Still a climate of fear

Still a climate of fear......

It is not clear what happened to a certain "JohnLaw2012" in the CNA forum - he stopped posting abruptly a while after he gave information about the bonus received by CDC staff. For all you know, "JohnLaw2012" could be on holiday at a remote resort in Maldives where there is no Internet. But it is what CAN happen to him that makes Singaporeans fearful. Our anti-whistleblower laws in the form of the Official Secret Act (OSA) makes anyone who leaks information on wrong doing by the authorities a criminal. Unlike other countries which offer rewards and protection for whistleblowers, anyone who blows the whistle on this govt breaks the law and is a criminal - why would a govt that pride itself as one having extraordinary integrity resort to such laws....
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Official Secrets Act - A person found guilty of communicating classified information, obscene photos under Section 292 of the Penal Code would be liable to imprisonment of up to 3 months or a fine or both.
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JohnLaw2012 violated the OSA when he leaked what appeared to many as excessive remuneration for civil servants in the worst recession Singapore has ever faced.
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WayangParty interviewed PoThePanda who claimed that he was taken into custody by the police and asked to confess to 'crimes against the state' that he said he did not commit. It is not possible to verify his story even if it is true but people generally don't and won't find his claims incredulous. Singapore is a country which holds the world record for the longest detention without trial [Link] and no regret has ever been expressed for committing this act.
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Sedition Act - A person found guilty of using seditious remarks to promote feelings of ill will and hostility between different races or classes of the population of Singapore shall be liable to a term of prison not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding $5000 or both.
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The Chinese tried to impose a similar law in Hong Kong and the people took to the streets to protest. Why? The Sedition Act is a 'catch all'. Someone criticising a govt policy can be accused easily of 'promoting feelings of ill will' between classes e.g someone says GST hurts the poor can be accused of seditious remarks...simple as that.
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Internal Security Act - Section 20 of the ISA ...anyone who issues or circulate a publication or document which is calculated or likely to lead to a breach of peace or to promote feelings of hostility between races or classes of the population shall be liable upon conviction to a fine of up to $2000 or imprisonment for a term of up to 3 years or both.
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The PAP govt claims that these laws are necessary for national security but many countries bigger, smaller and more diverse are just as peaceful without them. The truth is these laws help to promote a climate of fear and prevent the necessary reform to their system of govt that will benefit ordinary Singaporeans. This is the only system in the world where the leaders can get such high salaries and still maintain their power and control over the people.
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I took down my blog yesterday when a few of my friends got really worried and called me when the WayangParty became inaccessible. All socio political bloggers in Singapore face enormous risks from a govt that have laws in place send them to jail - all it takes is for the PAP to feel insecure and they will do it to preserve the system which gives them enormous benefits. Perhaps yesterday was not the day...maybe tomorrow...or next month or next year. Who knows when that day will be...just like Operation Spectrum when a group of Singaporeans had their lives disrupted. After all these years, Singaporeans still live in a country where can't speak your mind freely without fear....

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