Riau hosts writers' camp

Riau hosts writers' camp

PEKANBARU: Two hundred poets and writers from Southeast Asia
are expected to gather in Daik Lingga in Riau province in June.
They are likely to come from Malaysia, Brunei Darrusalam,
Thailand and Singapore.

Organizer Syafrial Syamsudin told Antara here the choice of
Daik Lingga was based on artifacts revealing the site
as the first Muslim-influenced monarchy in the area.

Organizers are the Study Center for Malay Language and Culture
and the Riau Foundation for Reading and Arts.

"With the many historical landmarks of Islamic history in Daik
such as the Benteng Bukit Cening fort, the Istana Damnah
palace... and the Sultan Lingga mosque, we consider Daik as the
first and largest Muslim Malay monarchy in Riau," Syafrial said.

Observers will include representatives of New Zealand's Maori
community and an association of Madagascar Malay community.

The event aims to allow people to "go back to the roots" amid
the region-wide economic crisis, Syafrial said. (anr)