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Burmese blogger receives PEN writer's award
Irrawaddy - April 29, 2010
Ko Htwe – A Burmese blogger who is serving a 12-year prison sentence, Nay Phone Latt, has been awarded the PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award.
Speaking to The Irrawaddy, his mother, Aye Aye Than, who last visited her son in April, said "As a mother I feel happy. We haven't met since the award, but I heard that he is thrilled to be recognized for his writing."
She said her son is in good health, and she is allowed to visit one time each month. On the eve of the award ceremony, the PEN American Center sent a letter to President Barrack Obama urging him to raise Nay Phone Latt's case with the Burmese regime.
PEN, in a statement, said Nay Phone Latt sent a message from his prison cell saying, "I dedicate this award to all writers all over the world who struggle under repression for the freedom to write."
Nay Phone Latt, 29, who was well-known for his Internet blog, is a youth member of the opposition National League for Democracy. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a court in Rangoon's Insein Prison in November 2008. In February 2009, the sentence was reduced to 12 years. He is now in Pa-an Prison in Karen state.
He was convicted under Public Offense Act 505 B and two other acts. One of his alleged offenses was to place a cartoon depicting junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe in an e-mail.
He began writing in the "Sabaiphyu" (White Jasmine) magazine in 2003 under the pseudonyms Nay Phone Latt and Nay Myo (Thanlwin).
The Burmese writers San San Nwe, Ma Thida and Aung Myint received PEN awards in 1995, 1996 and 2002.
Awards were given to 44 writers this year "who have fought courageously in the face of adversity for the right to freedom of expression," said PEN's website.
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