Freedom of the Press

I cannot stand how no one, not even competent journalists, can come up with the definitive answer on how freedom of speech should work in Singapore. I am speaking of the article in the Straits Times(Saturday 17 Sep). We speak of having different avenues to vent our feelings and air our opinions. Yet, even we have a quantitative increase in avenues, qualitatively, not much has changed. All these different avenues come with very restricted OB markers. Or, they require permits. PERMITS. There is no sense to a rally or protest that requires a permit because 1) it loses all spontaneity and 2) the application would be rejected anyway, and one one would dare proceed without approval.

I rant, like many other Singaporeans. Catherine Lim is a prime example of a Singaporean who tried to express an independent view, only to be admonished and told to join a political party before doing so. This directly contrasts the earnest hopeful view of the journalist in the papers today.

While the article also discusses the proliferation in avenues, like blogs and online forums, it fails to tell people how not to tread out of these OB markers that bind us. There is no black and white, everything is up to one's discretion. Even the vague suggestions given by the writer show how subjective this exercise is. For eg, the writer suggests that applications to stage a mass gathering must be made. Approval is given, rightly so, for a rally to increase Aids awareness. But no approval was given to opposition members who want to make speeches at a constituency dinner!

BAH.