Another rock band had tour abroad cancelled

Sein Win , Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

February 18, 2004

The Burmese rock band, Emperor had its Australia tour, planned for 7 to 20 February, cancelled by the Burmese authorities.

Zaw Win Htut, Ringo, Tun Eindra Bo and Tint Tint Tun had been sponsored by the Culture and Arts Developers (CAD).

Lead singer Zaw Win Htut comments to Mizzima: “We were all ready to go but the authorities cancelled it. I don’t know why. We needed a letter from the Burmese Embassy in Australia to be allowed to leave the country. Now we need to start all over again if we are allowed to go”.

Burmese in Australia are excited to see Emperor. Tickets sales have been excellent, according to the organizer’s webpage. In Sydney, almost all the tickets have been sold. Now all ticket holders need to be refunded.

This is the second ban by the authorities on Burmese entertainers within one week. Iron Cross, another rock band, had the continuation of its tour from the US to England cancelled. The Burmese authorities gave no public announcement of the cancellation.

Apparently, Iron Cross’ cancellation is not related to the Emperor case. Some musicians in Rangoon suggest that the military junta may be concerned that the bands were going to entertain opposition supporters in the US.

Emperor, founded in 1983, was to tour Malaysia and Australia marking its twentieth anniversary. Zaw Win Htut , whose grandfather and mother were both popular musicians, recorded at least three dozen albums in two decades and is a music hero to the youth.

Prohibitions on musicians are not unusual inside Burma. Lyrics need to be approved by the Press Scrutiny Board before songs are recorded. Moreover, even the musicians’ and singers’ appearance (features such as long hair) can lead authorities to ban their albums and live performances for a period of time.