Danish Dari German Spanish French Turkish Arabic
Click here to go to start page Click here to go to start page
Search Sort content by country/region Sort content by artist Sort content by subject
News stories world-wide
News 2009
News 2008
News 2007
News 2006
News 2005
News 2004
News 2003
News 2002
News 2001
About music censorship
Artists on censorship
About Freemuse
Publications
Study room
Activities
Links
Press room

NEWS
12 January 2009

Myanmar / Burma:
Hip-hop artist released from prison

On 6 January 2009, the Burmese military junta authorities released popular hip-hop singer Yan Yan Chan, who was arrested in April 2008, reported Mizzima News.

The popular singer was released on Tuesday evening by the western district court in the notorious Insein prison in Rangoon after the judge during the court session ordered his release, a lawyer close to the singer's family said.

“The judge ordered his release and so he was freed yesterday evening,” the lawyer said. The lawyer, however, said he is not aware of the charges against the singer and the reasons for his release.

“As far as I understand, he [Yan Yan Chan] was charged in a drug related crime but I am not sure what the charges exactly were. I have not been able to speak to him yet,” the lawyer, who requested anonymity, told Mizzima.

When contacted, Yan Yan Chan’s family members confirmed his released but refused to elaborate.

Popular hip-hop band
Yan Yan Chan co-founded the first Burmese hip-hop band the 'Acid'. He was arrested in early April 2008, while staying at his friend's residence in Monywa town in upper Burma.

His band-colleague, the musician Zayar Thaw, is still in prison, serving a six years sentence.






Yan Yan Chan





Click to see news stories from Myanmar / Burma
Myanmar / Burma












 

Video clip on YouTube

Yan Yan Chan: 'Lite Kye'






Sources

Google News – continously updated:

Search: 'Yan Yan Chan'

The Irrawaddy – 18 April 2008:

'Popular Burmese Rap Performer Arrested'

The First Post – 18 April 2008:

'Junta imprisons Yan Yan Chan'

The Irrawaddy – 28 November 2007:

''Popular Musician and Friends Arrested in Rangoon'

Ashin Mettacara's blog – 18 April 2008:

'Free Yan Yan Chan'




In-depth report on music censorship in Burma

The book 'Shoot the Singer' which was published in 2004 contains a chapter about music censorship Burma, Chapter 6: 'Music under siege'.

Freemuse offers you to read the full chapter by Aung Zaw – 23 pages in pdf-format.


Read the chapter





How censorship is carried out in Burma

Excerpt from 'Risky jokes about Burma's dictators' – by Don North

"In Burma, or Myanmar as the generals insist it be called, the government has created artist associations for writers, journalists and any form of entertainer, even athletes. In order to create anything new, permission must be obtained from the government. But before getting approval, the artist’s association memberships are reviewed.
Since 1962, the government’s permission must be obtained to hire a Pwe troupe (troupe of political satirists, musicians, puppeteers and dancers) for holidays, birthdays, weddings and funerals. To gain permission a troupe must pay a fee, and submit a list of all performers.

Permission also must be obtained from the police. Military intelligence must approve the content, too.
With such draconian regulations and a consensus of all parties required, permission is reported to be rarely granted. The art, history and culture of Burma have suffered under the blacklist of the Pwe. The unfettered mind is under siege in what is one of the world’s most oppressed nations."


www.consortiumnews.com/2007





Order the book

Go to top
Related reading

Myanmar/Burma: Two musicians arrested, another released after torture
Singer Nyi Paing and songwriter Min Satta have reportedly been arrested by Burmese authorities, while the singer Htoo Htoo Chay has been released after torture
16 November 2009
Myanmar/Burma: Hip-hop artist released from prison
On 6 January 2009, the Burmese military junta authorities released popular hip-hop singer Yan Yan Chan, who was arrested in April 2008
12 January 2009
Myanmar/Burma: Hip-hop performer sentenced to six years in prison
Hip-hop star Zayar Thaw was sentenced to six years imprisonment by a Rangoon court on 20 November 2008 for his involvement in anti-regime protests
21 November 2008
Myanmar/Burma: Musican Win Maw sentenced to six years in prison
Musician Win Maw received a sentence of six years imprisonment by a closed court in Rangoon’s Insein Prison on 11 November 2008, relatives reported
14 November 2008
Myanmar/Burma: Introduction to Burma's dangerous hip-hop scene
An animated video by Scott Bateman and Edith Mirante.
12 August 2008
Myanmar/Burma: Interview with exiled musician Mun Awng
Mun Awng is a musician who left Burma to make music freely and in hope of improving the political situation in his country
01 July 2008
Myanmar/Burma: Musician Win Maw arrested
International PEN calls for immediate release of Burmese musician Win Maw, arrested in November 2007 and is said to be seriously ill as a result of torture in detention.
15 May 2008
Myanmar/Burma: Musicians are being arrested
Two members of the controversial - and popular - Burmese hip-hop group Acid have been arrested, along with the lead guitarist in Shwe Thansin group
30 April 2008
Campaign: Urge for immediate release of Burmese musician
Freemuse joins campaign supporting Win Maw, arrested on 27 November 2007. His arrest is thought to be part of the wider crackdown on pro-democracy activists.
25 April 2008
Myanmar/Burma: Flow of secret music files
Exiled Burmese musicians develop alternative communication channels, and their music is being smuggled across borders and distributed secretly within Burma via the internet
27 September 2007
Myanmar/Burma: Musical satire banned by authorities
Authorities have banned a video compact disc depicting a traditional performance on the grounds that some of the content is critical of the military government
30 November 2006
Myanmar/Burma: Music under siege
Music provides a rallying point for the masses during political upheavals in Burma. An excerpt from the book 'Shoot the Singer': Chapter 6
28 October 2005
Aung Zaw: Music censorship in Myanmar / Burma
Video interview with journalist Aung Zaw about music censorship in Myanmar/Burma. Recorded in April 2004
26 October 2004
Myanmar/Burma: Conscripted for Karaoke
Promoting the Burmese governments National Convention, three famous singers are singing a jingle on tv — but news indicate that they were conscripted into singing and possibly blackmailed by authorities
14 June 2004
Shoot the Singer! Book
"Shoot the Singer! Music Censorship Today". The first worldwide presentation of contemporary cases of music censorship, with cases from i.a. Burma, Mexico, Middle East, France, Algeria, Zimbabwe, USA, South Africa, Turkey. Edited by Freemuse director Marie Korpe, published by Zed Books, May 2004.
25 May 2004