

TAKE URGENT ACTION

Please write letters of appeal to the following –sample letters follow:

Writeto Theresa May, Home Secretary

- Askingher to exercise her discretionary powers to prevent the forced removal of BernardBatey from the UK on KenyaAirways flight KQ526 at 8pm on Saturday 10 September 2011;

- Urgingher to ensure that he is released from detention in the UK immediately.

Rt. Hon Theresa May, MP
Secretary of State for the Home Office,
2 Marsham St
London SW1 4DF
Fax: 020 7035 4745
Emails: mayt@parliament.uk
Emails: Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk / UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk

Writeto Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister

- Asking him to intervene with the HomeSecretary Theresa May to stop the forced removal of Bernard Batey on Saturday10 September 2011 and urging her to ensure his release from detentionimmediately.

Nick Clegg - Deputy Prime Minister'sOffice
Cabinet Office
70 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2AS
Fax: 020 7276 0514

Email: leader@libdems.org.uk

SAMPLE LETTERS

The following sample letters can be used as the basis ofyour appeals. Please do write a more personal letter if you have time and if so,please remember to quote BernardBatey's Home Office Referencenumber B1236372. Please also send copies of all correspondence toadmin@rapar.org.uk and cat@englishpen.org

SAMPLELETTER TO THERESA MAY, HOME SECRETARY

Rt. Hon Theresa May, MP

Secretary of State for the Home Office,

2 Marsham St
 London SW1 4DF

Fax: 020 8760 3132

Dear Ms May,

Re: Lydia Besong & Bernard Batey, HO Ref: B1236372

I am writing as a member of English PEN, the charity which campaigns for writers and playwrights internationally, to urge you to intervene immediately in the case of Lydia Besong and Bernard Batey, two human rights campaigners from
 Cameroon .

According to PEN’s information, at 7.30am on Monday 5 September, at least five UK Border Agency officers went to
 Lydia and Bernard’s home in Bury, Greater Manchester. They took Bernard from the address -
 Lydia was not at the house at the time as she was on her way to the local immigration reporting centre.

Friends and supporters were shocked to learn that Bernardhad been detained whilst the UKBA were deemed to still be considering freshevidence put forward by the couple's lawyer in July. There had been noindication to the couple or their legal representative that the newevidence had been rejected. It was only when their lawyer phoned Dallas CourtReporting Centre to find out why Bernard had been detained that the UKBAinformed them that the further submissions had been turned down. The UKBAlater faxed the legal representative with the reasons for rejection and removalinstructions for Bernard, indicating that the decision to reject the furthersubmissions was taken on 17 August. It remains unclear why no-one was informedof this decision.

As of Monday 5 September, Bernard Batey has been held inColnbrook IRC with removal directions set for Saturday 10 September. It appearsthat the UKBA also want to deport Lydia on the same date.

Lydia and Bernard sought asylum in the
 UK on 18 December 2006. Their asylum claim is based on their activities with the Southern Cameroon National Council, a peaceful political pressure group which campaigns for the rights of the English-speaking minority of
 Southern Cameroon . In Cameroon , both
 Lydia and Bernard suffered beatings and imprisonment as a result of their involvement with the SCNC and
 Lydia was raped by a uniformed guard. These experiences have left them both traumatised and subject to severe depression.

Lydia was an English teacher in
 Cameroon and has written three plays, including one which is critical of
 Cameroon president Paul Biya. She was detained in Yarl's Wood IRC over Christmas 2009 and came within 72 hours of deportation. A campaign to gain her release saw an overwhelming response from people and communities across Greater Manchester and beyond, and a High Court judge granted an injunction to prevent their deportation from the
 UK .

The chairman of the SCNC has since affirmed that
 Lydia and Bernard were active human rights practitioners in
 Cameroon and their human rights work in the
 UK stands as a testimony to that.  Bernard and
 Lydia have worked tirelessly at RAPAR (Refugee and Asylum Seekers Participatory Action Research) and WAST (Women Asylum-Seekers Together) with refugees in similar situations to their own.  They have also worked as volunteers with other charitable organisations and have been extremely active in their church community at
 St Ann 's Church, Belfield, Rochdale , where they are valued members of the congregation.

I am writing to respectfully urge you, as Home Secretary, to exercise your discretionary powers in order to prevent the forced removal of Bernard Batey from the
 UK on Kenya Airways flight KQ526 at 20:00 this Saturday 10 September 2011, and to ensure that he is released from detention in the
 UK immediately. I also request that you grant both Bernard and
 Lydia some form of refugee protection, so that they may continue to make a valuable contribution to our society.

I would welcome your comments on my appeal.

Yours Sincerely,

Name

Address

SAMPLELETTER TO NICK CLEGG, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Att: Nick Clegg

Deputy Prime Minister's Office

70 Whitehall

SW1A 2AS

Dear Mr. Clegg,

Re: Lydia Besong & Bernard Batey, HO Ref: B1236372

I am writingas a member of English PEN, the charity which campaigns for writers andplaywrights internationally, to urge you to intercede with the Home Secretaryin the case of Lydia Besong and Bernard Batey, two human rights campaignersfrom Cameroon .

According to PEN’s information, at 7.30am on Monday 5 September, at least five UK Border Agency officers went to
 Lydia and Bernard’s home in Bury, Greater Manchester. They took Bernard from the address -
 Lydia was not at the house at the time as she was on her way to the local immigration reporting centre.

As of Monday 5 September, Bernard Batey has been held inColnbrook IRC with removal directions set for Saturday 10 September. It appearsthat the UKBA also want to deport Lydia on the same date.

Lydia and Bernard sought asylum in the
 UK on 18 December 2006. Their asylum claim is based on their activities with the Southern Cameroon National Council, a peaceful political pressure group which campaigns for the rights of the English-speaking minority of
 Southern Cameroon . In Cameroon , both
 Lydia and Bernard suffered beatings and imprisonment as a result of their involvement with the SCNC and
 Lydia was raped by a uniformed guard. These experiences have left them both traumatised and subject to severe depression.

Lydia was an English teacher in
 Cameroon and has written three plays, including one which is critical of
 Cameroon president Paul Biya. She was detained in Yarl's Wood IRC over Christmas 2009 and came within 72 hours of deportation. A campaign to gain her release saw an overwhelming response from people and communities across Greater Manchester and beyond, and a High Court judge granted an injunction to prevent their deportation from the
 UK .

The chairman of the SCNC has since affirmed that
 Lydia and Bernard were active human rights practitioners in
 Cameroon and their human rights work in the
 UK stands as a testimony to that.  Bernard and
 Lydia have worked tirelessly at RAPAR (Refugee and Asylum Seekers Participatory Action Research) and WAST (Women Asylum-Seekers Together) with refugees in similar situations to their own.  They have also worked as volunteers with other charitable organisations and have been extremely active in their church community at
 St Ann 's Church, Belfield, Rochdale , where they are valued members of the congregation.

Irespectfully urge you, as Deputy Prime Minister, to call upon the HomeSecretary to exercise her discretionary powers in order to prevent the forcedremoval of Bernard Batey from the UK on Kenya Airways flight KQ526 at 20:00 this Saturday 10 September 2011, and toensure that he is released from detention in the UK immediately.

I wouldwelcome your comments on my appeal.

Yours Sincerely,

Name

Address

Source: English PEN

[English PEN Bulletin] David Hare wins PEN/Pinter Prize

2011-08-26T21:14:00.000-07:00

David Hare wins PEN/Pinter Prize

26 August 2011

The 2011 PEN/Pinter Prize is to be awarded to the playwright, Sir David Hare. The Prize is awarded annually to a British writer or a writer resident in Britain of outstanding literary merit who, in the words of Harold Pinter’s Nobel speech, casts an ‘unflinching, unswerving’ gaze upon the world, and shows a ‘fierce intellectual determination … to define the real truth of our lives and our societies’.

Lady Antonia Fraser, Harold Pinter’s widow and chair of the panel of judges, said

“In the course of his long, distinguished career, David Hare has never failed to speak out fearlessly on the subject of politics in the broadest sense; this courage, combined with his rich creative talent, makes him a worthy winner of the PEN/Pinter Prize”.

David Hare will be presented with his prize at a public event at the British Library on 10 October, at which he will deliver an acceptance speech that will be published by Faber & Faber. He will also announce the winner of the International section of the prize, awarded to a persecuted Writer of Courage, selected by Hare and English PEN’s Writers in Prison Committee.

To read more, visit the PEN website.

Tickets to the event cost £7.50 (£5 concessions) and are available via http://boxoffice.bl.uk or by calling 01937 546546.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Playwright Sir David Hare wins 2011 PEN/Pinter Prize

August 26, 2011This year’s PEN/Pinter Prize is to be awarded to the playwright, Sir David Hare. The judges this year were Hanif Kureishi, Lady Antonia Fraser, Gillian Slovo, Claire Tomalin and Michael Billington.

David Hare will be presented with his prize at a public event at the British Library on 10 October. English playwright and theatre and film director David Hare has received huge critical acclaim over the last 40 years. Many of his plays offer a portrait of contemporary Britain and some of his notable works include Plenty (Faber and Faber, 1978),The Absence of War (Faber and Faber, 1993) and The Blue Room ¬(Faber and Faber, 1998). His numerous awards include a BAFTA, a Golden Bear and an Olivier Award. He was knighted in 1998.

Lady Antonia Fraser, Harold Pinter’s widow, comments:

The PEN/Pinter Prize was established in 2009 by the writers’ charity English PEN in memory of the Nobel-winning playwright Harold Pinter. The Prize is awarded annually to a British writer or a writer resident in Britain of outstanding literary merit who, in the words of Harold Pinter’s Nobel speech, casts an ‘unflinching, unswerving’ gaze upon the world, and shows a ‘fierce intellectual determination … to define the real truth of our lives and our societies’.

The prize is shared with an imprisoned writer of courage selected by English PEN’s Writers in Prison Committee in association with David Hare. This half of the prize is awarded to someone who has been persecuted for speaking out about their beliefs. The winner will be announced at the public event on 10 October where they will accept their prize alongside David Hare.

The British Library is the home of Harold Pinter’s archive. David Hare will make a speech at the British Library event and this will be published afterwards by Faber and Faber.

Tickets, prices £7.50 (£5 concessions), are available via http://boxoffice.bl.uk, by calling 01937 546546 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm), or in person at the British Library. Press tickets are available. Please call Rachel Duffield at Colman Getty on 020 7631 2666.

Notes to Editors

Sir David Hare was a co-founder of the Portable Theatre Company acting, directing and writing plays from the late 1960s. His first play Slag (Faber and Faber) was produced in London at the Hampstead Theatre Club in 1970. He was a resident dramatist at the Royal Court Theatre, London and later at the Nottingham Playhouse.

In 1975 he co-founded the Joint Stock Theatre Company. He began writing for the National Theatre in 1978 where his plays included Plenty (Faber and Faber, 1978), a portrait of disillusionment in post-war Britain and Pravda; and A Fleet Street Comedy, an attack on the English Press written by Howard Brenton (Methuen, 1985). He became an Associate Director of the National Theatre in 1984 and has since seen many of his plays produced such as The Absence of War (Faber and Faber, 1993) about three British institutions – the Anglican church, the legal system and the Labour Party. He has also adapted Chekhov’s Ivanov (Methuen, 1997) and Platanov (Faber and Faber, 2001).

More recent plays include The Permanent Way (Faber and Faber, 2003) the story of a political dream turned sour which explores the privatisation of British Rail and opened at the National Theatre in January 2004. His play Stuff Happens (Faber and Faber, 2004) was premiered at the same theatre in 2005, and is about the invasion of Iraq. David Hare was knighted in 1998 and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

English PEN is the founding centre of a worldwide writers’ association, with centres in more than one hundred countries, whose members work to promote literature and defend free expression.
English PEN’s Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) was established in 1960 to campaign on behalf of imprisoned writers around the world.
The PEN/Pinter Prize is supported by the generosity of Ruth Maxted, the Thompson Family Charitable Trust and an anonymous donor.
Harold Pinter (10 October 1930 – 24 December 2008) was a Vice President of English PEN. He visited Turkey on behalf of the WiPC with Arthur Miller in 1985, where they were escorted by Orhan Pamuk.
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and one of the world's greatest research libraries. It provides world class information services to the academic, business, research and scientific communities and offers unparalleled access to the world's largest and most comprehensive research collection. The Library's collection has developed over 250 years and exceeds 150 million separate items representing every age of written civilisation and includes books, journals, manuscripts, maps, stamps, music, patents, photographs, newspapers and sound recordings in all written and spoken languages. Up to 10 million people visit the British Library website - www.bl.uk - every year where they can view up to 4 million digitised collection items and over 40 million pages.

Public event information

10 October 2011, 6.30pm

The Conference Centre
The British Library
96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB

Prices £7.50 (£5 concessions). Tickets are available via http://boxoffice.bl.uk, or by calling 01937 546546

For more information please contact Rachel Duffield at Colman Getty
020 7631 2666 / rachel@colmangetty.co.uk

Or Miki Lentin, British Library
020 7412 7112 / miki.lentin@bl.uk

PEN News: August 19, 2011‏

2011-08-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

PEN News: August 19, 2011‏

American Centre

UPCOMING EVENTS

Join PEN and The New School for an Evening with Liao Yiwu

Poet and novelist Liao Yiwu, one of China’s most censored writers, makes his first U.S. appearance in nearly two decades. He joins us on the eve of the publication of his new book, God Is Red: The Secret Story of How Christianity Survived and Flourished in Communist China. [Purchase tickets today]

PEN NEWS

Announcing the 2011 PEN Literary Awards Recipients

PEN is pleased to announce the winners and runners-up of the 2011 PEN Awards, the most comprehensive literary awards program in the country. Among the 17 awards, fellowships, grants, and prizes totaling nearly $150,000 are one revived and three new awards. [More]

U.N. Calls for Release of Liu Xiaobo

A U.N. panel comprised of independent legal experts ruled that 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo—currently serving an 11-year sentence—and his wife, Liu Xia—under de facto house arrest—are being held in violation of international law, and calls on China to release them immediately. [More]

PEN Finds Success and Silence During China Trip

Last month a small group of representatives from PEN American Center and PEN International visited Beijing and Hong Kong, and learned firsthand about some of the frustrations that artists and writers in China are facing today. [More]

PEN World Voices Joins the Word Alliance

The PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature joins the six other international literary festivals of the ground-breaking Word Alliance, a collaboration which aims to present the best authors to international audiences at events across the world. [More]

THE DAILY PEN AMERICAN

Recently at the Daily PEN American: lessons from a “homonym spelldown” with Jonathan Franzen, a chat with Kimiko Hahn and new U.S. poet laureate Philip Levine, a long-lost conversation with James Baldwin, and tips on how to survive 23 years in prison. Coming up: readings and talks with Amber Flora Thomas and Gabrielle Calvocoressi, a conversation with exiled Chinese writer Zhao Qing, and excerpts from the 2011 Translation Fund recipients.

Introducing Two New, Ongoing Poetry Series

While the Poetry Relay aims to trace the topography of influence that connects contemporary poets to their peers and predecessors, the PEN Poetry Series, curated by guest editor Ben Mirov, publishes fresh new work by emerging and established writers, and delivers it to your inbox twice a month. [More]

Susan Bernofsky to Serve as Guest Translation Editor

Starting in September, Susan Bernofsky, widely considered one of the best English translators of German literature, will begin a stint as guest translation editor for The Daily PEN American. Until then, you can read her dispatches from the world of literary translation. [More]

SAVE THE DATE

Sept. 15–18:
PEN at the Brooklyn Book Festival

October 12:
PEN Literary Awards Ceremony

November 1:
PEN New Members/New Books Party

BECOME A MEMBER Writers can now apply for PEN membership after the publication of their first book or after producing one work in a professional setting.

[Apply for membership]

INTERN AT PEN

A number of internship opportunities at PEN are available starting in the fall. Learn how you can get involved with promoting literature and defending free expression.

[See internship listings]

PEN American Center | 588 Broadway, Suite 303 | NY, NY 10012 | (212) 334-1660

Tajikistan: BBC journalist on trial

2011-08-23T17:23:00.000-07:00

Tajikistan: BBC journalist on trial

The trial of journalist Urunboy Usmonov of the British Broadcasting Service's Central Asian Service, on behalf of whom we have been campaigning since his arrest in June this year, began last week. Usmonov is indicted on fabricated charges of 'complicity in the activities of banned extremist Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir'. English PEN is calling for the trumped up charges against Usmonov to be dropped and for the Tajik authorities to ensure that no individual is persecuted for carrying out legitimate journalistic activities. Please send letters of appeal - details below.

Usmonov was originally arrested on 13 June 2011, accused of membership of the banned extremist Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir. He was later reported to have been indicted on charges of 'making public calls for mass disorder', which carry a maximum 15-year sentence. This was later changed again, to 'complicity in the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir', for which he faces up to five years in prison if convicted. The BBC has vehemently denied the charges against Usmonov, insisting that any contact he had with Hizb ut-Tahrir members was as part of his journalistic duties.

Whilst in detention, there were widespread concerns for Usmonov's health as he suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure. Hamid Ismailov, an English PEN member who works with Usmonov at the BBC Central Asian Service, visited him in prison on 27 June 2011 and reported that he was 'horrified' to find his colleague in an extremely frail physical and psychological state. English PEN joined Usmonov's colleagues at the BBC for weekly vigils outside BBC's World Service Bush House (photos here), until he was released on bail on 14 July 2011, having signed a written pledge to remain in Tajikistan to face the charges.

Usmonov's trial began one month later, on 15 August 2011, in the Northern city of Khujand . Our colleagues at the BBC World Service published the following statement last week:

BBC World Service is concerned about the treatment of its correspondent, Urunboy Usmonov, after details of torture emerged during his trial which commenced this week in Khojand , Tajikistan .

When questioned, Mr Usmonov told the court that he'd been tortured in custody following his arrest on 13th June this year, including beatings and security officers burning his arms with cigarettes. He also said he'd been forced to sign a confession which had been dictated to him.

The BBC condemns the torture of Mr Usmonov and has asked the Tajikistan authorities to investigate these incidents.

The BBC has consistently maintained Mr Usmonov's innocence and regards the allegations as completely unfounded. Meetings and interviews with people representing all shades of opinion are part of the work of any BBC journalist.

The BBC has asked the Tajik authorities to drop all charges against Mr Usmonov so he can return to his work as a highly respected journalist and writer.

According to Usmonov's lawyer, Faiziniso Vokhidova, the prosecutors have 'claimed as evidence' articles about the banned extremist group which Usmonov had downloaded from the internet, as well as the fact that he had met with several of their members. His lawyer stated that he has also been accused of using the BBC as a platform for Hizb ut-Tahrir propaganda.

Useful Links:

For more information on Usmonov's case, please see the following:
/writersinprison/wipcnews/tajikistanbbcjournalistarrested/
/writersinprison/wipcnews/tajikistanbbcjournalistreleasedonbail/

TAKE ACTION

Please send letters and emails to the authorities in Tajikistan (NB A sample letter follow):

- Calling for the trumped up charges against Usmonov to be dropped immediately;
- Condemning the reported torture of Usmonov and asking the authorities to investigate these claims.

Appeals to be sent to:

Mr. Emomali Rahmon,
President of Tajikistan,
Email: mail@president.tj

Tajikistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Dushanbe Rudaki 42
734051
Fax. 992 372 210 259
Email: admin@mfa.tj

Please also send copies of your appeals to the Embassy in London:

His Excellency Mr. Erkin Kasymov
Tajikistan Embassy
26-28 Hammersmith Grove,
London
W6 0NE
Fax: 0208 834 1100
Email: info@tajembassy.org.uk

Please do let us know if you send an appeal and certainly if you should receive a response from the authorities by emailing cat@englishpen.org

SAMPLE LETTER

Please do write a more personal letter if you have time – the following is just an example

[DATE]

Dear

I am writing to you on as a member of English PEN, the founding centre of the international association of writers, to express my concern for BBC journalist Urunboy Usmonov whose trial on fabricated charges of ‘complicity in the activities of banned extremist Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir’ began last week.

Urunboy Usmonov was originally arrested on 13 June 2011, accused of membership of the banned extremist Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir. He was later reported to have been indicted on charges of ‘making public calls for mass disorder’, which carry a maximum 15-year sentence. This was later changed again, to ‘complicity in the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir’, for which he faces up to five years in prison if convicted. These charges are widely believed to be fabricated and have been vehemently denied by the BBC, which insists that any contact Mr Usmonov had with Hizb ut-Tahrir members was as part of his journalistic duties. I am therefore calling for these charges to be dropped immediately in order to enable Mr Usmonov to return to his work as a highly respected journalist and writer.

Furthermore, I was troubled to learn that, when questioned during his trial last week, Mr Usmonov told the court that he had been tortured whilst in custody. Mr Usmonov claims to have been subjected to beatings following his arrest, and stated that security officers had burned his arms with cigarettes. He also claims to have been forced to sign a confession which had been dictated to him, pledging to remain in Tajikistan to face the charges. I am deeply concerned by these reports of torture, and call upon the authorities to investigate these claims as a matter of urgency and to bring those responsible to justice.

I would welcome your comments on my appeal.

Yours sincerely,

[NAME, ADDRESS]

Announcing the Recipients of the 2011 PEN Literary Awards‏

2011-08-14T05:27:00.000-07:00

PEN AMERICAN CENTER ANNOUNCES
RECIPIENTS OF THE 2011 PEN LITERARY AWARDS
One Revived and Three New Awards to Be Presented

New York City, August 10, 2011—PEN American Center, the largest branch of the world’s oldest literary and human rights organization, today announced the winners and runners up of the 2011 PEN Awards, the most comprehensive literary awards program in the country. Next year will mark PEN’s 90th anniversary. For more than 50 of those years, PEN’s Literary Awards program has honored many of the most outstanding voices in literature.

This year, PEN will present 17 awards, fellowships, grants, and prizes—including one that has been revived after a five-year hiatus, the PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay, and three awards offered for the first time ever: the PEN Emerging Writers Awards, the PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award, and the PEN/ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award for Literary Sports Writing. With the help of its partners and supporters, PEN will confer nearly $150,000 in 2011 to some of the most gifted writers, editors, and translators working today.

Award winners and runners up will be honored at the 2011 PEN Literary Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, October 12, 2011, at CUNY Graduate Center’s Proshansky Auditorium in New York City.

“PEN’s literary awards program is at the heart of what we do,” said PEN President Anthony Appiah. “What ties all our work together—whether we are defending free expression or supporting translation or sustaining literacy—is the aim of nurturing literary culture. By publicly honoring the writers, editors, and translators who create the works we read, we celebrate the connections between readers and writers that shape our literary community. It is our hope that the awards will sustain writers with our respect and our gratitude, as well as help to bring them to the attention of new readers. We owe a special debt of thanks to the sterling judges, who are themselves distinguished writers, and to the generous donors who endow these awards.”
Alice Quinn, PEN Awards Committee Chair, added: “The PEN Literary Awards convey something very specific and marvelous to the winners and finalists: the high regard of their peers and heroes.”

2011 PEN AWARD WINNERS AND RUNNERS UP

PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize ($25,000): To a fiction writer whose debut work, published in 2010, represents distinguished literary achievement and suggests great promise.* Judges: Susan Cheever, Paul Harding, and Yiyun Li. (*This year, the judges have chosen two winners to share the award.)

Winners
Susanna Daniel, Stiltsville (Harper Perennial)

Danielle Evans, Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self (Riverhead)

Runner up
Teddy Wayne, Kapitoil (Harper Perennial)

PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award ($10,000): For a book of literary nonfiction on the subject of the physical and biological sciences published in 2010. Award presented for the first time in 2011. Judges for the inaugural award: Rita Charon, Bill McKibben, and Richard Panek.

Winner
Siddhartha Mukherjee, The Emperor of All Maladies (Scribner)

Runner Up
David Abram, Becoming Animal (Pantheon)

PEN/W. G. Sebald Award for a Fiction Writer in Mid-Career ($10,000): To an author who has published at least three significant works of literary fiction. Judges: Jill Ciment, Salvatore Scibona, and Gary Shteyngart.

Winner
Aleksandar Hemon

PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction ($10,000): A biennial award for a distinguished book of general nonfiction possessing notable literary merit and critical perspective published in 2009 or 2010. Judges: Charles R. Morris, Elaine Showalter, and Lee Siegel.

Winner
Robert Perkinson, Texas Tough: The Rise of America’s Prison Empire (Metropolitan Books, 2010)

Runners Up
John W. Dower, Cultures of War: Pearl Harbor / Hiroshima / 9-11 / Iraq (W. W. Norton & Company, 2010)

Isabel Wilkerson, The Warmth of Other Suns (Random House, 2010)

PEN/Laura Pels Foundation Awards for an American Playwright in Mid-Career and a Master American Dramatist ($7,500): A pair of awards, which honor: a Master American Dramatist and an American Playwright in Mid-Career. Judges: Kenny Leon, Laura Linney, and Thomas Lynch.

American Playwright in Mid-Career
Marcus Gardley

Master American Dramatist
David Henry Hwang

PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay ($5,000): For a book of essays published in 2010 that exemplifies the dignity and esteem of the essay form. Award revived after a five-year hiatus. Judges: André Aciman, Jo Ann Beard, and William H. Gass.

Winner
Mark Slouka, Essays from the Nick of Time: Reflections and Refutations (Graywolf Press)

Runners Up
Elif Batuman, The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux)

Alex Ross, Listen to This (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing ($5,000): For a nonfiction book on the subject of sports published in 2010. Judges: Madeleine Blais, Buzz Bissinger, and Phillip Lopate.

Winner
George Dohrmann, Play Their Hearts Out (Ballantine Books)

PEN/ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award for Literary Sports Writing ($5,000): To a writer whose body of work represents an exceptional contribution to the field. Award presented for the first time in 2011. Judges for the inaugural award: Roy Blount, Jr., Terry McDonell, and David Remnick.

Winner
Roger Angell

PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography ($5,000): For a distinguished biography published in 2010. Judges: Brad Gooch, Benjamin Taylor, and Amanda Vaill.

Winner
Stacy Schiff, Cleopatra: A Life (Little, Brown and Company)

Runners Up
Wendy Moffat, A Great Unrecorded History: A New Life of E. M. Forster (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
Justin Spring, Secret Historian: The Life and Times of Samuel Steward (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

PEN/Joyce Osterweil Award for Poetry ($5,000): To an emerging American poet of any age showing promise of further literary achievement. Judges: Carolyn Forché, Kimiko Hahn, and Terrance Hayes.

Winner
Ishion Hutchinson, Far District (Peepal Tree Press Ltd.)

PEN/Nora Magid Award ($5,000): To a magazine editor whose high literary standards and taste have contributed significantly to the excellence of the publication he or she edits. Judges: Lan Samantha Chang, Willing Davidson, and Jane Smiley.

Winner
Brigid Hughes, Founding Editor of A Public Space

PEN Open Book Award ($5,000): For an exceptional work of literature by an author of color published in 2010. Judges: Cornelius Eady, Nam Le, and Lizzie Skurnick.

Winner
Manu Joseph, Serious Men (W. W. Norton & Company)

Runner Up
John Murillo,Up Jump the Boogie (Cypher Books)

PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship ($5,000): To an author of children’s or young-adult fiction, who has published at least two books, and for whom monetary support is particularly needed to complete a book-length work-in-progress. Judges: Coe Booth, Marina Budhos, and Louis Sachar.

Winner
Lucy Frank, Two Girls Staring at the Ceiling, a novel in verse (available for publication)

PEN Award for Poetry in Translation ($3,000): For a book-length translation of poetry into English published in 2010. Judge: Martha Cooley.

Winner
Khaled Mattawa, Adonis: Selected Poems (Yale University Press, The Margellos World Republic of Letters Series)

Runners Up
Jonathan Galassi, Canti by Giacomo Leopardi (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

Michael Hofmann, Angina Days by Gunter Eich (Princeton University Press)

Charles Simic,Oranges and Snow by Milan Djordjević (Princeton University Press)

PEN Translation Prize ($3,000): For a book-length translation of prose into English published in 2010. Judges: Jonathan Cohen, Barbara Harshav, and Sara Khalili.

Winner
Ibrahim Muhawi, Journal of an Ordinary Grief by Mahmoud Darwish (Archipelago Books)

Runners Up
David Bellos, Hocus Bogus by Romain Gary, publishing as Émile Ajar (Yale University Press)

Malcolm C. Lyons with Ursula Lyons, The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights (Penguin)

PEN Translation Fund Grants ($3,000): To support the translation of book-length works into English. Judges: David Bellos, Susan Bernofsky, Edwin Frank, Michael F. Moore,* Michael Reynolds, Natasha Wimmer, and Jeffrey Yang. (*Non-voting chair of the PEN Translation Fund Advisory Council.)

Amiri Ayanna, The St. Katharinental Sister Book: Lives of the Sisters of the Dominican Convent at Diessenhofen (from Middle High German)

Neil Blackadder, The Test (Good Simon Korach), a play by Swiss dramatist and novelist Lukas Bärfuss (from German)

Clarissa Botsford, Sworn Virgin, a novel by Albanian writer and filmmaker Elvira Dones (from Italian)

Steve Bradbury, Salsa, a collection of poems by Taiwanese poet Hsia Yü (from Chinese)

Annmarie S. Drury, collection of poems by Tanzanian poet Euphrase Kezilahabi (from Swahili)

Diane Nemec Ignashev, Paranoia, a novel by Belarusian author Viktor Martinovich (from Russian)

Chenxin Jiang, Memories of the Cowshed, a memoir by Chinese author Ji Xianlin (from Chinese)

Hilary B. Kaplan, Rilke Shake, a collection of poetry by Brazilian writer Angélica Freitas (from Portuguese)

Catherine Schelbert, Flametti, or the Dandyism of the Poor, a novel by German writer Hugo Ball (from German)

Joel Streicker, Birds in the Mouth, a collection of short stories by Argentine writer Samanta Schweblin (from Spanish)

Sarah L. Thomas, Turnaround, a literary thriller by Spanish writer Mar Goméz Glez (from Spanish)

PEN Emerging Writers Awards ($1,660): One award each to an up-and-coming fiction writer, nonfiction writer, and poet who has been published in a distinguished literary journal, but who has yet to publish a book-length work. Awards presented for the first time in 2011. Judges for the inaugural awards: Reif Larsen, David Lehman, and Robin Romm.

Fiction
Winner
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Nurmuhemmet Yasin

2011-08-05T07:46:00.000-07:00

Source : Radio Free Asia

Nurmuhemmet Yasin

Source : English PEN

Nurmuhemmet Yasin was arrested in Kashgar on 29 November 2004, shortly after the publication of his short story 'Wild Pigeon' ('Yawa Kepter') in the Uighur-language Kashgar Literature Journal. Upon arrest, the authorities confiscated Yasin's personal computer, which contained around 1,600 poems, commentaries, stories, and one unfinished novel. After a closed trial in February 2005, at which Yasin was reportedly denied a lawyer, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for 'inciting Uighur separatism'.

The charge against Yasin is believed to be based on the publication of 'Wild Pigeon', a short, tragic and beautiful tale of a bird that is captured by humans. Yasin's story was widely circulated and recommended for one of the biggest Uighur literary websites in the Uighur Autonomous Region for an outstanding literary award. However, it also attracted the attention of the Chinese authorities, who apparently consider the fable to be a tacit criticism of their government in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.

Yasin's sentence was upheld on appeal by the Kashgar Intermediate Court, and he was transferred on 19 May 2005 to Urumchi No. 1 Jail, where he remains detained today. According to PEN's information, he has been permitted no visitors since his arrest. He is married with two young sons.

Nurmuhemmet Yasin is an award-winning and prolific freelance Uighur writer and Honorary Member of English PEN. He has published many highly acclaimed literary works and prose-poems in recent years, including the poetry collections First Love, Crying from the Heart, and Come on Children. In 2008, Yasin was shortlisted for the inaugural ArtVenture Freedom to Create Prize, a unique prize designed to celebrate the role of the arts in promoting human rights and highlighting the forgotten frontline of artists defending their freedom of expression at great personal sacrifice. The nominated piece of work, 'Wild Pigeon' (Yawa Kepter) has been translated from Uighur into English and Chinese by Dolkun Kamberi, director of Radio Free Asia's Uighur service. The English translation is available online in two parts:

http://www.rfa.org/english/uyghur/2005/06/27/wild_pigeon/

http://www.rfa.org/english/uyghur/2005/06/27/wild_pigeon2/

Writing sample: From 'Wild Pigeon'. Translated by Dr Dolkun Kamberi, Radio Free Asia.

I gaze at my mother for the last time. She seems peaceful, and brave. I stretch my damaged mouth out toward her. My beak, my only remaining weapon, an enemy to the humans, it protected and fed me, and then led me into the humans' trap. It is broken now, shattered by my failed collision with the iron bars.

The poisons from the strawberry flow through me like the sound of freedom itself, along with gratitude that now, now, finally, I can die freely. I feel as if my soul is on fire - soaring and free.

Nurmuhemmet Yasin is an Honorary Member of English PEN, American PEN and the Indepedent Chinese PEN Centre. We firmly believe that he has been detained in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory, and continue to call for his immediate and unconditional release.

TAKE ACTION

Write to the authorities

Please write to the Chinese Ambassador in London calling for Nurmuhemmet Yasin's immediate and unconditional release from prison:

His Excellency Liu Xiaoming
Embassy of the People's Republic of China
49 Portland Place
London
W1B 1JL

Fax: 020 7636 2981
Email: secretary@chinese-embassy.org.uk

Write to Nurmuhemmet

If you would like to write directly to Nurmuhemmet Yasin in prison, please contact cat@englishpen.org for more details.
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Read here

Wild Pigeon—by Nurmuhemmet Yasin. Part 1.

2005-06-27

Image: RFA

Translator's note: This story was first published in issue No. 5 of the 2004 Kashgar Literature Magazine by a young freelance writer, Nurmuhemmet Yasin, to widespread acclaim among the Uyghur people. The author has since been detained by the Chinese authorities because of its strong portrayal of a people deeply unhappy with life under Beijing's rule. RFA broadcast a dramatized version of the story in Uyghur earlier this year.

Dream or reality?

Here I am, seemingly in flight in the deep blue sky. I cannot tell if I am dreaming or awake. A bracing wind cuts into my wing—my spirit is soaring and my body is powerful and strong. The glow of morning seems endless, and sun streams brightly, beautifully on the world. Such beautiful landscapes! I climb ever higher as my spirits soar.

The strawberry fields disappear from view, and the world is suddenly broader, like a deep blue carpet spread out beneath me. This is a wonderland I have never seen before. I love this place as I love my hometown—with all my heart—all of it so beautiful beneath my wings.

Now houses and neighborhoods appear below, along with living, moving creatures—they must be the humans whom my mother warned me to avoid. Maybe my mother has grown old. They don’t look dangerous to me—how could such creatures, who crawl so slowly on the Earth, be more powerful than birds who soar through the skies?

"Mankind's tricks are legion; their schemes are hidden in their bellies; be sure that you do not make carelessness your jailer."

Perhaps I am wrong, but they don’t look so terrible. My mother has always told me they are treacherous, scheming creatures who would as soon trap and cage us as they would look at us. How can that be? Perhaps I am not bright enough to understand this. Suddenly I am overcome with the desire to see and know these humans, and I fly lower, hovering above them and seeing everything more clearly. And always my mother says to me: "Mankind's tricks are legion; their schemes are hidden in their bellies; be sure that you do not make carelessness your jailer."

Suddenly I know that I want to see these schemes of mankind. Why would they hide them in their bellies? This is impossible for me to understand.

The descent

I descend gradually, hovering in the air above the dwelling-places. The things below are now very clear to me. I can see people, their cows, their sheep and chickens, and many other things I’ve never seen before. A group of pigeons is flying around, with some of them perched on a branch.

I drop down to join in their conversation—or is to have a rest? I can’t remember clearly now. My feelings at the time were quite confused. But I want very much to know more about their lives.

"Where are you from?" one pigeon asks me. He is older than the rest, but I cannot tell for sure if he is the leader of this group. Anyway, I am not one of them, so his position is not that important to me. And so I answer simply: "I am from the strawberry shoal."

I drop down to join in their conversation—or is to have a rest? I can’t remember clearly now. My feelings at the time were quite confused. But I want very much to know more about their lives.

"I heard about that place from my grandpa—our ancestors also come from there," he replies. "But I thought it was quite far away—and that it would take months to fly here from there. We cannot fly so far. Perhaps you are lost?"

Was he so old he couldn’t fly that small distance in a few days, as I had done? Perhaps he was far older even than he looked—or perhaps he was thinking of a different, more distant strawberry shoal. If his grandfather came from the same strawberry shoal, we might even be relatives, I think. But to the old pigeon I reply: "I am not lost—I was practicing flying and came here intentionally. I’ve been flying for just a few days, but I haven’t eaten anything since I left home."

What is a soul?

The old pigeon looks surprised. "You must be a wild pigeon," he says. "Everyone says we are not as brave as you, that we think no further than the branches on which we rest and the cages in which we sleep. I have always lived here and have ventured no farther out—and why should I? Here I have a branch for resting and a cage for living, and everything is ready-made for me. Why would we leave here—to suffer? Besides, I am married. I have a family. Where would I go? My hosts treat me well," he concludes, pecking a bit at his own feathers.

"I have heard some say that mankind is terrible," I reply. "They say that if humans catch us, they will enslave our souls. Is this true?"

"Soul? What’s a soul, grandfather?" a young pigeon sitting beside me asks. I am stunned that he doesn’t know this word, doesn’t know what a soul is. What are these pigeons teaching their children? To live without a soul, without understanding what a soul is, is pointless. Do they not see this? To have a soul, to have freedom—these things cannot be bought or given as gifts; they are not to be had just through praying, either.

"Soul? What’s a soul, grandfather?" a young pigeon sitting beside me asks. I am stunned that he doesn’t know this word.

Freedom of the soul, I feel, was crucial for these pitiful pigeons. Without it, life is meaningless, and yet they seem never even to have heard of the word.

The old pigeon touches the head of his grandchild, saying: "I don’t know either what a soul is. I once heard the word from my own grandfather, who heard the world from his great-grandfather. And he perhaps heard of it from his great-great-grandfather. My own grandfather sometimes said: 'We pigeons lost our souls a long time ago,' and perhaps this is the soul that this wild pigeon mentions now—and today we possess not even a shadow of such a thing."

The old pigeon turns to face me and asks, "Tell me, child, do you know what a soul is?"

The pigeons' debate

I freeze, realizing that I cannot begin to answer the very question my words have prompted. Finally I reply, "I cannot. But my mother tells me I possess my father’s daring and adventurous spirit…Once it matures, I will certainly know and understand what a soul is."

The old pigeon replies, "That must be your father’s spirit in you now. It’s not only our fathers’ generations we have lost, but the soul of the entire pigeon community has already disappeared. My mother and her family never mentioned the soul to us, either, nor have I used the word with my own children. So perhaps we have already entered an era without souls. How lovely it would be, to return to that earlier time." The old pigeon smiles, and falls into a pleasant reverie.

"Without your souls," I tell him, "generations of pigeons will be enslaved by human beings—who can make a meal of you at any time. Even if they set you free, you will not leave your family and your rations of food behind. You do not want to throw away your resting place, and a small amount of pigeon food. Yet you let your descendants became the slaves of mankind. You will need a leader, but first you must free your soul—and understand what a soul is. Why don’t you come with me and we can try to ask my mother?"

"I already have one foot in the grave," he tells me, "and my pigeon cage is safe.

I cannot tell now whether it’s the old pigeon or myself I want to educate about the soul. Perhaps it is both.

"I already have one foot in the grave," he tells me, "and my pigeon cage is safe. Where shall I look to understand the soul? I wouldn’t recognize a soul if I saw one, and I wouldn’t know where to look for it. And how will it help me if I find mine? Here our lives are peaceful. Nothing happens, and our lives are tranquil. How can I ask others to give up such a life to find something whose value we cannot see?"

I contemplate the old pigeon’s words—which sound wise at first but, on reflection, are entirely wrong. Suddenly I feel ashamed, embarrassed, to find myself holding such a philosophical discussion with these pigeons, these soulless birds. I decide to go and find my mother.

Strange words replace mother's milk

At this point, a group of pigeons descends to the branch beside us. I hear them speaking among themselves, but I cannot understand their words. Perhaps they are using their own mother tongue. We also have some such foreigners occasionally flying to our place. Are they foreign vistors? Friends or relatives of the old pigeon? I cannot tell. Nor can I tell whether they wish to include me in their discussion.

"How are you, my child," the old pigeon asks, pecking at the feathers of a smaller pigeon.

"Not good. I'm hungry," the smaller pigeon replies. "Why doesn’t my mother feed me any more?" The small pigeon talks on about pigeon food—I think I hear the word corn or millet, or hemp. They use many different names for pigeon food that I don’t know. These tamed pigeons are very strange—so many of their words I don’t recognize.

These tamed pigeons are very strange—so many of their words I don’t recognize.

"Your mother is trying to save all the nourishment for the siblings you will have soon," the old pigeon replies. "You have to wait for the humans to come and feed us."

"I cannot wait—I should fly out to the desert and look for myself," the young bird replies.

"Please listen to me, my good little boy. It is too dangerous—if you go there, someone will catch you and eat you. Please don’t go." The small pigeon tries to calm its expression. These pigeons all seem to listen to this elder of the group.

Acceptance of a caged life

These pigeons are living among humans who would catch them and eat them, but how they can do this I don’t understand. Have I misunderstood the word "eat"? Maybe it means the same thing as "care for" in their dialect. If this is a borrowed word, maybe I misinterpreted it. And yet this is an important word—every pigeon must know it. My mother tells me to be careful—"don’t let the humans catch you and eat you." If these pigeons fear being caught and eaten, how can they possibly have lived among humans? Perhaps they have even forgotten that they have wings, and perhaps they wouldn’t want to leave the pigeon cage to which they have grown so accustomed.

"So, how is our host?" the small pigeon begins to ask the old pigeon.

"Very well," his elder replies.

"But perhaps our host is like other humans, and would catch and eat us if given the chance."

"That is different," the elder replied. "The humans keep us in the pigeon cage to feed us, and it is right that they would eat us if necessary; it is a necessity for mankind to be able to catch us and eat us. That is the way it should be. No pigeon among us is permitted to object to this arrangement."

Who is the enemy?

Now I understand that "eat" has the same meaning here as it does at home. A moment ago I was trying to guess what exactly they mean when they say the word "eat." Now I don't have to guess any more.

"But our host has spilled all of our food—and the largest pigeon has eaten it all. I cannot begin to fight for the food I need. What can I do? I grow weaker and thinner by the day. I cannot survive this way for long."

"You too will grow up slowly, and you too will learn how to snatch a little food from around the big pigeon there. But you must on no account give away anything edible to others. That is how to survive here."

Pigeons should learn to be satisfied with what they have. Don’t try to argue for what is surplus to requirements.

"But, grandpa—" the young pigeon starts.

"That's enough, my child. Don’t say any more. Pigeons should learn to be satisfied with what they have. Don’t try to argue for what is surplus to requirements."

A larger space

At this stage I feel compelled to speak, and I interrupt. "You have cut away at his freedom," I say. "You should give him a larger space. You should let him live at according to his own free will." I simply cannot remain silent. To live as the old pigeon suggests would destroy all fellowship among our species.

"Ah, you do not understand our situation," the older pigeon dismisses me. "To anger our host is impossible. If anyone disobeys his rules and ventures out from his territory, all of us will land inside a cage—staring out from behind bars for months. We would lose the very branch on which we are sitting."

What exactly is this thing, a pigeon cage? I have no hint, no clue. These pigeons say they are so terrified of landing in the cage, but at the same time they are afraid of losing it. Most perplexing of all is how any of these pigeons could bear to live among men. Have I discussed this with my own grandfather? I don’t believe he ever gave me a clear answer.

What exactly is this thing, a pigeon cage? I have no hint, no clue. These pigeons say they are so terrified of landing in the cage, but at the same time they are afraid of losing it.

Instead I tell the older pigeon, "You sound exactly like one them—one of the men. Taking food from weaker and smaller pigeons and forbidding them to resist. Then you try very hard to cover your bad behavior. How can this environment provide for the growth and health of future generations? You are depraved—ignorant and stupid."

"Don’t insult the humans," he replies indignantly. "Without them, we wouldn’t be here today. Take your anti-human propaganda somewhere else."

How could he fail to see that I meant no harm—that I intended only to help? Perhaps I should explain further.

A dream of destiny

"You have no sense of responsibility—you are condemning others to this existence; you are pushing your legacy to the edge of the bonfire," I continue. I want to go on, to press the same message even more vividly. But suddenly I hear a piercing sound and feel a vicious pain in my legs. I try to fly, but my wings hang empty at my sides. All the other pigeons fly up and hover above me.

"Look at you, stirring up trouble—now you will taste life inside a pigeon cage," one of them shouts. "Then let’s see if you carry on this way again!"

Suddenly I understand. The old pigeon drew me in toward him to set me up so his host could catch me. Pain fills my heart. The humans weren’t any danger to me—it was my own kind who betrayed me in hope of their own gain. I cannot understand it, and I am grieved. Suddenly I am seized with the idea that I cannot give in—as long as I can still break off my legs, I can free myself. Using all of my strength, I fly one way and another in turn.

Pain fills my heart. The humans weren’t any danger to me—it was my own kind who betrayed me in hope of their own gain.

"Don't be silly, child, stand up! What is the matter with you?" The voice is my mother’s. She stares at me and I realize that I am unhurt.

My mother says:" "You had a nightmare." "I had a very terrible dream." I embrace my mother closely, and tell her everything in my dream.

"Child, in your dream you saw our destiny," she replies. "Mankind is pressing in on us, little by little, taking up what once was entirely our space. They want to chase us from the land we have occupied for thousands of years and to steal our land from us. They want to change the character of our heritage—to rob us of our intelligence and our kinship with one another. Strip us of our memory and identity. Perhaps in the near future, they will build factories and high-rises here, and the smoke that comes from making products we don’t need will seep into the environment and poison our land and our water. Any rivers that remain won’t flow pure and sweet as they do now but will run black with filth from the factories."

Setting out from the strawberry shoal

"This invasion by mankind is terrible," she says. "Future generations will never see pure water and clean air—and they will think that this is as it has always been. They will fall into mankind’s trap. These humans are coming closer and closer to us now, and soon it will be too late to turn back. No one else can save us from this fate—we must save ourselves. Let’s go outside. It’s time for me to tell you about your father."

She leads me outside. Around us the land is covered in wildflowers and a carpet of green—no roads, no footprints, just an endless vast steppe. Our land sits on a cliff that overhangs a riverbank, with thousands of pigeon nests nearby. A pristine river flows beneath, sending a sort of lullaby us to where we stand. To me, this is the most beautiful and safest place on Earth. Without humans encroaching upon us, we might live in this paradise forever.

"This is your land," my mother says. "This is the land of your ancestors. Your father and grandfather, both leaders of all the pigeons in the territory, each helped to make it even more beautiful. Their work, their legacy, only raised us up even higher among the pigeons. The weight on your shoulders is heavy, and I hope only that you can follow in your father’s brave footsteps. Every morning I have trained you, teaching you to fly hundreds of miles in a day. Your muscles are hard and strong and your wisdom is already great."

"This is your land," my mother says. "This is the land of your ancestors. Your father and grandfather, both leaders of all the pigeons in the territory, each helped to make it even more beautiful.

"Your body is mature, and now your mind, your intelligence, must catch up. Always, always be cautious with humans. Don’t think that because they walk on the ground beneath us that you are safe. They have guns. They can shoot you down from thousands of meters away. Do you know how your father died?"

"No," I tell her. "You started to tell me once but then stopped, saying it wasn’t yet time."

"Well, now the time has come," she says. "A few days ago, I saw several humans exploring around here. They followed us carefully with their eyes. We must find a safe place before they come here. It was at their hands that your father died."

A proud heritage

"Please tell me, Mother. How did he fall into their hands?" My mother contemplates—her face is sad.

"One day, your father led a group of pigeons looking for food for us. Usually, they chose safe areas with plenty of food. Your father always led these missions—he was a strong and responsible leader. So this time he led the others out, but after several days he hadn’t returned. I was terribly worried. Usually, if he found a place with a great deal of food more than a half-day’s flight from here, we would move our nest. He would never go so far or stay so long away from home."

"In my heart I was certain he had had an accident. At that time, you and your younger brothers and sisters had only recently hatched, so I couldn’t leave you to go and look for him. Eventually, after several months, one of the pigeons who flew out with your father returned. This only made me more certain that that your father had fallen into some kind of trap. Then all the rest of them returned safely—one after another. All except your father."

All the while I expect my mother to wail or lament, but here a brave glint comes into her eye.

"Your father was a pigeon king with a regal spirit. How could he protect the others if he could not protect himself? How could a pigeon who was trapped by humans come back and fulfill his role as pigeon king? The humans trapped him, kept him, and in keeping with the traditions of the royal household, he bit off his tongue. He couldn’t bear one more second locked in that pigeon cage. The pigeon cage was dyed red with his blood. He refused their food and drink, and he lived exactly one week. He sacrificed himself. His spirit was truly free. I hope only that you will grow up to be like your father, a protector of freedom forever."

"Mammy, why couldn’t my father find the opportunity to escape like other pigeons?"

Freedom or death

"The humans hoped your father would pair with another pigeon, a tamed pigeon, and produce mixed offspring with her. But he could never have children who were kept as slaves—it would be too shameful for him. Those pigeons in your dream were the descendants of those who accepted slavery and begged for their own lives. Child, their souls are kept prisoner. A thousand deaths would be preferable to a life like that. You are the son of this brave pigeon. Keep his spirit alive in you," she says.

My mother's words shock my soul for a long time. I am infinitely delighted at being a son of such a brave pigeon, but I feel a surge of pride and happiness. My heart feels strong and proud. With all the love in my heart, I embrace my mother.

"Now you must go," she tells me. "I give you up for the sake of our motherland and all the pigeons. Don’t leave these pigeons without a leader. The humans are more and more aggressive, using all manner of tactics to trap us. Go now and find a safe place for us, my child."

My wings are wet with my mother's tears. Now the meaning of my dream is clear: that I must go forth on an expedition. But by no means, I think, will I fall into a trap set by humans.

I fly farther and farther away, first along the river and then into the area where the humans make their homes. It is nothing like the dwelling place in my dream, but I am careful—flying higher and higher. My wings have enough power. I hear not human debate, but the music of the wind in my ears.

In search of a new home

These humans are not so strong and frightening, I think. If I fly too high, I fear I will miss my target. If I fly too far, it will affect our migration plan. To tell the truth, I disagree with my mother’s migration plan. Our land is on a very high precipice—how can humans climb here when it is even difficult for pigeons? We were here, one after another, generation after generation, living a happy life. Why should we leave now, to run from humans who are weaker than we imagine? Now I am flying over the human settlements. I feel no danger. Perhaps my mother worries too much.

Now the sky is black. Everything around me is going dark, and now the world disappears in utter darkness. Everything disappears into the night, and I realize that I have been flying for an entire day, and I am exhausted. I must rest. I have already explored to the West, North, and South, and still I have found nowhere we can live. I haven’t yet find a good place to which we can migrate.

Perhaps I have flown too high. Perhaps tomorrow I can fly East, at a lower altitude. The stars flicker in the sky. How can anyone who lives in such a world of beauty be afraid? Slowly I descend, falling into a tree. Tomorrow I will awaken, but I don’t know where. Then I will start again, flying lower in the sky. Perhaps then I will be able to find us a new home.

Wild Pigeon—by Nurmuhemmet Yasin. Part 2.

2005-06-27

A lyrical voice awakens me, dredges me up from the deep, sweet sleep that belongs only to the very young and to those exhausted beyond measure. A group of pigeons flocks toward me—I hear their voices alongside their beating wings, and I am shocked to see that they look exactly like me. At first they resemble the pigeons in my dream, but when I look closely I can see that they are different.

First, though, I must find out where I can fill my empty stomach. I ask these pigeons where there is a safe place one can find food. They change the direction suddenly, flying away from the dwelling-places. I follow them.

An empty belly

"Where are you going?" I ask a pigeon at the back of the group.

"To the mill house."

"What will you do there?"

"Look for pigeon food"

"Are you looking for something to eat?"

His eyes are icy as he asks me, "So you are a wild pigeon?"

"Originally are you a wild pigeon?"

"Yes, I am from the strawberry shoal."

The pigeon-catchers

I follow them to the mill house where I see large store of wheat covered with straw. The flavor is really sweet, and I think this storehouse looks good—without any trace of humans. The other pigeons look peaceful and contented. I also start to trust this peaceful environment, take courage, and fill my belly.

This is nothing like what my mother described of the outside world. I reach out trustingly for the wheat in front of me. Suddenly, a fierce power is choking my neck. I try to move away, as fast as an arrow shot from a bow, but find I am choking, and an unknown power is pulling me back, just as fast. I try to hide but I cannot—I am pulled down, flying, circling, without direction.

All the other pigeons scatter upward, and I fear I may crash to the ground as in my dream. I fear I am falling into human hands, but no humans are near. Time passes, but I have no idea how many hours elapse. Suddenly, two humans appear, and I think I have been caught—then the chokehold on my neck relaxes.

Suddenly, a fierce power is choking my neck. I try to move away, as fast as an arrow shot from a bow, but find I am choking, and an unknown power is pulling me back, just as fast. I try to hide but I cannot—I am pulled down, flying, circling, without direction.

"This is a wild pigeon," a younger-looking human says.

"Hold him firmly—tie up his wings so he won’t fly away," says the other. Together they bind my wings, grasp my neck, and stare into my eyes.

"Hey, this is a great species—it’s really good luck," the elder human says, turning me over and over in his hands for a closer look.

'Set him free'

"This wild pigeon is already useless—set him free," says the elder. "Set him free. He has already bitten off his tongue. When you catch this kind of pigeon, you have no choice but to set him free. Usually it’s only the leader of the flock who will do this."

"At least let us keep him for eggs," the younger human protests.

"This kind of pigeon—he won’t eat or drink if we keep him. He will resist and refuse until death."

The younger human is adamant. "We can’t just let him go!"

"All right then, it’s your choice. You’ll see that I am telling the truth. I once caught such a pigeon and insisted on keeping it—but he lived only a week," says the elder.

The ordeal of the cage

"I will certainly tame it," the younger human replies confidently."

You will never tame me, I think. I will find a way home. I am ashamed of myself for failing to take my mother’s words to heart and then falling into a trap laid by humans. I draw all of my remaining strength and feel for a moment that I might fly free. Instead, I crash to the ground.

"Dirty bastard!" the younger human cries. "At least I bound up one wing—I suppose that kept him from flying free."

He packs me into a bag, apparently planning to take me with him somewhere. Perhaps he aims to bind both wings and put me in a cage. I see several pigeons behind iron bars, all gathered at one corner.

I see several pigeons behind iron bars, all gathered at one corner.

"You must have been very hungry indeed, or you wouldn’t have fallen into my trap," says the younger human, as he places food and water in one corner of the iron cage. The instant he sets the food down, pigeons flock at the corner of cage, frantically rushing toward it. At this moment, anger burns through me and I wonder if crashing into the bars would deliver a fatal blow to my head and end this horror.

But my wing remains bound—and I am immobilized. I raise my head slightly toward the sun, thinking that in less than a day I have fallen into a trap set by humans. If my mother could see me now, what would she think? I lower myself to the floor.

Neither eating, nor being eaten

In my dream, I see my mother against a deep blue sky, calling to me. My father appears, tall and stately, and I feel proud of him. They call out to me again and I fly toward them—but they retreat. Again I fly toward my parents and again they retreat. I stop flying, and they stop as well. I am thirsty and call out, "Mother, water!"

A human voice shakes me back to consciousness. ""This pigeon is truly stubborn," the voice says. "He has been here five days and eaten nothing." It is the younger of the two humans who first caught me.

"Didn’t I tell you that feeding him would be useless?" his elder replies crossly.

Just let him go. To watch a pigeon such as this die slowly is too pitiful.

"But if he continues to fast, he will die. Wouldn’t it be better if I just cooked him now for broth for my child?"

The elder is derisive. "You’d get nothing much from him now and you’d probably fall ill. Just let him go. To watch a pigeon such as this die slowly is too pitiful"

"Setting him free does us no good," the younger man replies.

'Nothing good will come of this'

"Nothing good will come of this in any event."

"We should have made a soup of him immediately," the younger man says. As he tries to unbind my wings and place me on the cage floor, I summon all the strength I have left, thinking I might fly up to the sky. But the wire is too strong, and I cannot.

I want to hurtle toward the cage door and escape, but I cannot. This cage is supremely clever in its cruelty, I think, in allowing anyone caught inside ample view of the freedoms denied to him—with no hope of regaining them.

This cage is supremely clever in its cruelty, I think, in allowing anyone caught inside ample view of the freedoms denied to him—with no hope of regaining them.

The air inside and outside this cage are identical, I think, but the life possible on my side of these iron bars might just as well belong to a different universe. Whoever designed such a device was truly an iron fist with the blackest of hearts—determined to immobilize small creatures such as me even though I can bring them no conceivable benefit. By caging my body, they hope to enslave my soul, I think. I want to end my life but I cannot, and this is worst of all. "Heartless humans who killed my freedom," I want to cry out, "either set me free or let me die!"

A familiar smell comes to me, and then I see my mother—her eyes gleaming, anxious, noting in turn my loosened feathers, my broken mouth, my pathetic, twisted wings.

The soul's release

"Forgive me, mother," I start to say. "I wasn’t equal to the trust you placed in me. I am not fit to be your son." I lower my head, like a condemned criminal in the dock. Why couldn’t I have died before she arrived here?

"You did everything in your power," she replies. "Now you must end this."

"But mama, I cannot," I tell her. "I am a prisoner—without energy, without strength. Much as I would like to die, I cannot."

"That is clear," she tells me. "And so I have come to bring you freedom."

"I no longer deserve freedom," I say. "I am no longer worthy of being your child."

"Then I shall tell you again—I have brought you freedom. You are still my brave child—you must not be forced to live like a slave but must be allowed to die bravely, with dignity," she says, pushing a bit of food toward me.

A high price for freedom

"This strawberry is the poisonous variety—eat it, and it will set you free. Restore the honor of our flock. And remember always that true freedom comes only at a high price. Here, move your mouth closer to me."

I gaze at my mother for the last time. She seems peaceful, and brave. I stretch my damaged mouth out toward her. My beak, my only remaining weapon—an enemy to the humans, it protected and fed me, and then led me into the humans’ trap. It is broken now, shattered by my failed collision with the iron bars.

Finally, I can die freely. I feel as if my soul is on fire—soaring and free.

The poisons from the strawberry flow through me like the sound of freedom itself, along with gratitude that now, now, finally, I can die freely. I feel as if my soul is on fire—soaring and free.

I see everything clearly now—the sky is still such a deep blue and the world remains so beautiful, and everything is so quiet and still. A group of pigeons gathers at the edge of cage around me, watching me, puzzled and surprised.

Maralbeshi County March 24, 2004

Translated by Dr. Dolkun Kamberi, RFA Uyghur service director. Edited by Sarah Jackson-Han. Produced for the Web in English by Luisetta Mudie.

The Girona Manifesto

2011-08-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

The Girona Manifesto

Source : PEN International

The Girona Manifesto is precisely that. On one page containing ten points and written in a language which is both literary and practical, this Manifesto creates a tool we can all use.

Of course, our Assembly in Belgrade will be asked to approve it. But I thought it important to lay out the context in which this Manifesto can be read.

We are all concerned about pressures being put on languages with a smaller population base. We are concerned about the lack of translation from these languages and the difficulty they have making themselves heard in the world. Many languages are in danger. Many are actually disappearing. The loss of one's language, and through that loss much of one's culture, can be seen as the ultimate removal of freedom of expression.

The Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee began working on this Manifesto in our three official languages after its 2010 meeting.

At its 2011 meeting, in which both Hori Takeaki and myself took part, everyone present spent much of their time debating this short text in three languages. The result was The Girona Manifesto, which was unanimously adopted.

This Manifesto could give us a clear public document with which to defend and advance languages with smaller populations, as well, as endangered languages.

I encourage all of you to read it, to translate it into your own languages before Belgrade, and to think about how we could best use it to advance the multiplicity of languages and cultures that PEN International represents.

GIRONA MANIFESTO ON LINGUISTIC RIGHTS

PEN International brings together the writers of the world.

Fifteen years ago, the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights was first made public in Barcelona by PEN International's Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee.

Today, that same Committee, gathered together in Girona, declares a Manifesto of the Universal Declaration's ten central principles.

1. Linguistic diversity is a world heritage that must be valued and protected.

2. Respect for all languages and cultures is fundamental to the process of constructing and maintaining dialogue and peace in the world.

3. All individuals learn to speak in the heart of a community that gives them life, language, culture and identity.

4. Different languages and different ways of speaking are not only means of communication; they are also the milieu in which humans grow and cultures are built.

5. Every linguistic community has the right for its language to be used as an official language in its territory.

6. School instruction must contribute to the prestige of the language spoken by the linguistic community of the territory.

7. It is desirable for citizens to have a general knowledge of various languages, because it favours empathy and intellectual openness, and contributes to a deeper knowledge of one's own tongue.

8. The translation of texts, especially the great works of various cultures, represents a very important element in the necessary process of greater understanding and respect among human beings.

9. The media is a privileged loudspeaker for making linguistic diversity work and for competently and rigorously increasing its prestige.

10. The right to use and protect one's own language must be recognized by the United Nations as one of the fundamental human rights.

Committee of Translation and Linguistic Rights of PEN International

Girona, 13th of May 2011

PEN News: July 21, 2011‏

2011-08-05T06:45:00.000-07:00

PEN News: July 21, 2011‏

PEN MEMBERSHIP
CRITERIA AMENDED

PEN’s membership criteria have now been amended to allow writers to apply after the publication of their first book or after producing one work in a professional setting. Previously, most authors were required to have published two books to join PEN. Spread the word: encourage friends and colleagues to apply. [More]

PEN SHORTS CONTEST

PEN Shorts posts a new short narrative contest every few weeks. This week’s contest asks writers to channel Ernest Hemingway by rewriting a tabloid story using the author’s signature style. [More]

FIND PEN ONLINE

NOTE: To unsubscribe from our mailing list, please use the orange links at the bottom of this newsletter. For any other issues, please contact us here.

ADVOCACY NEWS

Dissident Writer Liao Yiwu Flees China

Independent Chinese PEN Center (ICPC) board member Liao Yiwu has fled his native China for Germany and declared himself an exile. Liao, author of the groundbreaking work The Corpse Walker: Real Life Stories, China From the Bottom Up, was to have appeared at this year’s PEN World Voices Festival but was barred from traveling to the United States just days before the Festival kicked off. [More]

Poet Ayat al-Gormezi Released from Prison

One month after she was sentenced to a year in prison on anti-state charges for poems critical of the king, Bahraini poet and student Ayat al-Gormezi was released. PEN continues to call for the sentence to be officially revoked, and for the release of those who remain detained for the peaceful expression of their views. Watch video of al-Gormezi reading her poem in Pearl Square. [More]

Tran Khai Thanh Thuy Released from Prison

Jailed Vietnamese writer and PEN Honorary Member Tran Khai Thanh Thuy was released from prison and has arrived safely in the United States. Thanh Thuy, a renowned novelist, poet, essayist, and member of the pro-democracy group Bloc 8406, was serving a three-year sentence on a trumped-up assault charge. [More]

NEW AT PEN.ORG

The Daily PEN American, PEN’s New Blog, Launches

Taking inspiration from the passionate promotion of literature and free expression by past PEN Presidents Susan Sontag, Arthur Miller, and Salman Rushdie and from PEN’s broad base of talented members, the Daily PEN American aims to remind readers that freedom of expression is not just about the right to speak freely but the right to hear and read what others are saying anywhere in the world. In the coming months expect to find amazing work by both American and international authors, new translations, news from the front lines of our advocacy campaigns, voices of those imprisoned or in jeopardy for their writing, and much more. [More]

2011 PEN Translation Fund Grant Recipients Announced

The PEN Translation Fund, now celebrating its eighth year, is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s competition. From a field of more than 130 applicants, the Fund’s Advisory Board has selected 11 projects for funding. [More]

Online Translation Slam: 끝에 선 나무들

PEN’s online Translation Slam showcases the art of translation by juxtaposing two “competing” translations of a single work. For this final installment, we asked translators to test their linguistic mettle on 끝에 선 나무들, a poem by Korean writer Jeong Kkeut-byeol. [More]

Presenting the 2011 Prison Writing Contest Winners

Each year, the PEN Prison Writing Program recognizes the work of writers imprisoned throughout the country. Exiled from our schools and society, inmates submit manuscripts in every form to one of the only forums of public expression for incarcerated writers. [More]

PEN American Center | 588 Broadway, Suite 303 | NY, NY 10012 | (212) 334-1660

[English PEN Bulletin] Very strong shortlist for leading prize for memoir

2011-07-12T22:25:00.000-07:00

Very strong shortlist for leading prize for memoir

12th July 2011

English PEN today announces the shortlist for the 2011 PEN/Ackerley Prize for Memoir:

John Burnside - Waking Up in Toytown ( Cape )
Edmund de Waal - The Hare with Amber Eyes (Chatto)
Michael Frayn - My Father’s Fortune (Faber)
Jackie Kay - Red Dust Road (Picador)

The PEN/Ackerley Prize is judged by Georgina Hammick, Francis King, Peter Parker (chair) and Colin Spencer. The award is given to a literary autobiography of outstanding merit, written by an author of British nationality and published in the United Kingdom in the previous year. Past winners include Alan Bennett, Jenny Diski, Lorna Sage, Blake Morrison, Barry Humphries and Margaret Forster.

Peter Parker, Chair of the Judges, commented:

‘Memoir and autobiography are constantly evolving forms, and the judges had a particularly wide range of books from which to select a shortlist and winner this year. As a result, our longlist was unusually long, comprising books that were classic traditional examples of the genre alongside those that took a more oblique or unusual approach. After a great deal of discussion, we produced a shortlist that was unusually short, four books rather than the more usual six. It is, however, a very strong one.’

For more information please visit www.englishpen.org or contact Sarah Hesketh, Assistant Director: sarah@englishpen.org