Pen Ci Lo – Myanmar Writer and Political Activist
🌸 Early Life and Education
Pen Ci Lo (ပန်ဆယ်လို) is the pen name of Eaint Poe Ou, a Burmese writer and political activist born on April 14, 1990, in Myaungmya, Myanmar. From an early age, she showed curiosity, independence, and a deep sense of justice. Her passion for literature and civic freedom would later shape her journey as one of Myanmar’s most outspoken modern writers.
She graduated from Dagon University with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Chemistry in 2011. While her formal education centered on science, she developed an interest in literature and social commentary during her university years. Books and debate clubs became her tools for exploring Myanmar’s political history and social struggles.
After completing her degree, Pen Ci Lo decided to write full time. Her writing quickly shifted from personal reflection to social activism, revealing her fearless engagement with topics that many in Myanmar avoided publicly.
✍️ Beginning of a Literary Career
Pen Ci Lo’s literary career began in 2016 with her debut book, Under the Mask (မျက်နှာဖုံးတွေရဲ့အောက်). The work explored personal identity, censorship, and the inner conflicts faced by citizens living under military oversight. It became an instant bestseller in Myanmar and introduced her as a new voice of political honesty and emotional depth.
Encouraged by this success, she went on to publish several other books:
Azatthakaungkyaung (အဇ္စျတ္တကောက်ကြောင်း) – A philosophical exploration of personal freedom.
Yethaukmyitkote (ရေသောက်မြစ်ကို တူးဖော်ခြင်း) – A social commentary on corruption and inequality.
Kyalwinyoe Sonekalu (ကြယ်ဝင်ရိုးစွန်းပေါ်ကလူ) – A reflection on exile, loneliness, and national identity.
Her writing style blends storytelling with activism. She often uses humor, irony, and sharp metaphors to criticize political oppression. Readers appreciate her courage to question authority and her ability to turn complex ideas into accessible language.
🕊️ Rise as a Pro-Democracy Voice
As Myanmar began its fragile transition toward limited democracy in the 2010s, Pen Ci Lo’s public voice grew stronger. She became a staunch supporter of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and frequently defended political prisoners, journalists, and student activists.
In 2017, authorities filed a case against her under Section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law, accusing her of defaming military leaders through Facebook posts. Many activists saw the law as a censorship tool. Despite the risk of imprisonment, Pen Ci Lo refused to apologize.
Three years later, in 2020, the court acquitted her. The decision represented a small but symbolic victory for freedom of speech in Myanmar.
Her reputation as both writer and activist became inseparable — she was no longer just an author but a symbol of resistance.
⚔️ Life After the 2021 Military Coup
The military coup of February 1, 2021 changed her life permanently. Like many activists and journalists, she faced renewed threats. Authorities charged her under Section 505(a) for “incitement” after she called for public protests and condemned military violence.
Realizing that arrest was inevitable, Pen Ci Lo fled the country. She crossed into Thailand and spent months living in temporary safe houses before receiving political asylum in the United States. She finally resettled in San Francisco, California, where she continues to write and campaign for democracy in Myanmar.
Exile did not silence her. Instead, it gave her new freedom to express ideas and connect with the global community. She used her platform to organize fundraising campaigns for Myanmar’s Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and collaborated with diaspora networks to support refugees and journalists.
📚 Literary Contributions and International Recognition
In 2022, Pen Ci Lo published Burma Spring Revolution, a memoir that documents her experiences during the coup and her escape from Myanmar. The book resonated strongly with international readers. It was later translated into Korean and became a bestseller in South Korea, amplifying global attention on Myanmar’s democratic struggle.
The same year, she received the Kim Geun Tae Foundation Democracy Award in Seoul. The award honored her courage in promoting human rights through literature. True to her character, she donated the entire prize to Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement.
Her storytelling style continues to evolve. Recent essays combine personal reflection with political analysis, showing how trauma, displacement, and resilience coexist within Myanmar’s current generation of exiles.
💬 Advocacy and Public Engagement
Beyond writing, Pen Ci Lo speaks regularly at universities and human-rights forums across the United States and Europe. She collaborates with organizations advocating freedom of expression, including PEN America and Reporters Without Borders.
Her speeches emphasize the importance of digital freedom, truth in media, and solidarity among Asian democracies. She often reminds audiences that democracy is not only a political system but also a culture of compassion and responsibility.
🏠 Controversy and Criticism
In 2024, Pen Ci Lo faced controversy when reports surfaced about her purchasing a $1 million home in California. Critics claimed she misused funds raised for democracy campaigns. She responded publicly, stating that the property was purchased through a private bank loan and unrelated to donations.
The incident sparked online debate about transparency in exile fundraising. Supporters defended her integrity, pointing to her long record of public donations and open communication. While the controversy faded, it highlighted the intense scrutiny faced by exiled activists.
🌍 Legacy and Continuing Impact
Pen Ci Lo remains one of Myanmar’s most influential modern writers. Through her books, essays, and speeches, she bridges literature and activism, using art as a form of protest. Her works give voice to those who lost theirs under censorship.
In exile, she represents a generation that refuses to surrender hope. Her story mirrors the resilience of many Burmese who continue to dream of democracy despite distance and hardship.
Younger writers and students often cite her as an inspiration. She mentors new Burmese authors abroad, encouraging them to tell their own stories in both Burmese and English. By nurturing creative voices, she ensures that Myanmar’s struggle remains visible to the world.
🔖 Selected Works
| Year | Title | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Under the Mask | Identity and censorship |
| 2017 | Azatthakaungkyaung | Personal freedom |
| 2018 | Yethaukmyitkote | Corruption and inequality |
| 2019 | Kyalwinyoe Sonekalu | Exile and belonging |
| 2022 | Burma Spring Revolution | Coup resistance and memoir |
🕊️ Timeline of Activism (2010–2025)
2010 – Early Voice of Reform
In the years leading up to Myanmar’s political opening, Pan Ci Lo began expressing strong opinions about censorship, freedom of speech, and women’s rights through essays and poems. Though not yet widely known, her writings circulated among youth and activist groups advocating for reform and democracy.
2012 – Rise of a New Generation Writer
With Myanmar’s partial transition to civilian rule under President Thein Sein, Pan Ci Lo (Eaint Poe Poe) emerged as one of the younger voices of political conscience. She started contributing to independent media and online platforms, writing about social justice, corruption, and gender inequality. Her pen name “Pencilo” (or “Pan Ci Lo”) became symbolic of creative resistance.
2015 – Speaking Truth During Election Hopes
During the landmark 2015 general elections, which brought the National League for Democracy (NLD) to power, Pan Ci Lo continued to advocate for honesty, civic engagement, and accountability. She urged the public not to romanticize politicians but to hold them to democratic standards. Her commentaries gained national attention for their bold criticism and moral clarity.
2017 – Criticism of the Military and Rising Tensions
When the Rohingya crisis unfolded, Pan Ci Lo stood among the few who called for empathy and human rights protections. Her outspoken stance against the military’s actions drew both praise and backlash. She became a target of online harassment and threats, marking the beginning of her more visible conflict with the authorities.
2019 – Exile and Advocacy Abroad
Due to growing restrictions and intimidation, Pan Ci Lo relocated overseas and continued her activism through digital media. She used social networks to document abuses, support political prisoners, and expose propaganda from Myanmar’s military-linked media. Her audience grew across the Burmese diaspora and international rights organizations.
2021 – Standing Against the Coup
After the military coup on February 1, 2021, Pan Ci Lo became one of the loudest voices in exile. Through live videos, interviews, and online campaigns, she condemned the junta and supported the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).
Her speeches inspired thousands of young protesters and highlighted the global struggle for democracy in Myanmar.
2022 – Target of State Intimidation
The junta regime issued arrest warrants and media smear campaigns against activists like Pan Ci Lo. Despite these threats, she continued to publish critical commentaries and urged international bodies to impose sanctions on the junta. She also collaborated with Burmese communities abroad to raise funds for displaced civilians and resistance groups.
2023 – Advocacy at the Global Stage
Pan Ci Lo expanded her influence internationally by speaking at human rights forums, online panels, and media interviews. She emphasized the need for global unity against tyranny and consistently urged the UN, ASEAN, and democratic governments to stand with the Myanmar people.
2024 – Promoting Voices of Exiled Writers
In 2024, Pan Ci Lo turned her focus toward empowering other Burmese writers and activists in exile. She organized online discussions, published essays about “freedom in exile,” and worked to preserve Myanmar’s artistic and cultural resistance under dictatorship.
2025 – Continuing the Fight for Justice
As of 2025, Pan Ci Lo remains an active advocate for democracy and human rights, using literature, journalism, and digital platforms to challenge oppression. Her writings continue to inspire Myanmar’s younger generation and remind the world that freedom of expression is a weapon stronger than fear.
✍️ Summary
From 2010 to 2025, Pan Ci Lo’s journey reflects the conscience of a nation in crisis — from underground poet to international activist. Her transformation symbolizes the ongoing resilience of Myanmar’s people in their struggle for justice, equality, and freedom.
❓ FAQ — Pen Ci Lo (Eaint Poe Ou)
Q1. Who is Pen Ci Lo?
Pen Ci Lo (ပန်ဆယ်လို), born Eaint Poe Ou on April 14, 1990, in Myaungmya, Myanmar, is a writer, political activist, and pro-democracy advocate. She is widely recognized for her bold criticism of the Myanmar military junta and her advocacy for democratic reforms.
Q2. What is Pen Ci Lo’s educational background?
She graduated from Dagon University with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Chemistry in 2011. Her academic background influenced her analytical writing style and critical social commentary.
Q3. What are Pen Ci Lo’s most notable books?
Her debut book, Under the Mask (မျက်နှာဖုံးတွေရဲ့အောက်), became a bestseller in 2016. Other acclaimed works include:
Azatthakaungkyaung (အဇ္စျတ္တကောက်ကြောင်း)
Yethaukmyitkote (ရေသောက်မြစ်ကို တူးဖော်ခြင်း)
Kyalwinyoe Sonekalu (ကြယ်ဝင်ရိုးစွန်းပေါ်ကလူ)
Burma Spring Revolution (2022)
Q4. Why did Pen Ci Lo leave Myanmar?
After the 2021 military coup, she faced charges for incitement under Section 505(a) and fled the country to avoid imprisonment. She later sought refuge in Thailand and eventually resettled in San Francisco, USA, as a political refugee.
Q5. What awards has Pen Ci Lo received?
In 2022, she received the Kim Geun Tae Foundation Democracy Award in South Korea for her literary and political contributions. She donated the prize money to support Myanmar’s pro-democracy movements.
Q6. Has Pen Ci Lo faced any controversies?
Yes. In 2024, she faced allegations of misusing fundraising money after reports of her purchasing a $1 million home in California. She denied the claims, clarifying that the property was financed through a credit loan and unrelated to activism funds.
Q7. How has Pen Ci Lo contributed to Myanmar’s democracy movement?
Through her writing, public speaking, and fundraising, she continues to raise awareness internationally about Myanmar’s struggle for democracy. Her works serve as documentation and inspiration for activists and readers alike.
Q8. Where is Pen Ci Lo currently based?
She currently resides in San Francisco, California, where she continues her writing and advocacy work, engaging with international organizations to support democracy in Myanmar.
Q9. What is Pen Ci Lo’s legacy?
Pen Ci Lo stands as one of Myanmar’s most influential contemporary writers and activists. Her courage, literary achievements, and outspoken activism make her a symbol of intellectual resistance and hope for democratic change.