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Fighting with writing, political activism and social work

Image: Fighting with writing, political activism and social work

Since she was 19 years old, Khet Mar has been persecuted by the Burmese government. She has been arrested, tortured, incarcerated and threatened, but she has remained a warrior without guns. She fights with her writing, her political activism, and her social work.

In 2009, she was interrogated by intelligence officers for 20 straight hours and released. Afraid she would be arrested again, she left her country to become the writer-in-residence at City of Asylum/Pittsburgh. Sitting in her living room on Sampsonia Way and sipping a green tea, she described how the Burmese government has impacted her life, oppressed the Burmese people and created a reign of terror.

Even while relating these disturbing stories, Khet Mar never raised her voice or lost her calm—except when she mentioned the military government in Burma. “The generals don’t deserve mercy,” she said.

In this interview, Khet Mar details the crucial moments in her life and offers a rare glimpse into life under the secretive regime of the Burmese military junta, including how the publishing industry operates under the thumb of government censors.

This is the first time Khet Mar has been able to tell, for print, her life story, openly and without fear of repercussion.

Read the full interview from Sampsonia Way, an online magazine celebrating literary free expression and supporting persecuted poets and novelists worldwide.

I can say Khet Mar is great

I can say Khet Mar is great any work she has done and I believe she will continue her struggle as to tel the true of her history and Burmese governmental administration.

In Burma, some people exploit

In Burma, some people exploit the situation to get asylum and refugee status in U.S and West. There are writers and journalists who are questioned and arrested, but they don't run away from the country. I am sympathy for the people who really face hard time in Burma and flee to other country countries. But, there are people who seek asylum and refugee status by making fake stories. Believe me, it is real. I am glad that she can write freely there. But, less effective in term of accessibility as most Burmese cannot access internet. The journalists should critical while writing this kind of stories (not just for Burma case, other cases as well). Glad that she is free and wish she will come back when Myanmar become democratic country.

Thanks,

(In Burma) there are some

(In Burma) there are some people who exploit the situation to get asylum in U.S. Some journalists and writers got questioned but they did not run away from the country. I am not sure about her as i don't know her. People should be critical of the background stories (which sometime can be made up) before writing the story. (I am not telling this one, but believe me there are many people who are fake refugee and asylum seekers) I haven't questioned and arrested but i was threatened over phone because of my writing. But, I never go away from my country. I agree people have different opinion. Just want to remind you all, be critical. I am glad that she can do her work freely there.

Thanks,

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