THE VALENTINE CODE:

THE VALENTINE CODE:
A POEM ABOUT LOVE CAUSING THE POET LAND IN JAIL

24 January 2008

Poet Saw Wei wrote a poem in January 21st issue of A-chit (Love) journal to commemorate Valentine's Day but authorities accused him of insulting Senior Gen. Than Shwe in code and arrested him.

The poem 'February 14th' is ostensibly about love but is alleged by authorities to display the words 'power crazy Senior Gen. Than Shwe' when only the first letters of the eight lines of verse are read out. Due to the news about coded words, more than 10,000 copies of the journal are sold out in a short time with the remaining copies confiscated from newsstands by authorities.

The A-chit journal is published by Maung Pan Hmwe, a poet and teacher who was granted rights to produce a periodical after turning in his asylum status in Japan and surrendering to the junta in 1998. The journal's chief editor is Myat Khine, a known flunky of the regime. Both of them were summoned by the notorious Press Scrutiny Board to explain the matter. In Burma, all references to Valentine's Day are also banned from display in press.

Earlier this month, editor Ms. Nwe New Aye and chief correspondent Win Kyaw Oo of pro-junta Myanmar Times managed by Australian Ross Dunkley was also forced to resign from job for publishing news about 16,600% increase in license fees for satellite dish.
Poet Saw Wei is also a member of 'White Rainbow' group working for the relief of HIV/AIDS victims' orphaned children.