Excerpt:
Bloggers react to news of charge against 2 for ‘racist rants’
TWO bloggers were charged on Monday under the Sedition Act for allegedly racist comments made on an online forum and on a website. Naturally, this has sent ripples through the blogging community.
Read more at TODAYonline. (PDF version here).
Technorati Tags: blog, sedition, singapore, TODAY
‘Coup de Grace’ (coupdegras.zenguerrilla.org) reflects one immediate reaction of bloggers just hours after news broke. Since his own blog entries have “spoken out against Singapore’s version of affirmative action, does that make me liable to charges?†he asks.
Arguing that the legal action would “stifle†beneficial expression and debate, he describes the sections of the Sedition Act under which the bloggers were charged as “disturbing [sic] vagueâ€.
Indeed, it was the first time several bloggers had ever heard of the term ‘sedition’ or the Sedition Act. The introduction was a little confusing for some.
Singaporean “Zeenie†(zeenie.blogspot.com) reveals: “The only (other) time I’ve heard the word ‘sedition’ used was in (the movie) Last of the Mohicans.â€
Those curious enough started looking up the Act online (statutes.agc.gov.sg).
Blogger “Jeff Yen†(jeffyen.blogspot.com), 29, who was one such, admits he “also didn’t know at first what ‘sedition’ meantâ€, and looking up its definition confused him a little – since, he writes, “‘Sedition’ actually means words or actions that make people rebel against authority.â€
Student “Agagooga†(gssq.blogspot.com) also asks: “Am I the only one who still doesn’t really get what a “seditious tendency†is? If it’s anything that raises discontent or disaffection, or promotes feelings of ill-will and hostility, how does that differ from any number of casual remarks made by a person… in the course of a given day?â€
“David†(rocklah.com), a national serviceman in his 20s, says the fact that people can be arrested “for voicing their opinion†strikes fear into him. “People may argue that if I play by the rules, I’ll be fine. But, who determines the rules?â€
Others question if the use of the law is a double-edged sword. Shanghai-based Canadian blogger Myrick (asiapundit.com) observes: “This doesn’t solve the problem of racism, it forces it underground to fester.â€
But, perhaps in anticipation of an avalanche of pro-free speech hyperbole from other bloggers reacting to the case, ‘Alee J’ (aleej.com), a University of Bristol law student, notes that Singapore isn’t the only country with limits on free speech.
“Somehow, people tend to forget that even the nations that are, purportedly, the greatest supporters of free speech and democracy have similar measures to our Sedition Act in place.â€
‘Alee J’ also holds the view that the bloggers charged in court on Monday should have followed this simple maxim: “Freedom of speech is a tool that must be exercised judiciously and with great caution, as with any tool of great power.
“It is not a shield that one should be able to cower under should comments be made that it does not cover. This is not merely a local concept … clearly, if these lads had followed the same approach they wouldn’t have been indicted.â€
Mr Miyagi a.k.a. Benjamin Lee, has been entertaining blog readers for a year at www.miyagi.sg, and never offends or insults anyone with his innocuous blog posts.
BOX 1:
WHAT THE LAW SAYS:
Section 3.1 of the Sedition Act defines a “seditious tendency†as a tendency to…
(a) bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the Government;
(b) excite the citizens of Singapore or the residents in Singapore to attempt to procure in Singapore, the alteration, otherwise than by lawful means, of any matter as by law established;
(c) bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the administration of justice in Singapore;
(d) raise discontent or disaffection amongst the citizens of Singapore or the residents in Singapore;
(e) promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races or classes of the population of Singapore.
—BOX 2:
WHAT BLOGGERS SAY:
Some off-the-cuff tips on how to avoid being accused of sedition…Sheena (merenwen13.blogspot.com):
“Moderate your words online in such a way that they express your feelings but aren’t completely disrespectful or insulting.â€Michael Chua (michaelchua.blogspot.com):
“If we don’t want to get into trouble, then steer clear of those of topics.â€Cowboy Caleb (cowboycaleb.liquidblade.com):
“The (Web) is a public place, and as such if you have nothing nice to say then shut the hell up.â€Agagooga (gssq.blogspot.com):
“Better by far to stick to infantility, I say.â€Tym (toomanythoughts.org/blog):
“Be personal, be political, certainly be responsible, and pray very hard that no one finds you seditious.â€
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