Acid (often written ACID; Burmese: အက်စစ်, Burmese pronunciation: [ʔɛʔ sɪʔ]) is a Burmese hip hop group often credited with releasing Burma's first hip hop album, Beginning, in 2000. Two of the group's founders were later imprisoned for the group's allegedly pro-democracy lyrics.
Acid was founded by Zayar Thaw and Yan Yan Chan.[1] In 2000, Acid released Burma's first hip-hop album, Beginning. Despite predictions of failure by many in the Burmese music industry, Beginning remained in the number one position of the Burmese charts for more than two months.[1] A Democratic Voice of Burma reporter described the group's music as blending a "combative, angry style with indigenous poeticism".[2]
The band's repertoire has been said to contain many "thinly veiled attacks" on Burma's military government, the State Peace and Development Council.[3] The Independent stated that while the band "focused on the mundane, their lyrics inevitably touched on the hardships of life in Burma, drawing them into dangerous territory." [4]
On 12 March 2008, Zayar Thaw was arrested at a Yangon restaurant with friends on charges relating to his involvement in the youth pro-democracy movement Generation Wave.[5] In April, Yan Yan Chan was also arrested.[6]
Zayar Thaw was allegedly beaten during his interrogation.[7] On 20 November 2008, he was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for breaking State Law and Order Restoration Council Law No. 6/88,[5] "illegal organizing under the Unlawful Association Act".[8] Amnesty International described this statute as "a vaguely worded law whose sweeping provisions can be interpreted as making it illegal to set up any kind of organization".[7] He was given an additional year's imprisonment for possession of foreign currency, as he had been carrying approximately $20 USD in Thai baht, Singapore dollars, and Malaysian ringgit at the time of his arrest.[7] He is currently serving his sentence at Kawthaung prison.[5] Amnesty International named him a prisoner of conscience and called for his immediate release.[9]
After nearly a year's detention, Yan Yan Chan was released without charges on 7 January 2009.[8]