freedom people talk about freedom every day freedom of press fear on speech
day freedom of press fear on speech
day freedom of press fear on speech freedom of expression but have you ever
freedom of expression but have you ever
freedom of expression but have you ever thought of how much of a freedom that
thought of how much of a freedom that
thought of how much of a freedom that you have on your daily life and most of
you have on your daily life and most of
you have on your daily life and most of us take freedom for granted right but
us take freedom for granted right but
us take freedom for granted right but how would you feel when you ended up in
how would you feel when you ended up in
how would you feel when you ended up in a situation that your basic rights and
a situation that your basic rights and
a situation that your basic rights and freedom are suddenly not there anymore
freedom are suddenly not there anymore
freedom are suddenly not there anymore this happened to me back in year 2004 I
this happened to me back in year 2004 I
this happened to me back in year 2004 I was quite unexpectedly thrown into
was quite unexpectedly thrown into
was quite unexpectedly thrown into prison today I’m going to share my story
prison today I’m going to share my story
prison today I’m going to share my story I’m a news publisher and I’ve been in
I’m a news publisher and I’ve been in
I’m a news publisher and I’ve been in this industry for nearly two decades now
this industry for nearly two decades now
this industry for nearly two decades now I love publishing I love the smell of
I love publishing I love the smell of
I love publishing I love the smell of inks smell of the paper I love the noise
inks smell of the paper I love the noise
inks smell of the paper I love the noise of the running printing presses a lot of
of the running printing presses a lot of
of the running printing presses a lot of people think I’m crazy but for me it’s
people think I’m crazy but for me it’s
people think I’m crazy but for me it’s my passion I could find it near my Times
my passion I could find it near my Times
my passion I could find it near my Times newspaper back in year 2000 and actually
newspaper back in year 2000 and actually
newspaper back in year 2000 and actually my background still is printing I didn’t
my background still is printing I didn’t
my background still is printing I didn’t understand about publishing or anything
understand about publishing or anything
understand about publishing or anything whatsoever
let me give you a bit of context before
let me give you a bit of context before year 2000 there wasn’t a real private
year 2000 there wasn’t a real private
year 2000 there wasn’t a real private owned newspaper
owned newspaper
owned newspaper most of the newspapers a state-owned
most of the newspapers a state-owned
most of the newspapers a state-owned and basically we are trying to we are
and basically we are trying to we are
and basically we are trying to we are basically testing the ground there were
basically testing the ground there were
basically testing the ground there were a lot of issues though everything has to
a lot of issues though everything has to
a lot of issues though everything has to run by the censorship board if they
run by the censorship board if they
run by the censorship board if they don’t like one word they will reject the
don’t like one word they will reject the
don’t like one word they will reject the whole story
whole story
whole story but it was a fun challenge for us we
but it was a fun challenge for us we
but it was a fun challenge for us we became number one within two years time
became number one within two years time
became number one within two years time it’s simply because there wasn’t enough
it’s simply because there wasn’t enough
it’s simply because there wasn’t enough competitions that time we were flying so
competitions that time we were flying so
competitions that time we were flying so high until November 2004 when unexpected
high until November 2004 when unexpected
high until November 2004 when unexpected problems struck me from unexpected angle
problems struck me from unexpected angle
problems struck me from unexpected angle and got me into big trouble
and got me into big trouble
and got me into big trouble there was a time military government
there was a time military government
there was a time military government purge military intelligence and I
purge military intelligence and I
purge military intelligence and I happened to be get caught in the middle
happened to be get caught in the middle
happened to be get caught in the middle because of my father my father used to
because of my father my father used to
because of my father my father used to be the air force brigade your journal
be the air force brigade your journal
be the air force brigade your journal from the Intelligence Unit who was
from the Intelligence Unit who was
from the Intelligence Unit who was overseeing the International Affairs too
overseeing the International Affairs too
overseeing the International Affairs too soon after his arrest
soon after his arrest
soon after his arrest I was taken into custody and nine months
I was taken into custody and nine months
I was taken into custody and nine months later I was sentenced to 14 years
later I was sentenced to 14 years
later I was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for censorship offense
seven years for English version and
seven years for English version and seven years for Numa version my very
seven years for Numa version my very
seven years for Numa version my very first day in prison was nothing else but
first day in prison was nothing else but
first day in prison was nothing else but Wow
Wow
Wow the biggest wall of my life and took me
the biggest wall of my life and took me
the biggest wall of my life and took me a couple of days to to swallow it I
neither have thought of ended up in the
neither have thought of ended up in the place like that no experience the prison
place like that no experience the prison
place like that no experience the prison before all I knew was my normal routines
before all I knew was my normal routines
before all I knew was my normal routines are gone and
are gone and
are gone and felt so empty but the true this when I
felt so empty but the true this when I
felt so empty but the true this when I was taken away for everyone only me
was taken away for everyone only me
was taken away for everyone only me sunny is gone but for me everybody is
sunny is gone but for me everybody is
sunny is gone but for me everybody is gone in my life nothing left just like
gone in my life nothing left just like
gone in my life nothing left just like that I have to be very strong physically
that I have to be very strong physically
that I have to be very strong physically mentally and all I know is I’m being
mentally and all I know is I’m being
mentally and all I know is I’m being forced to make the biggest adjustment of
forced to make the biggest adjustment of
forced to make the biggest adjustment of my life by stranded somewhere that I
my life by stranded somewhere that I
my life by stranded somewhere that I felt that I didn’t belong they put me
felt that I didn’t belong they put me
felt that I didn’t belong they put me straight into the solitary confinement
straight into the solitary confinement
straight into the solitary confinement it’s a it’s a small cell sixty square
it’s a it’s a small cell sixty square
it’s a it’s a small cell sixty square feet six feet by ten feet and I got to
feet six feet by ten feet and I got to
feet six feet by ten feet and I got to see out of the cell 15 minutes twice a
see out of the cell 15 minutes twice a
see out of the cell 15 minutes twice a day that includes shower laundry and
day that includes shower laundry and
day that includes shower laundry and exercise and I’m being locked up the
exercise and I’m being locked up the
exercise and I’m being locked up the rest of the 23 hours in 30 minutes and
rest of the 23 hours in 30 minutes and
rest of the 23 hours in 30 minutes and there was the door with the iron bars
there was the door with the iron bars
there was the door with the iron bars that completely blocking my freedom and
that completely blocking my freedom and
that completely blocking my freedom and I totally hated but the option was
I totally hated but the option was
I totally hated but the option was whether I just hate it or just make use
whether I just hate it or just make use
whether I just hate it or just make use of it so pretty soon that door become my
of it so pretty soon that door become my
of it so pretty soon that door become my gym equipment for my exercising right
gym equipment for my exercising right
gym equipment for my exercising right then
then
then notice that the wallet that I’m staying
notice that the wallet that I’m staying
notice that the wallet that I’m staying in
in
in it’s very square everywhere I look at
it’s very square everywhere I look at
it’s very square everywhere I look at ask where’s the cell the door the walls
ask where’s the cell the door the walls
ask where’s the cell the door the walls all are squares
all are squares
all are squares all right there are some rectangles just
all right there are some rectangles just
all right there are some rectangles just you know but indulge me right I really
you know but indulge me right I really
you know but indulge me right I really had to push myself to the limit in order
had to push myself to the limit in order
had to push myself to the limit in order to cope with this major adjustment and I
to cope with this major adjustment and I
to cope with this major adjustment and I wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone but I
wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone but I
wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone but I really needed the companies so I started
really needed the companies so I started
really needed the companies so I started talking to the little insects in my cell
talking to the little insects in my cell
talking to the little insects in my cell and I named them individually and they
and I named them individually and they
and I named them individually and they all become my friend for instance
all become my friend for instance
all become my friend for instance they’re two little spiders John and Mary
they’re two little spiders John and Mary
they’re two little spiders John and Mary they fell in love they got married
they fell in love they got married
they fell in love they got married bang plenty of babies good for me I have
bang plenty of babies good for me I have
bang plenty of babies good for me I have more friends
I’ve been to five different prisons yes
I’ve been to five different prisons yes I call myself prison tourists each
I call myself prison tourists each
I call myself prison tourists each prison has a different DNA that means
prison has a different DNA that means
prison has a different DNA that means every time I get transferred I have to
every time I get transferred I have to
every time I get transferred I have to make whole new adjustment all over again
make whole new adjustment all over again
make whole new adjustment all over again different prison different game
after sentencing I could transfer to
after sentencing I could transfer to Lasher prison and large who is actually
Lasher prison and large who is actually
Lasher prison and large who is actually the best among five good people good
the best among five good people good
the best among five good people good management good weather and most
management good weather and most
management good weather and most importantly good meals and suddenly my
importantly good meals and suddenly my
importantly good meals and suddenly my life is much better compared to nine
life is much better compared to nine
life is much better compared to nine months ago and I really wanted to keep
months ago and I really wanted to keep
months ago and I really wanted to keep myself positive and keep myself occupied
myself positive and keep myself occupied
myself positive and keep myself occupied and I want to keep myself gain in terms
and I want to keep myself gain in terms
and I want to keep myself gain in terms of gaining and knowledge or gaining a
of gaining and knowledge or gaining a
of gaining and knowledge or gaining a merit or both if I’m lucky everyday
merit or both if I’m lucky everyday
merit or both if I’m lucky everyday don’t have years later I was out of the
don’t have years later I was out of the
don’t have years later I was out of the solitary confinement it’s a huge
solitary confinement it’s a huge
solitary confinement it’s a huge improvement and I became a teacher a
improvement and I became a teacher a
improvement and I became a teacher a photographer and a handyman you know in
photographer and a handyman you know in
photographer and a handyman you know in prison trust is equal to freedom once
prison trust is equal to freedom once
prison trust is equal to freedom once they trust you you can get away with so
they trust you you can get away with so
they trust you you can get away with so many things I not only teach English to
many things I not only teach English to
many things I not only teach English to the prisoners I also teach English to
the prisoners I also teach English to
the prisoners I also teach English to the prison guards and the management and
the prison guards and the management and
the prison guards and the management and the officers and I also volunteer to
the officers and I also volunteer to
the officers and I also volunteer to help very sick people at the hospital
help very sick people at the hospital
help very sick people at the hospital and all aged people mainly on their
and all aged people mainly on their
and all aged people mainly on their medical requirements and they are little
medical requirements and they are little
medical requirements and they are little kids though in their eighty nine of them
kids though in their eighty nine of them
kids though in their eighty nine of them to be exact most of them they have never
to be exact most of them they have never
to be exact most of them they have never seen the outside world before is simply
seen the outside world before is simply
seen the outside world before is simply they were born there or just too young
they were born there or just too young
they were born there or just too young to remember when their mothers were
to remember when their mothers were
to remember when their mothers were arrested and they left candies and the
arrested and they left candies and the
arrested and they left candies and the snakes and so forth and I try to
snakes and so forth and I try to
snakes and so forth and I try to feed them whenever I have chance and I
feed them whenever I have chance and I
feed them whenever I have chance and I also convinced other fellow inmates to
also convinced other fellow inmates to
also convinced other fellow inmates to help them support them any amount of
help them support them any amount of
help them support them any amount of money or anything they can to support to
money or anything they can to support to
money or anything they can to support to these little kids well I needed a lot
these little kids well I needed a lot
these little kids well I needed a lot more money in order to keep doing what
more money in order to keep doing what
more money in order to keep doing what I’m doing so you know what I did i
I’m doing so you know what I did i
I’m doing so you know what I did i financed the smugglers who smuggle in
financed the smugglers who smuggle in
financed the smugglers who smuggle in illegal properties into the prison such
illegal properties into the prison such
illegal properties into the prison such as alcohol cigarettes DVDs and so forth
as alcohol cigarettes DVDs and so forth
as alcohol cigarettes DVDs and so forth for me prison is like a square
for me prison is like a square
for me prison is like a square supermarket seriously as long as you’re
supermarket seriously as long as you’re
supermarket seriously as long as you’re willing to pay two three times more than
willing to pay two three times more than
willing to pay two three times more than the market price you can get anything
the market price you can get anything
the market price you can get anything they’re just so easy and I always feel
they’re just so easy and I always feel
they’re just so easy and I always feel good whenever I think about it and there
good whenever I think about it and there
good whenever I think about it and there is no such great feelings like breaking
is no such great feelings like breaking
is no such great feelings like breaking all the rules in prison in order to
all the rules in prison in order to
all the rules in prison in order to support the others on the other hand I
support the others on the other hand I
support the others on the other hand I do regular exercise
do regular exercise
do regular exercise lots of readings meditation playing
lots of readings meditation playing
lots of readings meditation playing chess playing Scrabble and before I go
chess playing Scrabble and before I go
chess playing Scrabble and before I go to sleep every night I think of the
to sleep every night I think of the
to sleep every night I think of the numbers ID numbers
numbers ID numbers
numbers ID numbers car registration numbers but this office
car registration numbers but this office
car registration numbers but this office addresses home addresses so that my
addresses home addresses so that my
addresses home addresses so that my brain won’t be dusty rusty you know the
brain won’t be dusty rusty you know the
brain won’t be dusty rusty you know the minute I get out of prison
even half years later I was released in
even half years later I was released in an amnesty for everyone
an amnesty for everyone
an amnesty for everyone he is back for me everybody is back in
he is back for me everybody is back in
he is back for me everybody is back in my life again it’s always good to have
my life again it’s always good to have
my life again it’s always good to have everybody back in your life but trust me
everybody back in your life but trust me
everybody back in your life but trust me it can be very overwhelming sometimes
it can be very overwhelming sometimes
it can be very overwhelming sometimes because everywhere I go people ask me
because everywhere I go people ask me
because everywhere I go people ask me man how was it like in there do you mind
man how was it like in there do you mind
man how was it like in there do you mind if I ask you for this are you okay
if I ask you for this are you okay
if I ask you for this are you okay physically mentally how did you cope
physically mentally how did you cope
physically mentally how did you cope with it
with it
with it any plans what are you going to do you
any plans what are you going to do you
any plans what are you going to do you know that sort of questions that I get
know that sort of questions that I get
know that sort of questions that I get everywhere I go
everywhere I go
everywhere I go same old questions same old answers and
same old questions same old answers and
same old questions same old answers and I really wish that this TED talk should
I really wish that this TED talk should
I really wish that this TED talk should have been four years ago so that I
have been four years ago so that I
have been four years ago so that I didn’t have to repeat all my answers I
didn’t have to repeat all my answers I
didn’t have to repeat all my answers I just send them this TED link right my
just send them this TED link right my
just send them this TED link right my brain was like a brand-new sponge that
brain was like a brand-new sponge that
brain was like a brand-new sponge that you buy from supermarket it’s so ready
you buy from supermarket it’s so ready
you buy from supermarket it’s so ready to absorb everything as much as you can
to absorb everything as much as you can
to absorb everything as much as you can as much as I can all good and bad
as much as I can all good and bad
as much as I can all good and bad meanwhile I was restoring my network
meanwhile I was restoring my network
meanwhile I was restoring my network meeting different people and catching up
meeting different people and catching up
meeting different people and catching up on the things that I’ve missed meetings
on the things that I’ve missed meetings
on the things that I’ve missed meetings after meetings parties after parties
after meetings parties after parties
after meetings parties after parties trips after trips pretty soon I realized
trips after trips pretty soon I realized
trips after trips pretty soon I realized how difficult it is to be back again
how difficult it is to be back again
how difficult it is to be back again because simply I was so used to survival
because simply I was so used to survival
because simply I was so used to survival in prison
and I got back to news publishing
and I got back to news publishing straight away crazy right and turning my
straight away crazy right and turning my
straight away crazy right and turning my long lasting dreams into reality it’s my
long lasting dreams into reality it’s my
long lasting dreams into reality it’s my favorite part
favorite part
favorite part looking for the right partner building
looking for the right partner building
looking for the right partner building the team and seeding the new publication
the team and seeding the new publication
the team and seeding the new publication it’s a lot of work and I need great luck
it’s a lot of work and I need great luck
it’s a lot of work and I need great luck on top of that and giving everything
on top of that and giving everything
on top of that and giving everything that I have and keep on fighting it’s
that I have and keep on fighting it’s
that I have and keep on fighting it’s where I’m at now and I’m always proud to
where I’m at now and I’m always proud to
where I’m at now and I’m always proud to be a publisher because I’m selling the
be a publisher because I’m selling the
be a publisher because I’m selling the news I’m selling the truth and I’m
news I’m selling the truth and I’m
news I’m selling the truth and I’m selling the knowledge and a country like
selling the knowledge and a country like
selling the knowledge and a country like niyama needs a lot of good publications
niyama needs a lot of good publications
niyama needs a lot of good publications publications with very good unbias
publications with very good unbias
publications with very good unbias ethical journalism reporting and I
ethical journalism reporting and I
ethical journalism reporting and I believe that a good publication bridges
believe that a good publication bridges
believe that a good publication bridges between the government and the people I
between the government and the people I
between the government and the people I might have started publishing by chance
might have started publishing by chance
might have started publishing by chance but I’m staying in this by twice now 13
but I’m staying in this by twice now 13
but I’m staying in this by twice now 13 years ago I was thrown into jail without
years ago I was thrown into jail without
years ago I was thrown into jail without a failed trial I was so used to that the
a failed trial I was so used to that the
a failed trial I was so used to that the Richard system and the square in style
Richard system and the square in style
Richard system and the square in style of prison life but one thing I have
of prison life but one thing I have
of prison life but one thing I have noticed though today I woke up in the
noticed though today I woke up in the
noticed though today I woke up in the square bed looking at square ceiling and
square bed looking at square ceiling and
square bed looking at square ceiling and going into the square twilit and then
going into the square twilit and then
going into the square twilit and then going into my square car then to my
going into my square car then to my
going into my square car then to my square office then looking at the square
square office then looking at the square
square office then looking at the square monitor and typing away on the square
monitor and typing away on the square
monitor and typing away on the square keyboard I’m still living in the square
keyboard I’m still living in the square
keyboard I’m still living in the square life but this time the
life but this time the
life but this time the differences it’s going to be fair and
differences it’s going to be fair and
differences it’s going to be fair and square
square
square thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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