Dr. Thant Thaw Kaung, founder of the Myanmar Book Center and executive director of the Myanmar Book Aid and Preservation Foundation, will receive the 2014 Jeri Laber International Freedom to Publish Award. For the first time since it was established in 2002, the award will be presented during BookExpo America.
Given annually by the Association of American Publishers International Freedom to Publish Committee, the award recognizes a book publisher outside of the U.S. who has "demonstrated courage and fortitude in the face of restrictions on freedom of expression." According to the AAP, Thant "has played a leading role in keeping books and literary life alive in Myanmar (Burma) under an oppressive authoritarian regime."
