Kuala Lampur, May 15 -- In a region as diverse and vibrant as Southeast Asia, words have always carried a special weight. Here, where languages blend and histories intertwine, the power of the written word is a force to be reckoned with. It can inspire revolutions, topple governments, and challenge the status quo - or, in more delicate times, it can simply remind us of our shared humanity.

Arundhati Roy, the indomitable Indian author, stands as a symbol of this uneasy dance. Her latest skirmish with the Indian government - a 'terror' case for the sin of speaking her mind - has become a global spectacle. But the echoes of her battle reach far beyond India's borders, resonating in the humid halls of power across Southeast Asia, where gover...