The Wire

Dissident author Liao Yiwu has been stopped from attending the Sydney Writers’ Festival by the Chinese government, who refuse to grant him an exit permit. Liao’s latest book is called The Corpse Walker and although he’s celebrated on the world stage, he’s one of the most censored writers in China. The writer, poet and musician documents the lives of people left on the margins of society and by speaking out against the Chinese regime, he’s viewed as a threat to security. The Corpse Walker was recently published in Australia and organisers of the Festival will promote the author’s work, even though he won’t be there.