Political Prisoners are a powerful force in the Burma movement. Often older, educated, and moreover, experienced, the political prisoners lend a strength to the voice of political activists seeking a form of justice unlikely to be otherwise found under the SPDC’s reign. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is undoubtedly the most recognizable political prisoner in the movement, due to her role as General Aung San’s daughter and her elected claim to leadership, but her imprisonment should moreover serve to shed light on the over 2100 political prisoners incarcerated in Burma’s 43 prisons.

On January 25th 2010, the Burmese government announced that it will consider lifting Aung San Suu Kyi’s sentence after the national elections in November of this year. The promise also included the release of Tin Woo, Aung San Suu Kyi’s fellow NLD leader. Notably absent was mention of any other of the 2100 political prisoners. It is difficult to tell if the SPDC intends to honor their promise. It is difficult to tell if the SPDC intends to hold free elections. It is even difficult to tell if the SPDC will exhibit any change at all.

But what is not difficult to tell is the significance of the political prisoners in the multi-ethnic Burmese movement for federal democracy.

And moreover, what we can be sure of, is that these political prisoners are tough. These men and women are resourceful; many learn english in prison through scratching letters on thin strips of plastic passed from cell to cell. The ex-political prisoners are also remarkably casual with their histories, dropping references to their time in prison in between glasses of whisky. While their experiences have undoubtedly left their marks on each individual’s psyche, the attitude is one of – it happens – perhaps because for so many individuals in the movement, that is the reality. Politically-oriented youth all have their personal stories to tell, and in most stories there is at least one cousin, or one aunt, or one father imprisoned, never to be seen again. Young activists lightly declare their desire to return home to mobilize their communities, despite having had their photographs published in a recent peace protest, and will no doubt serve time for their actions. Prison is a reality for many of these people, and this reality is stated with grimaces, acceptance, and even laughter.

The laughter is not to diminish the gravity of the situation, but rather, to enable one to find the spirit to chat to a group of strangers in a crowded foreign bar, to finish the sentence, to take a long sip of whisky, and to ask the girl next to you to dance .

first introductions can be crucial.

we’re in the era of connectedness and social networks. or perhaps we never left. whether good or bad, nepotism is here to stay.

but surely having ‘spreading love’ as your opening line will neither get you a job, nor a date. instead, surely, it simply gives the local thai’s something to grumble about. those dumb farangs

so if that’s what i need to say to network, i’m out.