【禁聞】一個不評論時事的政治作家

【新唐人2011年7月8日訊】中國當代最有代表性的底層作家廖亦武，著作無數，他的作品被翻譯成英、法、日、德等多種文字出版，在國際上有相當知名度，不過，多年來他的作品在中國始終被禁。因六四詩歌《大屠殺》入獄四年的他，把憤怒和苦難化為力量，從此蛻變成一名悲天憫人的底層作家。

廖亦武曾經是激情奔放的現代詩人，1990年的一場牢獄之災後，他開始用最憤怒的筆觸完成作品《證詞》，這本書即將在德國出版，是描述廖亦武在監獄中，如何飽受國家機器對他的虐待和對他人格的侮辱。現在他又被當局限製出境，想前往德國為新書宣傳的想法也只好做罷。

廖亦武向《德國之聲》表示：「有一種改變就是我心態上面的改變。我以前就是把這些當成我承受不了的一些東西，我覺得我憤怒，我覺得我特別特別的苦難，我覺得不公平。但是現在，反過來頭來，我把這一切（苦難）都當作我的老師。」

四年的牢獄生活讓廖亦武開始走進群眾。

《世界華人週刊》報導，廖亦武寫作題材多來自一些社會邊緣群體，像是小偷、農民工、流浪漢、妓女以及上訪群體等，先後完成作品《活下去》、《中國底層訪談錄》、《中國冤案錄》、《中國上訪村》、《最後的地主》數卷。美國耶魯大學康正果教授為《地震瘋人院——四川大地震記事》寫序文時稱他是「掏糞者」，專掏社會的陰暗面。

《德國之聲》報導中提到，廖亦武的作品雖然都是描述生活在社會底層的弱勢族群，涉及的話題也都是中國醜惡、骯髒、不和諧的一面。但是他從來不對時事發表評論，所以他始終不認為自己是「政治作家」。

在中國，想要看到廖亦武的出版品並不容易，因為大部分作品都被查禁，他本人也多次被關押和抄家。幸運的話，或許在坊間可以找到他的手印本。

廖亦武：「對於西方人來說很正常的一些事情，比如出版，一個作家寫作的權力，這些很正常，但是在中國就要一步一步的去爭取。就像一個門縫一樣，你要把它越擠越開。比如說我現在還會去爭取正常的出版權利，如果正常出版不了，我就退而求其次，我就自己把它印出來。雖然這種讀者群（小），不會有很多的人讀到我的東西，但總會有人他會讀到，我影響一個人就算一個人。」

廖亦武現年52歲，曾於1995年和2003年兩度獲得美國赫爾曼•哈米特寫作獎﹔2002年獲《傾向》文學獎﹔2007年獲獨立中文筆會「自由寫作獎」。《底層》英譯本《THE CORPSE WALKER（趕屍者）》，由蘭登書屋出版並暢銷。美國權威文學雜誌《巴黎評論》連續4次推出他的專輯，使他逐步進入了西方主流文學界。廖亦武另一本《上帝是紅色的》英文版也將在美國面世。

新唐人記者李庭、黎安安綜合報導

Political writer Liao Yiwu

Liao Yiwu is the most representative of

contemporary Chinese writers from the lower class.

He is well-known internationally and

his works have been translated into other languages.

However, his works have been banned in China.

He was jailed for 4 years for his poem “Massacre”,

which commemorates the victims perished in 1989.

Liao Yiwu used to be a passionate contemporary poet.

After being imprisoned in 1990,

he began writing a book titled “Testimonials,”

which is about to be published in Germany.

This book describes Liao』s experiences in prison and

how the state machine tortured and abused him.

Since now he is forbidden to leave China,

he cannot travel to Germany to promote his book.

Liao told Deutsche Welle, “My mentality has changed.

I used to consider this as something I can』t bear.

I was furious. I thought that I suffered a lot

and that I was mistreated.

Now, I see all the suffering as my teacher.”

Four years of imprisonment propelled Liao

to get close to the people.

World Chinese Weekly reported that the themes of

Liao』s works are usually about marginalized groups,

such as thieves, migrant workers, the homeless,

prostitutes and petitioners.

His completed works include “The Survivor”,

“Interviews with the Lower Strata of Chinese Society”,

“China Unjust Court Cases”, “China』s Petitioner Villages”

and “The Last of China』s Landlords”.

In the preface to “Earthquake Insane Asylum”,

Yale University』s Kang Zhengguo called Liao a

“Dung Digger,” always digging the dark side of society.

Deutsche Welle pointed out that while Liao』s works

always portray the vulnerable groups in China

and about the ugly and the dirty sides of China,

he never comments on China』s current affairs,

so he never consider himself a “political writer.”

In China, it』s very hard to see Liao』s published works,

as most of his works are banned. Liao was detained

many times, and his properties have been confiscated.

If you are lucky, you might find a hand printed copy.

Liao, “Some things normal in western countries,

such as the right to write and publish,

need to be obtained by hard work in China.

I will fight for my right to publish books.

If I cannot succeed, I will print the books on my own.

While I don』t have many readers,

someone will read my books, and become influenced.

Liao, 52, received Hellman-Hammett Award in 1995 and 2003,

the Qingxiang literature award in 2002,

and Independent Chinese PEN Center』s

Freedom to Write Award in 2007.

“The Corpse Walker” was published by Random

House and sold very well.

The U.S literary magazine “Paris Review” published

his works in four consecutive issues,

introducing him to the western mainstream literature.

The English version of another book of Liao,

“God is Red”, will be released in the U.S.

NTD Reporters Li Ting and Li Anan