We don’t always write about the world-wide war on cartooners because we get too depressed, but this story on the media crackdown in Burma caught our eye:

The Burmese regime has banned the work of 19 artists and writers, and some writers and poets are hiding from authorities because they are being pursued for taking part in the September 2007 uprising.

Among those whose works have been banned is the renowned cartoonist Awpikye, whose three-decade-long career was brought to a halt by the ban. He was accused of supporting monks in the September 2007 uprising.

“I cannot draw cartoons now; I am upset about it. My fans cannot see my cartoons anymore,” he said. “I knew about it after the advertisement industry told me about the ban. They told to me that my work had been banned from being published and telecast. Moreover, even my colleagues cannot mention my name in their work. Their work will be censored, too, if they mention my name,” he added.

Sadly we couldn’t find any examples of Awpikye’s work online. Perhaps the job has already been done too well.