Win Maw, also a prominent Burmese singer/songwriter, is currently serving a 17-year sentence in Kyaukphyu prison in westernmost Burma. In awarding the 2011 Imprisoned Artist Prize, the Singapore-based Freedom to Create group praised the 49-year-old’s courage and influence over young Burmese.
“He expresses the political views of the Burmese people with his music, which provides a rallying point for the masses during the numerous political upheavals in Myanmar,” a statement on group’s website said. “He is a leading exponent of artists giving voice to democratic movements for social change. Despite the risks to his personal safety, Win Maw continues to inspire young artists with his music even from prison.”
He was jailed in November 2008 on charges of breaching the Immigration Act and Electronics Act, which has been used by the government on numerous occasions to target journalists feeding footage to foreign and exiled media organisations.
“Artists help to create more beauty in this world, to open our eyes to aspects of our life that otherwise we may not have noticed … I know Ko Win Maw personally, and I’ve always appreciated his dedication to music.”