A lot of us (me included, though I’ve suspected for awhile) found out this morning that if you make a racist comment on a forum or a blog and you can be charged under the Sedition Act.
In fact, there are a variety of things you could do on your blog that might be construed as an act with a seditious tendency (s.3.1), even this blog post, if I’m not careful, and in my stream of consciousness, end up writing things that “raise discontent or disaffection amongst the citizens of Singapore or the residents in Singapore” (s.3.1(d))
So, the fellas charged this morning allegedly made racist remarks on an open forum and on a website/blog, and would have been charged under ss. 4.1(c), 4.2, 3.1(e). (Anyone with detailed information, please leave comments or trackback).
I’ll say now that I’m all against racism and racist remarks online and off, and that regardless of the law, I think it is repulsive and wrongful behaviour.
And as regards the law, outlawing racism is obviously not unique to Singapore. There are the Australian anti-racial vilification laws (e.g. Racial Vilification Act 1996 (South Australia), where you will find that the punishments are quite severe, even when compared with our very own Sedition Act.
Even as I write this post as quickly as I can, newswires around the world have already or are about to pick up on the screaming headline ‘Bloggers Charged With Sedition in Singapore’, (with Steven McDermott probably sharpening his scissors and thickening his glue for a bit of cut and paste action as I write), which as you can see, isn’t really the issue.
For mine, the issue is a public relations related one. We have laws to protect against racism, and while these laws ain’t broke, they sure could do with a little polishing. Enact an anti-racial vilification law, fellas. Leave the Sedition Act for specific seditious acts against the State.
[Series: Laws of our land Part II, Part I]
Surf stop: Tomorrow.sg: Two bloggers charged under Sedition Act over racist remarks
Technorati Tags: blog, racism, sedition, Singapore
Surely better to cut and paste for archive than merely throw-up via keyboard onto computer screen, then call it a news worthy article. The world press will be screaming it, how about a nice glossy article in the TODAY paper?
Surely better to cut and paste for archive than merely throw-up via keyboard onto computer screen, then call it a news worthy article. The world press will be screaming it, how about a nice glossy article in the TODAY paper?
now now, behave yourselves boys.
now now, behave yourselves boys.
Coming right up. I learnt copy and pasting from the best, Steven! Heh.
Coming right up. I learnt copy and pasting from the best, Steven! Heh.
Wow, that serious..?
Makes one think twice what to post online.
Wow, that serious..?
Makes one think twice what to post online.
what about chua cheng zhan?
what about chua cheng zhan?
For some reason, I couldn’t access your site until now. But you’re cross-referenced on the wiki now.
For some reason, I couldn’t access your site until now. But you’re cross-referenced on the wiki now.
you’re quoted here too.
http://zdnetasia.com/news/internet/0,39044246,39254280,00.htm
you’re quoted here too.
http://zdnetasia.com/news/internet/0,39044246,39254280,00.htm
How can Lee Hsien Loong call his PAP a first world government?
For starters, only third world governments run a government without calling Parliament for its first sitting until more than six months after winning a general election.
For another thing, third world governments which resort to the above measure do not even go through the pretense of calling an election.
Stop mouthing empty nothings, Lee Hsien Loong.
How can Lee Hsien Loong call his PAP a first world government?
For starters, only third world governments run a government without calling Parliament for its first sitting until more than six months after winning a general election.
For another thing, third world governments which resort to the above measure do not even go through the pretense of calling an election.
Stop mouthing empty nothings, Lee Hsien Loong.
helping my friend.
what if someone accidently wrote a racist comment on an online forum..and this post cannot be deleted..could he be charged? but he already deleted his account in the forum?
thank you!
helping my friend.
what if someone accidently wrote a racist comment on an online forum..and this post cannot be deleted..could he be charged? but he already deleted his account in the forum?
thank you!
San Francisco DUI Lawyer, Criminal Defense Attorney David Wise is a San Francisco Drunk Driving Lawyer, Criminal Defense Attorney, Marijuana Lawyer, Computer and Domestic Violence Attorney for San Mateo, Oakland, Hayward, Alameda, Marin and San Francisco.
I'm so love this blog, already bookmarked it! Thanks.