pen canada 2011-12 annual report · 2012. 10. 31. · 48 spotlight: free expression 50 members and...

PEN Canada 2011-12 Annual Report

This year’s annual report takes inspiration from PEN Canada’s recent focus on Mexico. As detailed in the essays that follow, this campaign was launched with an groundbreaking investigation into the war on Mexico’s journalists; PEN’s focus continued through its involvement in an historic delegation led by PEN International president John Ralston Saul. To recognize this important commitment, the pages of this report are inspired by two essential elements in the traditional Mexican Day of the Dead celebration: marigolds, the flower whose scent is believed to draw the souls of the dead back to earth temporarily, and tissue paper, which is used to make decorations in many shapes and styles. Throughout this report, you’ll find “Protestas,” short pieces originally read by their authors in Mexico as part of the PEN delegation. They serve as vital reminders of not just the predicament in that country, but the broader challenges facing free expression around the world.

Contents

PEN Canada is a nonpartisan organization of writers that works with others to defend freedom of expression as a basic human right, at home and abroad. PEN Canada promotes literature, fights censorship, helps free persecuted writers from prison, and assists writers living in exile in Canada. PEN Canada is a registered charity.

1 Foreword 2 President’sMessage 6 Protesta:IsThisWorthDyingFor? 8 PENInternationalPresident’sMessage 14 NationalAffairsCommitteeReport 16 Protesta:GatherInSolidarity 18 HonoraryMembers 26 HonoraryMembersReleased 30 WritersinExileCommitteeReport 34 Protesta:TheViolenceMustStop 36 WesternCanadaOutreachCommitteeReport 38 Protesta:DefendHumanity 40 WritersinPrisonCommitteeReport 46 Protesta:FreeExpressionMatters 48 Spotlight:FreeExpression 50 MembersandSupporters

pen canada 32 pen canada

CharlieForan

President’sMessage OurfallbenefitattheInternationalFestivalofAuthorsinTorontofeatureda

brilliantdesignerandauthorBruceMauandastrikingvisualelement;ourIdeasinDialogueeventsexploredfirstphilosophyandtheArabSpring,andthenAfricanchildsoldiersandoursharedhumanity.AutumnprogramminginitiativesincludedguerrillaphotocampaignsincitystreetsandletterstoEritreanjournalists,readbytheirCanadiancolleagues.Deeperintothewinter,weco-hostedanencounterwithaherooftheBurmeseresistance,andpostedavideoofoneprominentChinesedissidentreadingthepoetryofanother.Withspring2012camemoreinnovation,intheformofadialogueaboutcomedyandsatirethathadtobeamongthefunniesteventsPENCanadahasmounted,andtheveryrecent,veryexcitingdecisiontolaunchanationalaffairscampaignthiscomingfallthatwillprobethewaysinwhichourcurrentfederalgovernmentischangingtheclimateforfreedomofexpressioninCanada.Thiswillbearesponsetothetimes,andtoourmandate.

Aswell,thisspringwereworkedourvisuallookandlaunchedabold,interactivewebsite.Notsocoincidentally,wealsohiredanewexecutivedirector,afterthreeyearsofgoingwithoutthisessentialposition.TasleemThawarbringsfreshperspectives,ideas,andskillstothetaskofguidingPENCanadadeeperintothenewcentury,andthetransformativenewworldofcommunication,conversationandadvocacy,onlineandoff.Shejoinsourprogramscoordinator,BrendandeCaires,andouradministrator,KaseyCoholan.We’reevengettingthefloorsredoneinourofficesonRyersonAvenueindowntownToronto.Thespaceisn’texactlynew,buttheenergycertainlyis.

Mypoint,Isuspect,isclearbynow.Elsewhereinthisreportyoucanreadabouttheactivitiesofthevariousprogramsandcommittees.Theyhaveallbeenbusyandtheyhaveallbeentaskedwiththinkingfreshlyabouttheirareasofconcern,includingforgingnewalliancesandbringingnewpeopleintothediscussion.Inputtingtogethersuchalargeboardofdirectors,andintentionallymixingexperiencewithyouth,I’vebeenhopingtoinfusetheorganizationwiththerightbalanceofgoodgovernance,itselfrootedinPENCanada’shistoryandstature,and

ThereisalmosttoomuchtoreportaboutPENCanada’sactivitiesin2011-2012.Theyear,begunwithanewpresidentandanear-to-newboard,startedoffbusyandthengotbusier.Italsostartednew,sotospeak,andthengotnewer.


hardbutnecessaryconceptualizingaboutourongoingidentityandpurpose.Sofar,I’vebeendelightedwiththeresults.Delighted,butnotcontent;thereismuchstilltobethoughtthrough.

Atourfinalboardmeetingof2011-2012,wehadthechancetosaygoodbyetomypredecessor,EllenSeligman,whograciouslystayedonasex-officiothisyear,bringingherwisdomandexperiencetothisunrulyprocess.“Iwassoimpressedwiththisengagedboard,”Ellenwrotetomeafterthemeeting.“It’sreallyexcitingtosee.”WithoutEllen’sheroicleadership,theremightnothavebeenanyprocessforher—oranyoneelse—towitness.PENisinherpermanentdebt.

Speakingofdebts,we’veneverbeenmorebeholdento,orgratefulfor,ourwidearrayofsupporters.Ourpatrons,forinstance,adistinguishedgroupofCanadiansnownumberingcloseto60,makeourworkpossible.(PatronsChairSaraAngelhasdonearemarkablejobwelcomingnewpatronsintothefold.)WeareluckyindeedtohaveafellowCanadian,andourHonoraryPatron,JohnRalstonSaul,servingaspresidentofPENInternational,andtoridethewakeofhispioneeringstewardshipoftheworld’soldestfreedomofexpressionorganization.TheRightHonorableAdrienneClarksonisanotherkeyfriend,anddidusthegreatfavourofrepresentingPENCanadaduringtheMexicodelegationthatJohnRalstonSauldescribesinthisreport.TheoutstandingteamatSoapboxDesignCommunications,responsibleforhowPENshowstothepublic,arelikewiseinvaluable,nottomentiongenerous.AndI’dberemissifIdidn’tgivespecialthankstoafewindividuals:tosingleoutjustthecontributionsofValerieHussey,DeborahWindsor,DianaKuprel,SaraAngel,RandyBoyagoda,KellyRankin,andArneKislenkoandStéphanieWalshMatthewsatRyersonUniversityrisksexcludingothersbysimpleoversight.Myapologiesforthat—PENvaluesallitsfriends.

PRESIDENT'SMESSAGE

OuR NEw NAtiONAl AffAiRs CAmPAigN will bE A REsPONsE tO thE timEs, ANd tO OuR mANdAtE.

InMexico,tellingthetruthcancostyouyourlife.Everyreportermustaskthem-selves:“Isthisworthdyingfor?”Inthenortherncitiesoftherepublic,journalistsarehuntedlikerabbitsanduptonownothingandnobodyhasprotectedthem.Allweaponsarecorrupt.

Therearemany“official”numbers;somesaythatbetween2000and2011,74journalistshavebeenkilled,otherssay83,otherssaymuchmore.Whatisterrifyingisthatthenumberkeepsgrowing.OnMay30,1984,ManuelBuendíawasmurderedinMexicoCitybecausehiscolumn,publishedin60Mexicannewspapers,daredtotalkaboutdrugtraffickingandgovernmentcorruption.HewasthefirstmurderedjournalistIknew.Sincethen,I’veaskedmyself,whendidjournalismbecomeadeathsentence?Howmuchlongermustwewaitfortheauthoritiestoprovidecredibleprotectionfortheprofession?HowmuchmoretimewillhavetopassbeforeMexicostopsbeingthemostdangerouscountryinLatinAmericaforworkingjournalists?

ElENA PONiAtOwskA

protesta

is this worth dying for?


Ofcourse,PENCanada,alongwithalmost150PENCentresaroundtheworld,isconstantlyworkingatthis.Andwehaveourmethods.Wehavebeenatitfor90yearsasaninternationalorganization;85yearsinCanada.Anditisamazinghowoftenawriterorpublisherisfreed.Orhowoftenwemanagetohelpthemintoexile,sometimestocomeheretoCanada.Butthebasicproblemremains:thatofnormalizingfreespeech.

Afewyearsago,PENCanadawaspartofacampaigntoimproveourlibellaws.Ahandfulofspecialistlawyersmoreorlessunderstoodthem.Writerswere—are—reducedtowritingalmostbyinstinct,hopingtoavoidthearcanelibeltraps.Aspartofourcampaignwemadecallsonvariouspoliticians.Irememberaleaderwhoshouldhaveknownbetter—andwhohassincefadedaway—goingonandonabouthowhewasconstantlyunderattackandhowitwasn’tfair,sothelibellawsshouldn’tbeweakened.Wetriedtoexplainthatthiswasaboutfreespeech,nothim,andthatpubliclifewasmeanttobetoughandthatwhatwewantedwasclaritynotweakness.

Ifaprovincialpoliticianinarelaxedsocietywherecriticismisactuallyprettysoftdoesn’tgetit,weshouldn’tbesurprisedthatdictatorsdon’teither.Itisacliché,butitisalsotrue,thatpower,whetherpoliticaloradministrative,militaryoreconomic,createsasenseofwell-beinginthebeneficiarysuchthatheorshesimplyrejectstheideaofjustifiedcriticism.

ButthequestionIamconstantlyaskingmyselfiswhethertherearenewwaystomakeourcase.OurMexicocampaignisagoodexampleofthisrethinking.WeallknowthatMexicoisoneofthemostdangerousplacesintheworldtobeawriter.Allsortsofngos,localandinternational,areworkingawayatcondemningthesituationinthehopeofchangingit.

Whatwedecidedtotrywasamulti-layeredapproachwithatrulyinternationalconception.Theideawastobalancesolidexpertisewithourstrengthnotasatopdownngo—weareneithertopdownnoranngo—butasabottomupvirtualglobaldemocracyofpublicwriters.

JohnRalstonSaulPresident of PEN International

AQuestionofFreeExpression

ThequestionIaskmyselfeverydayis:Howdoweactuallychangethings?Orinstead:Howdoweconvincethosewhodon’tbelievethatfreedomofexpressionisanormalstateofbeing,notsomethingtofear?


ItbeganwithanalliancebetweenPENCanadaandtheInternationalHumanRightsProgramoftheUniversityofTorontoFacultyofLaw.CaraGibbonsandBethSpratt,twoyounglawstudents,setaboutpreparingawell-researchedandclearlywrittenreport.PENCanada,throughprogramscoordinatorBrendandeCaires,launchedthereport,andPENInternationaljoinedinwithitsalreadyexistingMexicocampaign—alocalinitiativenowmovingaroundtheworld.ThenPENInternationalbegantoconceivealargemissiontoMexico,builtuponthisstudy.ThedelegationwasledbythefullinternationalExecutive(afirst)andallsevenNorthAmericanPENCentres(afirst).JapanandEnglishPENsjoinedthisgroup.SodidRenuMandhane,theDirectoroftheInternationalHumanRightsProgram.

WiththesupportofAmericanPENandtheKnightFoundation,welaunchedthemissionwithafullpageadinMexicannewspapers—aletterfromleadingwritersaroundtheworldtoMexicanwriters.Thisincludedtheex-PresidentsofPENInternational,thePermanentSecretaryoftheSwedishAcademy,theChairoftheNobelPrizeCommittee,andwritersfromoverfortycountries.Theletteritselfwasapieceofliterature—notofpoliticalrhetoric.Anditmadeaclearimpact.

ThecentralprobleminMexicoisnotdruglordsversusthegovernment.Itisprofoundlevelsofcorruptionlinkingorganizedcrime,police,military,manystategovernments,andpoliticalparties.Youneverknowwhereyouare.TheMexicaneliteisremarkable,wonderfullyeducated,andsophisticated.Itsmembersarebeneficiariesofthesystem,butusuallyarenotlinkedtothecorruptionandviolence.TheywouldliketoseechangebutareneutralizedbytheMexicanreality,whichfundstheirlives.

SowemetwiththeMinisters,seniorcivilservants,andtheleadersoftheSenate.Atthesametime,wekeptonexplainingpubliclyexactlywhatwefeltwasneeded—notasoutsiders,becauseourdelegationincludedtheMexicanPENCentre—butasaninternationalpublicvoice.

AndPENMexico,undertheleadershipofJenniferClementorganizedthehighlightoftheweek,apubliceventinwhichoverfiftyofusspokeforoneminuteeach.Well,perhaps90seconds.LegendaryMexicanwriters,journalistsunderthreat,andforeigners.PeoplespokeinSpanish,English,andFrench.Thecoveragewasintensiveandnational—andexcerptsfromfiveofthesespeechesareincludedinthisreport.

Iamskippingmanydetails,butoneoftheoutcomeswasthattheMexicanSenatepassedakeylaw—longblocked—thatfederalizedcriminalactivity,thusbeginningtheprocessofmovingrealenforcementfromthemoreoftencorruptstatestothefederalsystem.

ThekeyisthatPENisfirstandforemostapublicvoice.Andourvoiceincludesoverahundredcountriesandmanymorelanguages.

Finally,thecauseoffreespeechisneverwon.Itismaintainedandstrengthenedthroughconstantaction.ThisnewstyleofcampaigninMexicowillcontinueuntilthereareenoughchangesinlawandinactiontobetterthepowerofthecitizensandtheroleofpublicspeech.

AndnowwemustapplythesemethodstoTurkey,toChina,tomanyothercountries.

AQUESTIONOFFREEExPRESSION

thE kEy is thAt PEN is fiRst ANd fOREmOst A PubliC vOiCE. ANd OuR vOiCE iNCludEs OvER A huNdREd COuNtRiEs ANd mANy mORE lANguAgEs.

article

the Universal declaration of hUman rights

everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right inclUdes freedom to hold opinions withoUt interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas throUgh any media and regardless of frontiers.


InNovember2011,PENCanadaannounceditssupportforaprivatemember’sbillcallingfortherepealofsection13oftheCanadianHumanRightsActwhichdealswithhatespeech.PENCanadapresidentCharlesForansaid,“Thebestdefenseagainstso-called‘hatespeech’isnotgovernmentenforcementofvagueprohibitions,butaneducatedandalertcitizenryandvigilantandresponsiblemedia.”AlsoinNovember,PENexpressedsupportfortheartistFrankeJames,whoseEuropeanartexhibition,initiallyfinanciallysupportedbythefederalgovernment,waslaterdefundedonthegroundsthatitwascriticalofgovernmentenvironmentalpolicy.InDecember,PENCanadaexpressedconcernthatToronto’smayor,RobFord,hadcreatedachillonpressfreedomsbydenyingtheToronto Staraccesstocityinformationaspunishmentforastorythemayordidnotlike.

Inthemeantime,theNationalAffairsCommitteehasbeenreconstitutedwithactiverepresentativesfromcoast-to-coast.CurrentmembersincludethedistinguishedNovaScotiaauthorMarqdeVilliers;EliseMosher,presidentoftheQuébecWriters’Federation;TorontolawyersJanneDuncanandGraceWestcott;BruceWalsh,awell-knownpublicityandmarketingconsultantforbookpublishers;KenFilkow,formerchairoftheManitobaHumanRightsCommission;andCindyGrauer,aconsultantandformercrtccommissioner,wholivesinVancouver.

Inpursuitofbroaderissues,thecommitteeisworkingtodeveloppositionpapersonfederalgovernmentattemptstosuppressresearchresultsofgovernment-fundedscientistswhenthoseresultsconflictwithgovernmentpolicy;governmentthreatstochangelegislationgoverningcharitiessothatthetax-advantagedcharitablestatusofenvironmentalgroupsopposinggovernmentpolicycouldeasilybetakenfromthem;andrevisionstoanti-terrorismlegislationsothatcertainenvironmentalgroupscouldbeclassifiedasthreatstonationalsecurity.

Finally,theNationalAffairsCommitteeisassemblingaLitigationInterventionPanelofconstitutionallawyersacrossCanadapreparedtointerveneonPEN’sbehalf,probono,incourtcaseswherefreedomofexpressionisatstake.

PhilipSlaytonChair

NationalAffairsCommitteeReport

Overthepastyear,PENCanada’sNationalAffairsCommitteehascontinuedtodefendCanadianfreedomofexpressioninparticularcases,whileexpandingitsmandatetoaddresspervasiveandsystemicthreatstothatfreedom.

ThegreatRussianpoetOsipMandelstamoncesaid,“Iftheyarekillingpoets,it’sbecausetheyrespectpoetry.”WhenIwasayoungman,thisphrasesoundedfullofdignity,majesticeven.AsIgrewolder,itbegantoseemsad,andIrecalledthatthephrasesprangfromMandelstam’sdespair,terror,anddefenselessnessashewaitedfordeathinoneofStalin’sconcentrationcamps.NowthatIamolder,thephrasestrikesmeasintolerable,incapableofimpartinganywisdom.

No,DearMandelstam,no:iftheyarekillingpoets,it’sbecausetheydon’trespectpoetry.Thesamecouldbesaidforallwriters.Infact,itisthislackofthisrespectthathasbroughtustogetherheretoday.Iftheykilljournalists,it’sbecausetheydon’trespectjournalism;whichistosaythattheydon’trespectusasasocietywhereafreepressisindispensable.Whentheydon’tkill,threaten,orcensorjournalists,thenwecansaytheyrespectjournalism.IamcertainthatourgatheringinsolidaritywithMexico’sdefenselessjournalistsisadecisivecontributiontothisproblem.AndIrespectthis.

luis miguEl AguilAR

soli-darity

gather in

protesta


honorary members

CHINA AND AUTONOMOUS REGIONSUighurwriterNuremuhamet yasinreceiveda10-yearsentenceinNovember2004duringaclosedtrial,withnolegalrepresentation,for“incitingUighurseparatism”inashortstorypublishedinaliteraryjournal.“WildPigeon”recountstheexperiencesofayoungpigeontrappedandcagedbyhumanswhiletryingtofindanewhomeforitsflock.Insteadofforfeitingitsfreedom,thepigeonkillsitselfbyswallowingapoisonousstrawberry,achoicethatYasin’sownfatherhadmadeinsimilarcircumstancesseveralyearsearlier.Yasinisanaward-winningandprolificfreelancewriterwithawell-establishedliteraryreputationamongUighurreaders.Sincehisarrest,hehasbeenpermittednovisitorsandthereareseriousconcernsforhiswell-being.

ThepoetandessayistZheng yichunwasarrestedin2004bythesecurityservicesinYingkou,LiaoningProvinceon“suspicionofincitingsubversionofstatepower.”Athistrial,theprosecutionexhibited63postings,signedbyZheng,whichhadappearedondajiyuan.com,awebsitepopularamongChina’sintelligentsia.SeveralhundredotherarticleswereconfiscatedduringapoliceraidonZheng’shome.AprofessorofEnglishattheUniversityofLiaoning,Zhenghaslongbeenaprominentcriticofthegovernment.

Inoneessay,hereferstoChina’sone-partysystemas“therootofallevil”andthetitleofoneofhisself-publishedbooksofpoetryisThe Era of Brainwashing.

OnApril26,2005,atatrialattendedbyseniorauthoritiesfromLiaoningProvince,Zhengpleadedguilty.AlthoughhislawyerarguedthatZheng’sworkwasprotectedbyArticle35oftheChineseConstitution,whichguaranteesfreedomofthepress,ZhengwasconvictedinJuly2005andlatersentencedtosevenyearsinprison.Zhengsuffersfromdiabetesandhishealthhasdeterioratedsincehisarrest.InMay2008,therewerereportsthathehadsufferedcerebralthrombosis,whichcausedparalysisinpartofhisfaceandconstrainedmovementinhisrightarm.Hewassenttoahospitaloutsidetheprison,butwasreturnedwhendoctorsconcludedthathisconditionwasnotserious.Medicalfacilitiesintheprisonarenotabletotreathisconditionandhisrelativesaresaidtoberequestinghisreleaseonmedicalparole.


ERITREAInSeptember2001,13newspaperjournalistswerearrestedafterPresidentIssaiasAfeworkiclosedEritrea’sindependentnewspapers,leavingonlythestate-runHadas Eritrea.PENCanadaadoptedthefollowingasHonoraryMembers: yusuf mohamed Ali (editor-in-chiefofTsigenay), mattewos habteab (editor-in-chiefofMeqaleh), dawit habtemichael (reporterforMeqaleh), medhanie haile(editor-inchiefofKeste Debena), Emanuel Asrat (editorofZemen), temesken ghebreyesus (reporterforKeste Debena), dawit isaac (writerandco-ownerofSetit), fesshaye yohannes “Joshua” (playwright,poetandpublisherofSetit),andsaid Abdelkader (writer,editorofAdmasandownerofthepressthatprintedmostoftheindependentnewspapers).InSeptember2009,ReportersWithoutBordersreportedthatmanyoftheimprisonedjournalistswerebeingheldinmetalcontainersorundergroundcellsinAdiAbeitoMilitaryPrison,inEiraeiroPrisonandintheDahlakarchipelago.

In2007,reportsindicatedthatfourofthejournalistshaddiedincustodybetween2005andearly2007:Abdelkader,Haile,Ali,andYohannes.Theirdeathswereattributedtoharshconditionsandlackofmedicalattention.SomesourcesindicatethatthatYohanneshadbeentorturedpriortohisdeath,includinghavinghisfingernailsrippedout.InMay2007,theAfricanCommissiononHumanandPeople’sRights(acphr)oftheAfricanUnionruledthatthedetentionofthejournalistswasarbitraryandunlawfulandcalledontheEritreangovernmenttoreleaseandcompensatethedetainees.

Isaac,whospentanumberofyearsinSwedenduringtheEritreanwarofindependenceandtheborderdisputebetweenEritreaandEthiopia,holdsSwedishcitizenship.

InNovember2001,theSwedishlocalconsulheldabriefmeetingwithIsaacinjail.InApril2002,itwasreportedthatIsaachadbeenhospitalizedsufferingfrominjuriessustainedthroughhistorture.InNovember2005,Isaacwasbrieflyreleasedforamedicalcheck-upandwasallowedtocallhisfamilyandfriendsinSweden.AsofJanuary2010,Isaacwasreportedlybeingkeptinsolitaryconfinementinatinycellwithnowindows,andwasinverypoorphysicalandmentalhealth.Heandtheotherinmatesarereportedlynotallowedanycontactwitheachotherortheoutsideworld,areroutinelyshackledandreceivealmostnomedicalcare.

HONORARYMEMBERS

OnFebruary18,2010,ReportersWithoutBordersreportedthatAsratandHabtemichaelwerebeingheldatEiraeiroPrison.However,anApril2010articlebytheCommitteetoProtectJournalistscitedreportsfromaformerprisonguardatEiraeirothatHabtemichaelhaddiedincustody;thisdeathisunconfirmed.TheformerguardreportedlyalsosaidthatAlihaddiedinJune2003asaresultofextremeheat,Hailehaddiedduetolackofmedicaltreatment,whileYohannesandAbdelkaderhadcommittedsuicide.Thesereportsarelikewiseunconfirmed.

InaTVinterviewin2009PresidentAfeworkisaidhedidnotknowwhatcrimeIsaachadcommittedandaddedthatEritreanauthoritieswouldreleasehimorputhimontrial.InaninterviewpublishedonthewebsiteoftheSwedishdailynewspaperAftonbladet onAugust1,2010,asenioradvisertoPresidentAfeworkisaidthatIsaacwasbeingheldforhisinvolvementina“conspiracy”byagroupofEritreans“tofacilitate”aninvasionofthecountrybyEthiopiaduringtheborderwarbetweenthetwocountries.HerefusedtoprovideassurancesthatIsaacwasstillalive.

IRANOnNovember1,2008,hossein derakhshanwasarrestedbyIranianauthoritiesand,onJune23,2010,hewasplacedontrialfor“conspiracy”and“actingagainstnationalsecurity.”NoverdictwasmadeknownuntillateSeptemberwhentheFarsinewswebsiteMashreqreportedhisconvictiononchargesof“propagatingagainsttheregime,”“promotingcounter-revolutionarygroups,”“insultingIslamicthoughtandreligiousfigures,”and“managinganobscenewebsite.”Derakhshanwassentencedto19yearsandsixmonthsinprison.Hewasheldinsolitaryconfinementforthefirsteightmonthsofhisdetention.HehasbeenheldincommunicadoinEvinPrisonandissaidtohavebeenill-treated.OnDecember9,2010,Derakhshanwasreleasedconditionally,ontwodaysparole,afterpostingabailof$1.5million.Withintwodays,hewastakenbacktoprison.Thereareseriousconcernsforhisphysicalandpsychologicalwell-being.

OnSeptember4,2010, Nasrin sotoudeh,aprominentwriter,journalist,andlawyer,wasarrestedafterbeingsummonedtothespecialcourtinEvinPrisontoanswerchargesof“propagandaagainstthestate.”Thearrestfollowedaraidonherhome


HONORARYMEMBERS

andofficethepreviousmonthbysecurityofficers,whoconfiscatedfilesanddocuments.Sotoudeh’slawyerwasnotallowedtorepresentherincourtoraccompanyherclientduringquestioning.Sotoudehreceivedan11-yearsentencefromBranch26oftheRevolutionaryCourtonJanuary9,2010.Shewasalsobannedfrompracticinglawandfromleavingthecountryfor20years.Thesentencecomprisesoneyearimprisonmentfor“propagandaagainsttheregime,”andatotalof10yearsforthetwochargesof“actingagainstnationalsecurity”and“violatingtheIslamicdresscode(Hijab)inafilmedspeech.”SotoudehisbelievedtohavebeenchargedforcriticalinterviewsgiventooverseasmediafollowingIran’sdisputed2009presidentialelectionandforhermembershipintheAssociationofHumanRightsDefenders.Inmid-September2011,Sotoudeh’ssentencewascommutedtosixyearsandthelegalbanreducedto10years.InOctober,shereceivedPENCanada’sOneHumanityAwardontheopeningnightoftheInternationalFestivalofAuthorsinToronto.

SYRIA Highschoolstudenttal Al-mallouhi,apoetandblogger,wasdetainedonDecember27,2009afterbeingsummonedbystatesecurityofficersforquestioningaboutherblogentries.Followingherarrest,TalAl-Mallouhi’sfamilyhomewasraidedbysecurityagentswhoconfiscatedhercomputer,notebook,andotherpersonaldocuments.Shewasheldincommunicadoatanundisclosedlocationwithoutchargeoraccesstoherfamilyforthefirstninemonthsofherdetention.HerfamilywasallowedtovisitheronceatDomaPrisoninDamascusinSeptember2010.OnSeptember2,2010,hermotherpublishedanopenlettertotheSyrianpresidentseekinginformationaboutherdaughter’swelfareandcallingforherrelease.OnOctober5,2010,itwasreportedthatAl-Mallouhihadbeenchargedwithspyingforaforeigncountry.OnFebruary14,2011,sheappearedbeforeDamascusStateSecurityCourtinaclosedsession,duringwhichshewasconvictedof“divulginginformationtoaforeignstate”andsentencedtofiveyearsinprison.Al-Mallouhihasnoknownpoliticalaffiliations,andsourcesclosetothefamilyarebaffledbythecharges.Itisfearedthatshecouldbetargetedforcommentsandpoemspublishedinherblog.

UZBEKISTAN mamadali makhmudov,awell-knownUzbekwriterandoppositionactivist,wasarrestedinFebruary1999afteraseriesofexplosionsinTashkent.Hewaschargedwith“threateningthepresident,”“threateningtheconstitutionalorder,”“organizingbannedpublicassociationsandreligiousorganizations,”and“organizingacriminalgroup.”OnAugust3,1999,hewasfoundguiltyandsentencedto14yearsinprison.

Previously,Makhmudovhadbeenimprisonedbetween1994and1996forallegedembezzlementandabuseofoffice.Atthetime,thesechargeswereconsideredbyPENandAmnestyInternationaltohavebeenfabricatedinordertopersecuteMakhmudovforhisassociationwiththeexiledoppositionleaderMuhammedSalih.ThisviewwassupportedbytheUnitedNationsWorkingGrouponArbitraryDetentions.AsuccessfulinternationalcampaignwaslaunchedandMakhmudovwasreleasedearlyaspartofapresidentialamnesty.MakhmudoviscurrentlybeingheldatYaslikhigh-securityprisoninTashkent.HewashospitalizedinJuly2000,reportedlyforfacialandthroatsurgerymadenecessarybyextremeill-treatmentandneglectduringhisdetentionatanotherprison.Hissentencewillexpirein2013.Makhmudov’sbook,Immortal Cliffs,waspublishedinFrenchinlate2008.

iN sEPtEmbER 2011, sOtOudEh’s sENtENCE wAs COmmutEd tO six yEARs ANd thE lEgAl bAN REduCEd tO 10.


VIETNAMNguyen van hai,betterknownbyhispenname,“DieuCay,”isarenownedblogger,journalist,anddemocracyactivistinVietnam.HeshouldhavebeenreleasedonOctober20,2010oncompletionoftwoandahalfyearsimprisonmentfor“taxfraud”;however,hewasreportedlytransferredtoapublicsecuritydetentioncampinHoChiMinhCityonOctober18,2010,apparentlyonchargesof“conductingpropagandaagainsttheSocialistRepublicofVietNam”underArticle88oftheCriminalCode.ThechargesaresaidtobebasedonhisonlinewritingsfortheFreeJournalistNetworkinVietNambeforehisApril19,2008arrestafterparticipatinginprotestsagainstthepoliceinHoChiMinhCityearlierthatyear.HewasstilldetainedasofDecember31,2010.AsoneofthefoundingmembersoftheClubofFreeJournalists(CauLacBoNhaBaoTuDo),foundedin2006,DieuCayiswellknownforreportingonhumanrightsabusesandcorruptionandforhisparticipationinprotestsagainstChineseforeignpolicy.

RUSSIAAnna Politkovskaya wasaspecialcorrespondentforthenewspaperNovaya Gazeta.ShereportedonthehumanrightsabusescarriedoutbyRussianforcesinChechnyaandopenlycriticizedVladimirPutin.In2001,shewasdetainedbyRussianofficialsinChechnyaandthreatenedwithrapeandtortureandputthroughamockexecution.OnOctober7,2006,Politkovskaya’sbodywasfoundinthestairwellofherapartmentbuilding.Shesufferedagunshotwoundtothehead.Fiveyearsafterherdeath,PENInternationalcontinuestocallforanimpartialinvestigationintoPolitkovskaya’smurder.

HONORARYMEMBERS


rele asedhonorary members

CHINA AND THE AUTONOMOUS REGIONS hada,owneroftheMongolianAcademicBookstore,wasarrestedonDecember10,1995,forfoundingtheSouthernMongolianDemocracyAllianceandforpublishingtheundergroundjournalThe Voice of Southern Mongolia,ofwhichhewasfounderandeditor-in-chief.OnDecember6,1996,hewassentencedto15yearsinprisonandfouryearsdeprivationofpoliticalrightsonchargesof“incitingseparatismandespionage.”HeisthoughttohavebeenreleasedwhenhissentenceexpiredonDecember10,2010,butwasreportedlyre-arrestedanddetainedwithhiswifeandsoninJanuary2011.


HONORARYMEMBERSRELEASED

CUBANormando hernández gonzález,ajournalist(Cubanet)andthedirectorofthenewsagencyCamagüeyCollegeofIndependentJournalists(ColegiodePeriodistasIndependientesdeCamagüey),wasreleasedfromKilo7prisonandarrivedinSpainonJuly14,2010followingadealbrokeredbytheCatholicChurchandtheSpanishgovernmentinearlyJuly.Hernándezhadbeenservinga25-yearprisonsentencehandeddownunderArticle91andotherprovisionsoftheCriminalCodeinthe2003“BlackSpring”crackdownonCuba’sdissidents.

MYANMARAung san suu kyi,awriterandtheleaderoftheNationalLeagueforDemocracy(nld),waskeptin“protectivecustody”followingviolentclashesbetweenoppositionandpro-governmentsupportersonMay30,2003.ShewasheldundersuccessivehousearrestordersatherhomeinYangonuntilMay14,2009,whenshewasdetainedunderSection22oftheStateProtectionLawfor“subversion,”followinganincidentinwhichaUScitizenreportedlyswamacrossthelaketoherhomeandindoingsoviolatedthebanonhermeetingwithanyonewithoutpriorpermission.HertrialbeganonMay18,2009andshereceivedathree-yearprisonsentencefromacriminalcourtinsideInseinPrisononAugust11,2009.Theverdictwasreducedto18monthstobeservedunderhousearrest,andshewasreturnedtoherhomesoonafterthetrialended.AungSanSuuKyiwasreleasedunconditionallyonNovember13,2010.Shehadspentmuchofthepast20yearsindetention.

OnOctober12,2011,thepoliticalactivist,poetandcomedianmaung thura (“Zarganar”) wasreleasedfromMyitkyinaPrisoninKachinState,northernMyanmar,aspartofawidespreadgeneralamnesty.Zarganarwasservinga35-yearsentencefollowinghisarrestforleadingaprivate-reliefefforttodeliveraidtovictimsofCycloneNargis,whichstruckonMay2,2008.InAugust2008,ZarganarwaschargedwithsevenoffencesundertheCriminalCode,theUnlawfulAssociationsAct,theVideoAct,andsectionsoftheElectronicsAct.OnNovember21,2008,hewassentencedto45yearsforviolatingtheElectronicsAct.Dayslater,hewasgivenafurther14-yearsentenceforoffencesundertheCriminalCoderelatedtohispeacefuloppositionactivities.In2010,Zarganarwasthesubjectofadocumentarycalled“ThisPrisonWhereILive”namedafteroneofhispoems.InOctober2011,ZarganardescribedhisreleasetotheBBCas“conditional.”

UZBEKISTAN muhammad bekzhon (“bekjanov”) wasreportedlyreleasedinMarch2011aftertheexpiryofa15-yearprisonsentence.InMarch1999,hehadbeendeportedfromUkrainefollowingaccusationsofhisinvolvementinaseriesofexplosionsinTashkent.

Bekjanov’sarrestisthoughttobelinkedtohisassociationwiththeexiledoppositionleaderMuhammedSalih(hisbrother),andtohisworkfortheoppositionparty’snewspaper,erk,whichhasbeenbannedsince1994.


DuringthetimeofthePENfinancialcrisis,theWritersinExileCommitteewasoneofthefirstcasualties.Untilthistime,thefocusofthiscommitteehadbeendevelopingaseriesofplacementsforwritersinexileatvariousacademicandliteraryinstitutions.Theprocessofbeingrecognizedasawriterinexilewasrefined,aswastheprocessofselectingwritersfortheseplacements.However,duringtherecession,manyoftheseplacementsevaporated.

AseriousrethinkingofthisaspectofPENCanada’scommitmentsbecameapracticalnecessity—andawelcomechallenge.Abouttwoyearsago,thePENboardmadethecrucialdecisiontofocustheireffortsonwelcomingwriterswhohadnewlyarrivedinCanadaandonthosewhohadbecomenewlyactiveaswriters.WebelievedthatthenatureofPEN’swelcomecouldandshouldbeexpandedbeyondthepossibilityofresidencies.Acommitteewasdevelopedwiththisfocusinplace.MembersofthecommitteeareMaryJoLeddy,KeithLeckie,MarinaNemat,AaronBerhane,MikiAndrejevic,MunirPervaiz,SturlaGunnarsson,andJudithKoomar.

ThecommitteesentnoticesofPEN’swillingnesstosupportwritersinexiletorefugeelawyersandtoethnicmediaoutlets.Overthepastyear,PENhasbeencontactedbyeightnewlyarrivedwritersinexile.Inmostcases,theimmediateneedwasassistancewiththewriter’srefugeeclaim.WedevelopedasetofguidelinesforPENmemberswhovolunteertoaccompanythesewriterstotheirrefugeehearings.Variousmembersoftheboardandthecommitteehaveattendedthesehearings,andineachcasethePENpresidentwrotealetterofsupporttotheImmigrationandRefugeeBoard.Thiswasimmenselyencouragingforthewritersandareallearningexperienceforthosewhoaccompaniedthem.Thissharedexperiencesetthebasisforagenuinesenseofsolidarity.

Thissenseofco-operationhasbeendeepenedthroughaseriesofpotlucksuppersattheRomeroHouseCentre.Thiswasaninitiativebasedonahunchthathasproventobeimmenselyimportant.MembersofthePENBoard,theExilesCommittee,andnewlyarrivedwritersareinvited.Everyonecontributestothesupperandtheeveningisspentinafocusedconversationaroundtopicsofsharedconcernforwriters.Intheprocess,importantconnectionshavebeenmadeandmembersofthegrouphaveofferedvariousformsofpracticalsupporttoeachother.Asonewriterputit:“Therewasalotofsufferingaroundthetable,butweallfeltstrongerforbeingtogether.”

MaryJoLeddyChair

WritersinExileCommitteeReport

TheWritersInExileNetworkhasbeengoingthroughaperiodofprofoundchange.Wearehappytoreportthatithasbeenchangeforthebetter.


“ wE ARE stRONgER fOR bEiNg tOgEthER.”

WearenowcallingthisgatheringtheWritersinExileSupperClubandplantohaveitonaregularbasis.Thisisaninformalwayofestablishinganeffectivenetwork,atleastintheTorontoarea.Theclubbypassesallthequestionsofwhoisamemberandwhoisnot,whoisinexileandwhoisnot,whoisawriterandwhoisnot.Everyoneiswelcomeaslongastheycontributetothefood,drink,andconversation.Atourlastsupper,wehadtwoCBCreporterswhohadheardaboutthesupperandbroughtalongarefugeejournalisttheyhadmetwhiledoingastory.

Muchremainstobedone.Whilewehavewelcomedandsupportedeightnewwriters,wewanttoreachouttoothers,especiallythoselivingoutsideofToronto.WearealsoconcernedaboutrecentchangesinlegislationthataredirectlyaffectingwriterswhohavebeencountingontheprotectionofCanada.Weknowofmanywriterswhoaretrappedinuntenablesituationsoverseas.WearehopingtoworkmorecloselywithCanadianJournalistsforFreedomofExpression,asmanyofourwritershaveworkedasjournalists.WehavethreeresidenciesthatarestillavailabletoPENwriters.WewanttoincreasethesepossibilitieswithoutmakingthemtheprimaryfocusoftheWriterinExileprogram.

OneofourwritersinexileisajournalistfromSriLanka,whotravelledtoCanadaaboardOceanLadyshipthatarrivedonVancouverIslandtwoyearsago.Theshipbecameasymbolusedbythegovernmenttojustifydraconianlegislationthatwouldpunishthoseseekingtolive.“Isitacrimetowanttolive?”askedourwriter.Hisstruggle,asajournalistandasahumanbeing,summonsPENmemberstoarenewedsenseofourcalltospeakthetruthtopower.

WRITERSINExILECOMMITTEEREPORT

JENNifER ClEmENt

the violence mUst stopPENInternationalasksthat,ateveryPENevent,anemptychairbepresenttorepresentwriterswhohavebeenkilled,assassinated,incarcerated,orwhohavedisappeared.Todaywerememberandhonorthe67journalistswhohavebeenkilledinourcountryandthe10whohavedisappeared.

Ihaveoftenaskedmyself,“HowcanonetalkaboutMexico’sviolence?”Ifeelasiftheverywordsthemselves—censure,impunity,prosecute,demand,clarify—havealsobeenassassinated.Fromsomuchoveruse,thesewords,withoutweightandwornout,arenolongerstonesonecanusetostrike,butinsteadfrayedclothsforwrappingbodies.

Anotherconsequenceofthisviolenceisself-censorship.Ifwecannottellthetruthandreportthenewsbecauseoffear,welosenotonlydemocracyandfreedom,butalsoourhistory.Ifwedon’tknowthestory,wedonotknowwhoisthesaintorthekiller,theoutcastortheheroine.Andifwedonotknowwhathappened,wedonotknowwhotopursueandpunish,whotoforgiveandlove.

protesta


TheorganizationhadanotablepresenceattheLitFest—Edmonton’snon-fictionfestival.TheEmptyChairprogramwasfeaturedattwoevents.ThisyearthechairwasinhonoroftheIranianhumanrightslawyerNasrinSotoudeh,aprominentIranianjournalistandhumanrightslawyercurrentlyservingan11-yearprisonsentenceforheroutspokenadvocacyofclientsarrestedaftertheJune2009presidentialelections.

Ms.SotoudehisreportedlybeingheldinWard209ofEvinprison,anenclosedspacenormallyreservedforprisonersundergoingmethadonetreatmentsfordrugaddiction.Prisonersinthewardarebannedfromusingthelibraryandmakingphonecallsandaregrantedaccesstofreshairforlessthanonehoureachday.Theyarealsoprohibitedfromface-to-facemeetings.AllpoliticalprisonersatEvinprisonwerereportedlytransferredtothemethadonewardinNovember2010.Inmid-September,Sotoudeh’ssentencewascommutedtosixyearsinprison.

ThefirstoftheeventsatwhichSotoudehwashonouredwasheldOctober17,2011attheEdmontonPublicLibrary.ItfeaturedtwoformerEdmontonwritersinexile,JalajBerzanji,whowaslaunchinghisfirstbook,The Man in Blue Pajamas,andGoranSimic.Theboxofficerevenueof$1,087fromtheeventwasdonatedtoPENCanada.TheSecondeventwasheldOctober19,2011attheEdmontonPublicLibrarywhichfeaturedtheRightHonorableAdrienneClarksonandhernewbook,Room for All of Us.

AsamemberoftheboardofPENCanadaandthechairofWesternOutreach,IspokeatbotheventsaboutPENCanada,itshistoryandprograms,andhighlightedtheemptychairandansweredmanyquestionsaboutPENCanadaaftertheevents.SeventysevenattendeessignedthepetitionandjoinedPENCanadaincallingforNasrinSotoudeh’simmediateandunconditionalrelease.

FurtheroutreachplansincludethemembershipdrivethroughspecialeventsinCalgaryinVancouver,andthecoordinationofwidemediacoverageinWesternCanadaaboutPENprogramsandinitiatives.

MikiAndrejevicChair

WesternCanadaOutreachCommitteeReport

PENCanada’soutreacheffortsinWesternCanadacontinuetobeasuccessfulandimportantpartofexpandingtheorganization’sreachandscope.

Facedwithandoutragedbythecold,irrefutablereportsofassassination,torture,kidnapping,andwidespreadintimidationofjournalistsandwriters,wemayoverlookthefactthattheseterrorizingattacksagainstMexico’sjournalistsandwritersareattacksagainsttheMexicanpeople.

Anation’sjournalistsandwriters,likeitspoetsandstorytellers,aretheeyes,ears,andmouthofthepeople.Whenjournalistsandwriterscannotfreelyspeakofwhattheyseeandhearoftherealitythatsurroundsthem,thepeoplethemselvescannotsee,hear,orspeakofiteither.Whoevergougesapeople’seyes,stopsupitsears,andcutsoffitstonguemakesanationblind,deaf,andsilent.

Anationblinded,madedeaf,andsilentcannotchooseandcreateitsownhistory.Simply,itbecomesdehumanizedproperty,thepropertyofcriminalsandassassins.Acommunitybecomesacommodity,athingtobeboughtandsoldtothehighestbidder.Itmustberemembered,therefore,thatindefendingourbrotherandsisterjournalistsandwriters,wearedefendingthehumanityoftheMexicanpeople.

RussEll bANks

defendhUmanity

protesta


Shemusedthat“inRussia—[where]attemptstokilljournalistsarenorarity—we,theservantsandslavesofinformation,askourselvesthisquestion.Ifthepriceoftruthissohigh,perhapsweshouldjuststop...Howmuchwouldsociety,forwhosesakewearedoingthiswork,care?Inthefaceofthat,eachofusmakeshisorherownchoice.”Asithappened,Politkovskaya—alegendaryinvestigativejournalist,andHonoraryMemberofPENCanada—chosejournalism,andpaiddearlyforit.Todate,herOctober2006murderremainsunsolved,despiteseveralhighprofileinvestigationsandtrialsbytheRussiangovernment.

InMexico,Politkovskaya’squestionhoversabovethelivesofhundredsofworkingjournalists—particularlyinthenorthernstates,whichhavebornethebruntofPresidentCalderón’smilitarizedcampaignagainstdrugtraffickingorganizations(dtos).Thesix-yearconflicthasclaimedmorethan40,000Mexicanlives,includingdozensofjournalists.Manyothershavebeenharassed,threatened,andattacked.

Despiteitsrecenttransitiontodemocracyafter70yearsofsingle-partyrule,Mexicoretainsacultureofimpunity.Fewcrimesareproperlyinvestigated,evenfewerbroughttojustice.InAugust2011astudybytheUniversidadNacionalAutónomadeMéxico(unam)foundthat“forevery100crimescommittedinMexico,onlythreearecharged,fewerthantwocomebeforeajudge.Perpetratorsgetawaywithmurder.”Thereportacknowledged“formaladvances”intherecognitionofhumanrightsbutsaid“muchmoremustbedonetoestablisheffectivemeanstodefendthoserights.”

Corruption, Impunity, Silence: The War on Mexico’s Journalistsisacomprehen-siveoverviewofthiscrisis.PublishedinJune2011byPENCanadaandtheInter-nationalHumanRightsProgramattheUniversityofToronto’sFacultyofLaw,itexaminesMexico’ssystemicfailuretouphold“bindinginternationalhumanrightsobligations,includingtherighttolifeandtherighttofreedomofexpression.”Thereportraisesseriousdoubtsaboutthegovernment’soft-repeatedclaimthatdtosaretheprimarysourceofviolence.Infact,twooutofeverythreeattacksonjournal-istsoriginatewithstateagents,andcommunityradiobroadcasters—whofacenoknownthreatsfromthedrugcartels—aremorevulnerabletoviolenceandintimi-dationthanprofessionaljournalists.

BrendandeCairesPrograms Coordinator

WritersinPrisonCommitteeReport

In2003,afterhercolleaguenarrowlysurvivedanassassinationattempt,AnnaPolitkovskayaaskedherself,“Isjournalismworthdyingfor?”


InNovember2011,PENInternationallaunchedaDayoftheDeadcampaigntocommemoratethemorethan45Mexicanjournalistswhohavedisappearedorbeenkilledduringthepastsixyears.Aroundtheworld,PENCentresheldreadingsandvigilsoutsideembassiestoraiseawarenessoftheissue.InToronto,studentsatMartingroveCollegiateInstitutedesignedatraditionalDayoftheDeadshrineforthefallenjournalistsintheschoollibrary,andstagedbilingualpoetryreadingsintheirhonour.TheschoolgatheredseveralhundredsignaturesforapetitionurgingtheCanadianForeignMinistertopressthegovernmentofMexicoformoreactiononimpunity.

InJanuary2012,aPENdelegationwithrepresentativesfromninecentresintheUnitedStates,Canada,JapanandtheUnitedKingdom,visitedMexicoCityandmetgovernmentofficialsandfreedomofexpressionandhumanrightsngos.TheseincludedthemayorofMexicoCity,aformerForeignAffairsSecretary,thePresidentoftheMexicanSenate,andtheMinisterofHomeAffairs(Gobernación.)ShortlyafterwardstheSenateapprovedanamendmenttothelawthatwouldmakeanyattackonjournalistsafederalcrime.(Theworkofthisdelegationisdetailedelse-whereinthisreport,inanessaybyPENInternationalpresidentJohnRalstonSaul.)

honorary membersForthosewhobelievethatpetitionsandletterwritingcampaignsarelittlemorethansymbolicgestures,ourlastthreeyearshavebeenveryinstructive.Inthattime,thankstothesupportoffreeexpressionandhumanrightsgroups,includingPEN,threeofourHonoraryMembershavewalkedawayfrom100yearsofprisontime.InAugust2009,studentjournalistParvezKambakshwaspardonedfroma20-yearprisonsentence(initially,adeathsentence)forblasphemyinAfghanistan;inJuly2010CubanjournalistNormandoHernandezGonzalez,wassetfreefroma25-yearprisonsentence,followingaVatican-brokeredamnestybetweenSpainandCuba,andinSeptember2011,theBurmesepoetandcomedianZarganarwasreleasedfroma59-yearsentence(commutedto35years)imposedin2008.

OneofourmostrecentHonoraryMembersistheIranianhumanrightslawyerandjournalistNasrinSotoudeh,recipientofour2011OneHumanityAwardattheInternationalFestivalofAuthors(ifoa).FlorenceMinzpresentedtheawardatPEN’sgalaontheopeningnightoftheifoaandCanadian-Iraniantheatreproducer

SohailParsaacceptedtheprizeonbehalfofMs.Sotoudeh.(bbcNewsbroadcastfootageoftheceremonyinTehranthefollowingmorning.)SotoudehalsofeaturedprominentlyinMichaelIgnatieff ’sconversationwithRaminJahanbeglooatatelevisedPENeventon“LibertyandtheArabSpring.”Respondingtoaquestionfromtheaudienceabouttheimportanceofcivilsociety,IgnatieffpointedtotheemptychairimageofSotoudehonstageandsaid:“Don'tthinkthereisnothingyoucando—joinPEN.WritethePresidentofIran,keephernameupthere,thisstuffmatters.You'renotjustspectatorshere,sheneedsyourhelp.”

OnSeptember23,2011wemarkedthetenthanniversaryofDawitIssak’sarrestwithapubliceventcalled“TheOtherSideofSilence,”atRyersonUniversity.CanadianauthorsCamillaGibb,KarenConnelly,SheilaHeti,RosemarySullivan,andSusanSwanreadletterstothefivesurvivingjournalists—fourofIsaak’scolleagueshavereportedlydiedinprison.Eachletterendedwiththephrase“youarenotforgotten.”Footagefromtheevent,andthetextoftheletters,areavailableonourwebsite

InDecember2011PENCanadaadoptedJoséArmandoRodríguezCarreónasanHonoraryMember.RodríguezwasaveterancrimereporterforEl DiarioinCiudadJuárez,Chihuahuastate.HewasshotatleasteighttimesbyanunidentifiedgunmanonthemorningofNovember13,2008,ashepreparedtodrivehisdaughtertoschool.RodríguezhadbrieflyleftMexicotoliveinElPaso,Texas,afterreceivingdeaththreats.Onhisreturn,herefusedtostopcoveringcrimestoriesdespitereceivingfurtherdeaththreats.Shortlybeforehisdeath,RodrigueztoldtheCommitteetoProtectJournalists(cpj):“Therisksherearehighandrising,andjournalistsareeasytargets.ButIcan’tliveinmyhouselikeaprisoner.Irefusetoliveinfear.”TwoprosecutorsresponsibleforRodríguezcasehavesubsequentlybeenassassinated.

InMarch2012,wewerehonouredtohost“ConversationswithZarganar”—ajointeventwithAmnestyCanadaandtheArtsandContemporaryStudiesProgramatRyersonUniversity’sLibraryLectureTheatre.ZarganarappearedonstagewithnovelistKarenConnelly,comedianZaibShaikh,andDrArneKislenkoofRyerson'sDepartmentofHistory.BeckyToyneoffersanaccountofthisremarkabledayintheSpotlightsectionofthisreport.

WRITERSINPRISONCOMMITTEEREPORT


CONClUSION Of Corruption,

impunity, SilenCe – the War on

mexiCo’S JournaliStS

“JournalisminMexicohasreachedastateofemergency.Reportingthenewsincertainpartsofthecountryhasbecomeasdeadlyanundertakingaslivinginawarzone.ButMexicoisnotengagedsomuchinawarondrugsasinabattleforitsfledglingdemocracy,itsgraspontheruleoflaw,anditsveryfuture.Itisawarwithtwofronts:terrifyinglyviolentdrugtraffickingorganizationsarepressingfromonesideandMexico’slegacyofimpunityfromtheother.Itisordinarycitizenswhoarefeelingthesqueeze,andjournalists,inparticular,whoarecaughtinthemiddle.Yetthemedia,whichinalessviolentcontextwouldbeexposingthissituationfortheworldtosee,becomequieterwitheachpassingday.Mexico’sjournalistscannolongertakeactiontoprotectthemselveswithoutputtingtheirlivesatgraverisk.Itistimefortheworldtoact.Theriskofnotdoingsoisfartoogreat.”

Wearepeopleoftheword.Allofus.ThelifeofajournalistinJuarez,thefreeexpressionofablogger—bothareasessentialasthelifeandfreeexpressionofaNobellaureate.

Andtherightofcitizens,allcitizens,toreadinanyform,tohearineveryway,toquestionastheywish,tointerveneiftheywant,dependsontheabilityofwriters—allofus—towriteandtospeakwithoutfear.Thatisthemeaningofsolidarity.Itisanobleconcept.Butitisalsoaphysicalpresence.Thatiswhywearegatheredhere.

Thisisanhistoricgathering.ThefirsttimethatallsevenNorthAmericanPENcentreshavecometogetheroveracause,ontheterritoryweallshare.AndwearejoinedbyJapanPENandEnglishPEN.ThefirsttimethattheentireexecutiveofPENinternationalhasledadelegation.Thefirsttimesincethisterribleviolencebeganthatwehaveallcometogether,withyou,here,inMexico.

JOhN RAlstON sAul

freeexpressionmatters

protesta


ThedaybeforePENInternational’sDayoftheImprisonedWriter,IreceivedacallfromPENCanada’sprogramsandcommunica-tionscoordinatorBrendandeCairesaskingforsomephotographyadvice.“We’retaking‘manonthestreet’shotsofpeopleholdingupphotographsofimprisonedwriters,”heexplained,“asashowofsolidarity.”“Icandobetterthangiveyouadvice,”Isaid,“justtellmewhereandwhentoshowup.”I’dbeenwantingtogetmoreinvolvedwithPEN,andthiswasaperfectopportunity.

Thenextmorning,onTuesdayNovember15,wemetupatthePENCanadaofficeonRyersonAvenue.PENwriterinexileAyubNuriwastherewithhisyoungerbrotherMekdad,whohad,believeitornot,arrivedthenightbeforefromIraq(viatheUS).AyubandIdiscoveredwehadfriendsincom-monfromhishomeKurdistan,wherewe’dbothworkedasjournalistsduringtheIraqWar.WewerealsojoinedbyBrendanand

byMortezaAbdolalian,anotherPENwriterinexile.Wealldonnedt-shirtsfeaturingaphotoofimprisonedwriterNasrinSotoudeh.AsecondteamconsistingofPENadvocateRuiUmezawa,writerinexileAaronBerhane,PENinternDylanFranks,andhisfriendRobertoworet-shirtswithapictureofim-prisonedwriterDawitIsaakonthem.Wesetoutonfootwithastackofflyersandphotosoftheimprisonedwriters.

LocationsaroundTorontoweredivviedupbetweenthetwoteams(wehadafriendlycompetitiontoseewhocouldcollectmoreportraits).WehadourbestsuccessatCityHall.OnewomanfromIranwenttogetherchildrensotheycouldallposeforapicture.Wetooknearlyahundredphotographs,andattheendofthedaytheteamsmetattheEatonCentre,alongwithsomeofPEN’smostillustriouswriter-members,includingPENpresidentCharlesForan,who,althoughhesaidnothingtousatthetime,hadjustbeeninformedthathe’dwontheGovernorGeneral’sAwardforhisbiographyofMor-decaiRichler.ThesceneattheEatonCentrewastriumphant.Despitetheheavytopiconallourmindsandthephotosofimprisonedwritersemblazonedonourshirts,wehadcometogetherinsolidarity,andmadealliesalongtheway.Onthewalkhome,MortezaandIagreed:Itwasanamazingday.

—Rita Leistner

Spotlight:FreeExpression

Zarganardeliversanimpressiveone-liner.Asatiristoriginallysentencedto59yearsinprisonforcriticisinghisgovernment,Burma’smostprominentoppositionfigurehas,tojoyousreception,happilybeenreleasedafterlessthanfourand,asishisinstinct,isengaginghisaudiencesbymakingthemostseriousofsubjects—forabriefmo-mentatleast—alaughingmatter.Censorshipandimprisonmentmaynotseemthestuffofjoke-telling,butforanhouronstageinToronto,theywere.

Zarganar’spresenceinCanadawasaproudmomentforPEN—thechancetomeetinpersonamanpreviouslyknownonlythroughreports,statementsonpetitions,pic-turesproppeduponsymbolicemptychairs.OnstagewithauthorKarenConnelly,aca-demicArneKislenko,andactorZaibShaikhonMarch3,ZarganartalkedofBurmesetheatre,ofcomedy,andofhishopesforhiscountry’sfuturegovernmentandtransitionawayfromdecadesofmilitaryrule.

ThoughZarganarisoutofjailheisnotyetoutofthewoods—hissentencesuspend-ed,notoverturned.UndercurrentBurmeselawhecouldbearrestedandreturnedtojailforwritinganemaildeemedsubversiveorforcrackingthewrongkindofjokeinthewrongkindofcrowd,andsohisreleaseispartlycosmetic.“Thisisnotamnesty,”hesaidinacharacteristicbonmot.“Thisisshowbusiness.”

Themanwhosenamemeans“tweezers”originallytrainedasadentist.Butashetoldhisassembledaudience,whenthetimecametopracticehehadarealization:“IfIwasadentistIhaveachancetoopenonemouthatatime,butifIwasacomedianIcanopenmanymouths.”ToopenmanymouthsonbehalfofthesilencedfewisPEN’sdailywork.TohearthesubjectofaPENcampaignatlibertytovoicetheideawasasingularpleasure.

—Becky Toyne

PEN international’s day of the imprisoned writer to Open many mouths


honorary PatronJohnRalstonSaul

Platinum Patrons ($10,000+)TheColemanLeggittTrustMargaretAtwood

gold Patrons ($5,000 – $9,999)Martha&GeorgeButterfieldJanneDuncanEmeraldFoundationTheHon.Williamand CatherineGrahamYdessaHendelesYannMartelFlorenceMinz

silver Patrons ($2,500 – $4,999)TheScottGriffinFoundation

Patrons ($1,000 – $2,499)MichaelAdamsMikiAndrejevicMichael&SaraAngelRickFeldman&RickArchboldPaul&KayeBeestonTheBennettFamily FoundationWalterM.&LisaBalfour BowenRandy&AnnaBoyagodaHankBulmashTheRt.Hon.Adrienne ClarksonAndrewCohenFrancesConnellySusanCoyneAlbertCummingsHonor&MichaeldePencierLouiseDennys

Jack&GillianDiamondFrans&GiniDonkerDouglas&McIntyre PublishersMary&DouglasDymentSarahEltonMargaret&JimFleckCharlieForanGeorgeGaltRogerGarlandTheGeorgeAnderson& CharlotteGrayFoundationKatherineGovierHarperCollinsCanadaHaynes-ConnellFoundationJohnHonderichJeremyFraiberg &MarthaHundertAnthonyHydeWeipingJiangNaomiKleinDianaKuprelPymBuitenhuis &JamesLaheyRitaLeistnerMichaelLevineLouiseMacCallumBruceMacDougallMacleodDixonLLPMargaretMacMillanRohintonandFrenyMistryTheNorman&MargaretJewisonFoundationSirChristopherOndaatjePenguinGroupCanadaAnnaPorterMitaRanjanRobertaRichFlorenceRichlerClaytonC.RubyAmandaSebrisAnneSeck

EllenSeligmanIsadoreSharpHaroonSiddiquiPhilipSlaytonBethSymesDiannaSymonds &KenMcCarterTimesGroupCoporationEleanorWachtelBruceWalshBruceWestwoodDeborahWillis(inhonour ofSteveWahl)RonaldWright

granting AgenciesCanadaCouncilfortheArtsOntarioArtsCouncil

Event sponsorsPlatinum ($15,000+)TheMcLeanClinicfor CosmeticandPlasticSurgeryNaylorGroupInc.

silver ($5,000 – 9,999)BruceMauDesignCumberlandPrivateWealth ManagementFlorenceMinzIndigo

bronze ($1,000 – 4,999)InstituteWithoutBorders, GeorgeBrownCollegeKuwabaraPayneMcKenna BlumbergArchitectsRoyalOntarioMuseumRoyalSt.George’sCollegeRyersonUniversity

sponsors in kindAmnestyInternationalAtlantic Books MonthlyAuthorsatHarbourfront CentreBenMcNallyBooksblogTOThe Globe and MailHartHouseHenryofPelhamJamieKennedyKitchensRitaLiestnerLiterary Review of CanadaQuill and QuireRyersonUniversity, FacultyofArtsandArts andContemporary StudiesProgramSansArmeVideoProductionSethSoapboxDesign Communications,Inc.TorontoPublicLibraryTorontoStandardUniversityofToronto, DepartmentofPolitical ScienceThe WalrusWreckingBallTheaterLab

donors ($25-$999)ElizabethAbbottRebekkahAdamsAlbertaBookFairSocietyJocelynAllenTomAllenPaulAlmondJasonAndersonAnneliAndre-BarrettMarianneAndresMeredithAndrewSusanAndrewsGeorgeAnthonyBethAppeldoornLindaArbourKandiceArdielGladysAscahToddBabiak

HilaryBain(inhonourof Dan&KathyBarclay)DarleneBarryQuaifeJimBartleyRaymondBeaucheminPaulBennettErinBidlakeNeilBissoondathJaredBlandRonnaBloomHaraldBohneStephanieBolsterMarianBotsfordFraserPauletteBourgeoisLynneBowenMaureenBrosnahanIanBrownWilliamBryantCatherineBushBrianCainesBrianCampbellEllenCampbellCanadianLiteratureGroupLauraCarterLucieCarignanWaysonChoyJohanneClareJoyceColes(inhonourof ColleenReaney)KarenConnellyMatthewConskyJenniferdeAlwisFr.RaymonddeSouzaLeslieDuncanNormaDvorskyJohnEerkes-MedranoPeterandJacquelineEltonShirleyEnnsVictorEnnsElkaRuthEnolaRobertFinleyLindaFischer(inhonourof Frans&GiniDonker)CynthiaFloodJudithFlynnJudyFongBatesPeterFosterArthurFrank

LarryFrenchSuzanneFrenchElissaGallanderZsusziGartnerRoghyehGhanbaralizadehKatherineGillespieMariaGoldstoneGabriellaGoligerAlisonGordonCatherineGordonMarthaGouldJessicaGrantStephenGrantCarolGravelleEvaGreenLindaGriffithsMichaelGrodenCarolGwynCeliaHaig-BrownLynnHarriganMerleHarrisElizabethHayMichaelHealeyDorrisHeffronMichaelHelmLeeHendersonLouisaHowerowMargaretAnneHumeLindaHutsell-ManningFrancesItaniAlbertJabaraBrookeJamisonChristineJarvisCatherineJefferyCharlesJohnson &MarilynWellesJessicaJohnstonMartinJonesGhadaKandilElizabethKaplanJanetKeepingDavidKentBettyKershnerAlexisKienlenCamieKimMarkKingwellEsteeKlar-WolfondMyrnaKostash

Members&Supporters


DavidKoulackNaokoKumagaiMarthaKumsaAlexanderKwiecienMarleneLachcikLiisaLadouceurAnitaLaheyThuVanLamPatrickLaneAlexanderLeggattMarkLeiren-YoungJoanLeishmanMattLennoxAmandaLewisLibraryAssociationofthe NationalCapitalRegion (inhonourofAlanCumyn, DonnaPresz,andMax Neuvians)JaneLindAnnaLuengoDerekLundyJanetMacInnisWendyMacIntyreAllisonMackay(inhonour ofBethaneBell& TopherElliot)R.V.MacLeodJayMacphersonMariaMaksymiw(inhonour ofOsypaMaksymiw)CarinMakuzRuthMandelDaveMargoshesHollandMarshallJasonMartin(inhonourof JohnDarnton)MartingroveCollegiateJodyMasonBobMcArthurS.A.M.McCueJoeMcdalnoMarciMcDonaldDonnaMcDougallRobertMcGillFionaMcHughDorothyMcIntoshS.McIntyreAmiMcKay

KevinMcMahonSusanMcMasterIanMcNeilGeorgeMcWhirterMarkMedleyFlorenceNarineSusinNielsenIrisNowellRonNurwisahPeterO'BrienCatherineOlsenJohnOtaDorothyPalmerMarionParsonsIngridPeritzEdwardPhillipsLesliePinderKellyRankinSenthilnathanRatnasabapathyMagdaleneRedekopGilbertReidPhilipResnickRoyaRezaeeBruceRhodesNinoRicciRiviereCharitableFoundationGlennRobinetteDeniseRoigChristopherRosatiLaurieRussellGabrielSafdieJudieSahadeoSaskatchewanFestival OfWordsSoniaSaikaleyCandaceSavageReneeSaviour(inhonour ofSiamakPourzand)AlvinSchraderSelkirkCollegeEithneShankarSimcoeCountyDistrict SchoolBoardJamesandElaineSlaterBeverleySlopenBobbieSmithDenisSmithJanetSomervilleAndrewSteinmetz

SandraStephensonFelicityStoneSallieStoreyJocelynStrattonMernaSummersMarkSwartzYumikoTakaishiBarbaraTangneyChristopherTaylorTelusTonyThaiKevinTierneyVernonTurnerTeressaTrollopeLawrenceUhlinJohnValliant(inhonour ofJoanna&EllisSettle)PadmaViswanathanChristopherWaddellAndrewWainwrightJenniferWalcottGraceWestcottSueWheelerKarenWilkie(inhonour ofTrishElliott&DonJedlic)DavidWilsonCarolynWoodBettyJaneWylieLisaYeungPearlYostJanZwicky

special thanks …RandomHouseofCanadaforsupportingPENthroughitsOpenHouseevent.

BethSpratt,CaraGibbons,RenuMandhane,ClaytonRubyandNaderHasanfortheirgenerousassistancewiththeproductionofCorruption, Impunity, Silence: The War on Mexico’s Journalists.

TheRightHonourableAdrienneClarksonforrepresentingPENCanadainPENInternational’s

delegationtoMexicoCityinJanuary2012.

RachelHarryforvolunteeringtimeandexpertisetotheproductionofYou Wait For Me With Dust,PENCanada'scontributiontotheworldwidereadingforLiuxiaobo.

Event ParticipantsDavidAkinChrisAlexander,MPAaronBerhaneKarenConnellySenatorRoméoDallaireCamillaGibbSheilaHetiAvaHomaChristopherHumeMaryHynesMichaelIgnatieffMaryItoRaminJahanbeglooBarbaraKayMarkKingwellArneKislenkoStephenLewisJohnLorincBruceMauMarciMcDonaldAyubNuriJohnRalstonSaulZaibShaikhRosemarySullivanSusanSwanAnnaMariaTremontiZarganar

members and Associate membersElizabethAbbottIzzeldinAbuelaishRebekkahAdamsCarolineAddersonJanetAddlemanCalvinAklerDavidAlexanderHusseinAlidina

JodyAliesanJocelynAllenTomAllenPaulAlmondSalimaAminJasonAndersonLisaAnderson-ReevesMarianneAndresMeredithAndrewGeorgeAnthonyBethAppeldoornLindaArbourKandiceArdielPeterArmalySallyArmstrongChristopherAveryToddBabiakAndreaBalsaraDarleneBarryQuaifeJimBartleyJalalBarzanjiEdwardBaxterRaymondBeaucheminJaneyBennettPaulBennettHeatherBirrellNeilBissoondathJoeBladesJaredBlandRonnaBloomHaraldBohneStephanieBolsterWilliamBonnellMarianBotsfordFraserPauletteBourgeoisLynneBowenJeremyBoxenRuthBradley-St-CyrErinBrandenburgMorwynBrebnerMurrayBrewsterMaureenBrosnahanIanBrownWilliamBryantMaryBurnsCatherineBushStephenCainBrianCainesBrianCampbell

EllenCampbellCathyCapesLucieCarignanTrevorCarolanDavidCarpenterLisaCarterGwenChamberlainDavidChariandyWaysonChoyMetinCiyayiJohanneClareM.F.CoadyDevonCodeMarcColbourneLilyContentoJohnCooperPatriciaCorsonLornaCrozierAlanCumynTomDarbyGwenDaviesDianeDavyJenniferdeAlwisFr.RaymonddeSouzaMarqdeVilliersTeriDeglerClaudiaDeyHelenDiTommasoJoAnnDionneDouglasDoneganiMaryAliceDownieSharonDracheLeslieDuncanNormaDvorskyAmatoritseroEdeJillEdmondsonJohnEerkes-MedranoPeter&JacquelineEltonHowardEngelShirleyEnnsVictorEnnsElkaRuthEnolaSusanEvansShawTerryFallisQasimHersiFarahMaryFergusonRobertFinleySheilaFischmanCynthiaFlood

MEMBERS&SUPPORTERS


JudithFlynnCatherineFordPeterFosterAllanFotheringhamArthurFrankJohnFraserKeathFraserSylviaFraserLarryFrenchSuzanneFrenchMarkFrutkinNancyFyfeElissaGallanderZsusziGartnerRoghyehGhanbaralizadehMichaelGilbertKatherineGillespieDonGillmorCarolGoarGabriellaGoligerHutanGolsorkhiAaronGoodmanAlisonGordonCatherineGordonMarthaGouldBarbaraGowdyMarkGraesserRonGrahamJessicaGrantStephenGrantCarolGravelleEvaGreenLyndsayGreenLindaGriffithsMichaelGrodenDanielleGroenCarolGwynCeliaHaig-BrownGeraldHallowellMelissaHardyLynnHarriganMerleHarrisElizabethHayDavidHayesMichaelHealeyEnsafaliHedayatDorrisHeffronMichaelHelmLeeHenderson

ElizabethHerlichSeymourHershG.N.HillmerPeterHinchcliffeAvaHomaBlancheHowardLouisaHowerowIsabelHugganMargaretAnneHumeKendallHunterValerieHusseyLindaHutsell-ManningMichaelIgnatieffAnoshIraniFrancesItaniAlbertJabaraMarniJacksonFrankeJamesBrookeJamisonChristineJarvisAnthonyJefferyCatherineJefferySarahJenningsCharlesJohnson &MarilynWellesJessicaJohnstonMartinJonesNicolaJosephGhadaKandilElizabethKaplanWilliamKaplanKatherinnFesihKayaJanetKeepingDavidKentBettyKershnerMayaKhankhojeAlexisKienlenCamieKimThomasKingMarkKingwellEsteeKlar-WolfondMyrnaKostashDavidKoulackMarthaKumsaEvaKushnerAlexanderKwiecienMarleneLachcikLiisaLadouceur

EmilijaLafondAnitaLaheyThuVanLamMicheleLandsbergPatrickLaneJenniferLanthierWilliamLaskinMaryJoLeddyDennisLeeStellaLeeAlexanderLeggattSylviaLegrisMarkLeiren-YoungJoanLeishmanMattLennoxAmandaLewisSaraLeeLewisJaneLindPetraLommerzheimAnnaLuengoNicoleLundriganDerekLundyEvadneMacedoJanetMacInnisWendyMacIntyreBarryMacKayR.V.MacLeodJayMacphersonAnandMahadevanCaspianMakanMariaMaksymiwCarinMakuzRuthMandelRonaldManzerDaveMargoshesHollandMarshallEmileMartelHeatherMartinDavidMasonStevenMayoffBobMcArthurJoAnnMcCaigS.A.M.McCueMarciMcDonaldDonnaMcDougallRobertMcEwenRobertMcGillKenMcGooganDonaldMcGorman

FionaMcHughDorothyMcIntoshHopeMcIntyreS.McIntyreAmiMcKayKevinMcMahonSusanMcMasterLindaMcQuaigTessaMcWattGeorgeMcWhirterMarkMedleyMariaMeindlJohnMeiselAlanMendelsonSalahMohsseinKagisoMolopeFrancesMoneyJacobMooneyBerniceMorganYokoMorgensternDesmondMortonKenrickMoseMaranNagarasaFlorenceNarineMarieNatansonSusinNielsenRobertNormeyIrisNowellAyubNuriRonNurwisahPeterO'BrienCatherineOlsenKatrinaOnstadNatalieOnuskaJohnOtaDorothyPalmerErnaParisMarionParsonsKathleenPattinsonEdwardPhillipsAntonPiatigorskyAlisonPickLesliePinderKerryPitherCarolynPogueJimPolkHelenPorterBernardPoulinBarbaraPulling

JanePyperMehrubRahmanKellyRankinSenthilnathanRatnasabapathyMagdaleneRedekopGilbertReidPhilipResnickRoyaRezaeeBruceRhodesNinoRicciJoanneRitchieSiobhanRobertsGlennRobinetteReneeRodinStanRogalDeniseRoigChristopherRosatiIngridRoseRebeccaRosenblumEmmaRubySachsGabrielSafdieJudieSahadeoSoniaSaikaleyMaithamSalmanBarbaraSamuelsRichardSandbrookBarbaraSapergiaCraigSaundersCandaceSavageAlvinSchraderJamesSchultzShyamSelvaduraiCarolShabenEithneShankarMichelleShephardHowardShrierMelanieSiebertDavidSilcoxJaspreetSinghPeterSiroishkaJames&ElaineSlaterJoeySlingerBeverleySlopenBobbieSmithDenisSmithLouiseSmolskaJanetSomervilleMirWaissSoultanzadehJaniceStein

J.J.SteinfeldAndrewSteinmetzJohnStephensonSandraStephensonMaryStewartDanielStoffmanFelicityStonePegeenStopfordSusanStromberg-SteinRosemarySullivanMernaSummersFraserSutherlandMarkSwartzYumikoTakaishiEricTammBarbaraTangneyChristopherTaylorRoystonTesterIsaacTettehBlossomThomScottThornleyKevinTierneyIhorTomkiwHungTonMichaelTorranceBeckyToyneStephenTrumperVernonTurnerLawrenceUhlinRuiUmezawaGeoffreyUrsellJohnVaillantArithaVanHerkFrankVanKalmthoutKathyVanderlindenJamesVavraPaulVermeerschRachelleVillanuevaVikkiVisvisFWvomScheidtLeslieVryenhoekNicolaVulpeChristopherWaddellAndrewWainwrightJenniferWalcottKarenWaltonKendraWardAlisonWearingBarryWebster

MEMBERS&SUPPORTERS


BenWeeksGraceWestcottSueWheelerAbbyWhiddenMaryWillanMasonPenelopeWilliamsJaniceWilliamsonLanaWillocksDavidWilsonCynthiaWineJessicaWolfeCarolynWoodRichardWrightBettyJaneWylieLisaYeungHopeYuTaliaZajacLizZetlinCarmenZiolkowskiFrancineZuckermanJanZwicky

volunteersKatieAddlemanAshleyBeattieLizBrownShirleyEnnsDylanFranksLoriIsberBrookeJamisonEmilijaLafondMikeMaguireHeatherMartinAlainPescador

board of directorsCharlieForanPresidentRandyBoyagodaVice-PresidentJanneDuncanSecretary and Chair, Legal AffairsFrancesConnellyTreasurerMaryJoLeddy Chair, Writers in Exile CommitteeKerryPitherChair, Writers in Prison CommitteePhilipSlaytonChair, National Affairs CommitteeMikiAndrejevicChair, Outreach (Western Canada)DianaKuprelChair, Communications:MarkMedleyChair, MembershipSaraAngelChair, FundraisingBeckyToyneChair, EventsJaredBlandMember at LargeAndrewCohenMember at LargeSarahEltonMember at LargeBruceWalshMember at LargeEllenSeligmanPast President, ex-officio

Advisory boardDavidCronenbergRaminJahanbeglooMarkKingwellNaomiKleinJamesLaheyYannMartelRohintonMistryClaytonRuby

staffKaseyCoholanAdministratorBrendandeCairesPrograms and Communications Coordinator

MEMBERS&SUPPORTERS

Elena PoniatowskaisaMexicanjournalist,novelist,essayist,andshort-storywriter.SheisafounderofthenewspaperLa JornadaandofMexico’sfirstfeministmagazine,Fem.Aprolificwriter,PoniatowskaisbestknownforhernonfictionaccountMassacre in Mexico(La noche de Tlatelolco)andthenovelHere’s to You, Jesusa! (Hasta no verte, Jesús mío).luis miguel AguilarisaMexicanpoet,essayist,criticandfictionwriter,andtheformereditoroftheprestigiousartsandculturemonthlyNexos.Hehaseditedseveralanthologiesandpublishedabookofcriticalessays,La democracia de los muertos: Ensayo sobre poesía mexicana,1800–1921(The Democracy of the Dead: an essay on Mexican Poetry).In2001hepublishedFábulas de Ovidio,loosetranslationsofOvid’sMetamorphoses.

Jennifer Clement,thePresidentofPEN Club México,isapoetandnovelistwhoseworkhasbeentranslatedintoeightlanguages.Herfirstnovel,A True Story Basedon Lies,wasafinalistforthe2002OrangePrize.Russell banksisanAmericanwriterwhoseworkincludesthenovelsThe Book of Jamaica, Cloudsplitter andThe Angel On The Roof,acollectionofshortstories.HehaswrittenforVanity Fair,The New York Times Book Review, Esquire, Harper’s,andmanyotherpublications.

John Ralston saul,PresidentofPENInternational,isaCanadianauthorandessayistbestknownforhisnonfictiontrilogyVoltaire’s Bastards: The Dictatorship of Reason in the West, The Doubter’s Companion: A Dictionary of Aggressive Common Sense andThe Unconscious Civilisation.HisMasseyLectures,The Unconscious Civilization,wonthe1996GovernorGeneral’sLiteraryAwardforNon-FictionandhisReflections of a Siamese TwinwaschosenbyMaclean’sasoneofthetenbestnon-fictionbooksofthetwentiethcentury.

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