VOCR
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
March 22, 2009

A combination of poems written by Salai Za Thawng Lian, a refugee from Burma who belongs to Chin ethnic minority has been published in Malaysia. The book is entitled as “Embrace me” and poems are decorated with incredible drawings of Ab Latif Maulan a Malaysian artist.


The poet Salai Za Thawng Lian

Mr. Rainer Rotthoff, the producer of the booklet, from Pelangi Community Foundation stated, “Most asylum seekers and refugees in Malaysia are living on one bowl of rice and dried fish daily. Many of the refugees are HIV positive and are in dire need of proper nutrients. The profit from the sale of these booklets goes to help HIV positive and disabled asylum seekers so they can have proper nutritional food. I hope you will show your compassion by purchasing and promoting this booklet.”


Premiere screening of Running

It has been known that copies of poem booklet have been distributing around Malaysia including the special occasion of the Premiere Screening of Running, a documentary on the plight of refugees in Malaysia which is organized by Suaram on Saturday, 21 March 2009 at the Annexe Gallery, Central Market, KL.

“I think distributing of poem booklet is going positive because Mr. Rainer has a lot of contact with local Malaysia NGOs and Churches as well. Rainer got a strong support from Anglican Church to sell poem booklet on coming Sunday” Salai Za Thawng Lian, the poet was born 19th January 1983 in Chin State, Burma. He did post-graduate study in Lay at Dagon University, Yangon until he fled his country. He is active in social community based projects. While in Burma he was the Secretary of Dagon University Christian Fellowship and the general Secretary of Chin
Literature and Culture Committee for the whole country. Due to his political awareness activities among Chin students and his involvement in the September 2007 demonstration, he had to flee Burma to seek asylum in Malaysia. He writes poems in English to express his feelings and thoughts. He has compassion and concern for his country men especially the most unfortunate. The poems contains words and phrase with rhymes in bearing deep meanings of implacable ideologies.


Poem booklet

Mr. Benedict Rogers, East Asia Team Leader, Christian Solidarity Worldwide states, “When you read these poems, please do not just put the book down and think: “What inspiring, challenging poetry”. That is not enough. Please tell others. Too many people around the world today are still unaware of the plight of the people of Burma. Too many people are still ignorant about the extent of the crisis- the crimes against humanity, the torture, the brutal suppression of freedom. You can play a part in helping to change that, to educate people and to help the people of Burma. As Burma’s democracy leader Aung San Suu KYi, still under house arrest, has said: “Please use your liberty to promote ours.”