NEWS

Hidden message
The Burmese authorities have arrested the poet Saw Wai, after realising that one of his love poems contained a hidden message criticising Burma’s military leader. The poem was published in a popular magazine in Rangoon. The first words of each line spelled out the message: ‘General Than Shwe is crazy with power.’ Burma’s military government […]
23 Jan 08

The Burmese authorities have arrested the poet Saw Wai, after realising that one of his love poems contained a hidden message criticising Burma’s military leader. The poem was published in a popular magazine in Rangoon.

The first words of each line spelled out the message: ‘General Than Shwe is crazy with power.’ Burma’s military government closely monitors the media, and dissidents are using sophisticated means to express their opinions.

Source: Burmese service, Irrawaddy; BBC World Service

By Jo Glanville

Jo Glanville is editor of Looking for an enemy: eight essays on antisemitism (Short Books) and Qissat: short stories by Palestinian women (Telegram/Saqi Books). She is a former editor of Index on Censorship.

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