Rev. Danny Fisher

Image by Jordin Isip for the New York Times.

This from the New York Times:

On Feb. 11, 1990 — 20 years ago [today] — Nelson Mandela walked through the gates of a South African prison after 27 years of confinement. His release was celebrated the world over. But it had a particular effect on those who were being held as political prisoners by other repressive regimes. The Op-Ed editors asked seven of these former captives to describe what it was like when they heard the news of Mr. Mandela’s liberation.

Freedom’s Dominoes

By JACK MAPANJE
Mr. Mandela’s release heralded the eventual freedom of political prisoners in Malawi.

Silly Men, Sharp Knives

By WEI JINGSHENG
In China’s Hebei Prison, the news called to mind an old Chinese maxim: a knife must be ground to be sharpened.

Path of Most Resistance

By NGUYEN DAN QUE
A humanitarian under house arrest was inspired to issue a manifesto for the basic rights of the Vietnamese people.

The Radio’s Song of Liberation

By FADJROEL RACHMAN
A prisoner in Indonesia believed that at last justice and freedom had won.

My Hero, Page by Page

By KO BO KYI
Smuggled pages of an article describing Mr. Mandela’s autobiography inspired Burmese political prisoners.

Ray of Light

By SOULEYMANE GUENGUENG
A prisoner in Chad swore that if he got out alive, he would fight for freedom.

A Smile to Remember

By WANG DAN
In the pursuit of freedom, there are times when we must pay the price of losing our freedom, learned a Chinese student leader.