Invitation to a Book Launch, “Our Thoughts Are Free: Poems and Prose on Imprisonment and Exile”

SIRD Publishing and Ethos Books (Singapore) jointly invites you to a Book Launch,

“Our Thoughts Are Free: Poems and Prose on Imprisonment and Exile” edited by

Tan Jing Quee, Teo Soh Lung & Koh Kay Yew.

Date  : 16th May 2009 (Saturday)

Time  : 3.00pm – 5.30pm

Venue : The Annexe Gallery, 2nd Floor, Central Market Annexe, Jalan Hang Kasturi, 50470 Kuala Lumpur.

The launch will be followed by talks and a poetry reading session. This very special event will be attended by, and bring together many ex-political detainees across different decades from Malaysia and Singapore. They will share their life testimonies and thoughts resulting from political suppression from both countries. The audience will include social and political activists, bloggers and activists from NGOs.

OUR THOUGHTS ARE FREE is a collection of poems and prose from a group of six former ISA (Internal Security Act) political prisoners and exiles, mainly from Singapore , They are Said Zahari, Ho Piao, Tan Jing Quee, Teo Soh Lung, Wong Souk Yee and Francis Khoo.

The poems and prose give a different perspective to a little known part of Singapore’s political climate and state of un-freedom. The book is also a record of survival; of those who used words to open doors and windows to connect with a world denied them.

All are welcome. Please feel free to circulate this notice.

For further details please contact Ms Lee Siew Hwa at 03-79578342/8343 or 016 – 4655107 and Mr Chong Ton Sing at  016- 379 7231.

3.00 pm     Guests arrive
3.10 pm     Guests seated. Publisher introduces title
3.12 pm     12-min video on ISA, Singapore
Francis Khoo shares
Said Zahari shares
3.55 pm     Readings begin (13 poems & 1 prose/skit)
4.30 pm     Discussion and Q&A session with editors
4.50 pm     Tea, chit-chat and book signing
5.30 pm     Retire to a good read

Date:     Saturday, 16 May 2009