Andrea takes issue with Singabloodypore, noting that she does not live in fear:
Steven, I don’t know you, but I disagree that Singaporeans live in a climate of fear. I don’t think anyone fears for their very life if and when we speak out politically. I’ve run a personal weblog with mildly political opinions (okay, I may be understating it a bit) for over four years now, and I’ve never felt that the authorities would come and execute me summarily (or extra-judiciously). I think you’re overstating things somewhat.
Living in a climate of paranoia and self-censorship, however…
Here’s a conspiracy for you:
The
Bloggers.SG convention is being held at a time when those studying
overseas are back in Singapore on holiday so that the government can
video record them on spy cameras and make sure their host countries get
told they are potential terrorists so they will get strip-searched and
thrown into prison upon their return. Voila, someone else’s ‘problem’.
June 2nd, 2005 at 7:45 pm
Hi Andrea,
the article you refer to was one issued by reuters, reporting on a statement made by the soon to be, ’second in command’ Mr Wong. His statement was issued in order to counter the Amnesty International report.
If you read the report of what occurred last year 2004, with regards to detention without trial in Singapore and the use of defamation suits. Then trying to argue that Singapore has a respectable level of freedom of expression is rather redundant.