SINGAPORE (AFP) - Supporters of a Singaporean blogger have gathered at a busy subway station for a silent protest at the suspension of his weekly newspaper column after the government criticised his latest satirical piece about high living costs.
At least 30 supporters turned up at City Hall station at 2:00 pm dressed in brown attire in support of the blogger, who goes by the moniker Mr Brown.
"I think most of us feel that it is very important to have an independent voice in the print media," said a 25-year-old man who declined to be named.
He said he was told of the planned protest via a SMS text message on Saturday evening, like many of the others.
"For them to suspend the column is ridiculous," said a 19-year-old Canadian student who only wants to be known as Bronwyn. She was at the subway station with her sister and mother to take part in the silent protest.
The 36-year-old blogger, whose real name is Lee Kin Mun, is aware of the 30-minute silent protest but friends say he is not the organiser.
"We are aware of it but we did not organise it. We are touched by the gesture and we hope that nobody gets into trouble because of us," the blogger's friend Edmund Tan told AFP.
In Singapore any public protest of at least five people without a police permit is illegal.
A few policemen patrolled the subway station but no arrests were made.
The Today newspaper's publisher MediaCorp confirmed Thursday it has suspended Mr Brown's weekly column from July 7 but gave no reason.
His latest satirical piece entitled "S'poreans are fed, up with progress!" drew a strong rebuttal from the government who said the writer was distorting the truth.
Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF or Reporters Without Borders) has described the government's condemnation of Mr Brown's column as "disturbing" in light of its already strict curbs on the media.
In April RSF condemned Singapore's restrictions on political discussions in blogs and websites ahead of general elections in May.
Last year the group ranked Singapore 140th out of 167 countries in its annual press freedom index.
Wonderful. A display of social democracy.
ReplyDeleteThe next step is to boycott the big advertisers in the paper. Take the social democracy up a level to that of market democracy.
I always believe in the sanctity of private property.
Which is why a swift kick in the private property is extremely effective.
This is what sovereign consumers do all the time to 'punish' lousy producers—i.e. they cause producers to experience a loss in value of their property. This is also known as a 'market signal'.
Market democracy rocks!
if people find not having Mr Brown makes Today not worth reading, they can stop taking the free handouts; if circulation drops, then advertisers would go elsewhere
ReplyDelete20 people demo for 30 minutes can only be called a publicity stunt, and I am not sure it would get much publicity if mediacorp and sph refuse to report it
Here's the pic!
ReplyDeletehttp://forums.delphiforums.com/sammyboymod/messages/?msg=110687.1
to anonymous:
ReplyDeleteBesodes boycotting the papaer, thus affecting circulation, the idea I have is to BOYCOTT the advertisers, send them a message — "we won't support you if you support a fascist paper" — so that they do go elsewhere.
The 'free' paper's profit comes entirely from advertising revenue. People like mr brown 'add value' to the paper, so that people read it, and (it is hoped) support the businesses of those who advertise in it.
So by targeting the businesses of the advertisers, you minght get them to re-evaluate their "commercial associations".
Cutting off the advertising revenue of the paper is chopping off their legs.
This is far more effective than just a protest alone—which is great and should be appreciated.
Guys, next time some warning huh? So we can have some fun too!
I only said people who find today without mr brown no worth reading should boycott it; there are others who would continue to read it, or at least, take a free copy when offered one
ReplyDeleteSo it takes hurting Singaporean entertainment for Singaporeans to stand up and take notice? 'Reporters Without Borders' ranks Singapore 140 out of 167 papers for freedom of the press; the papers in Singapore routinely publish PAP glorifying articles and hides any article that might suggest Opposition greatness or the papers glorify the Oppositions blunders; even the hugely biased reporting of PAP activities as opposed to the almost non-existant mention of Opposition during the federal election a few months ago by the papers gets hardly a whimper from the public.
ReplyDeleteHOWEVER, you take away one writer who is a celebrity in Singaporean minds and all of a sudden you have silent protests, pages upon pages of people blogging outright rage for the 'ridiculous' actions of MICA? Are Singaporeans really wanting to send the message "yes, control our minds, our thoughts and our feelings through media streamlining and gov't control...but dont you DARE take away our entertainment!"
Sounds similiar to the 'bread and circus' way of Republic control of the ancient Romans under Caligula's rule if you ask me...though, no one really has asked me, so no sense in saying that, huh?
interesting..well done!
ReplyDeleteantipathy:
ReplyDeleteForget the petition. Email the advertisers directly and tell them in no uncertain terms that you are BOYCOTTING their business, and the reason WHY—because they, by their advertising accounts with the paper, contribute to the paper's ability to exist and act as a lapdog to the state by silencing opinion.
The paper has a right to hire and fire whoever it pleases for whatever reason.
But no one has to AGREE to the reasons of the paper exercising that right.
And AFAIK, no govt can force us to buy in the free market!
i don't read today, could someone list the big sponsers that today advertises?
ReplyDeleteI know M&Ms is one.
If everyone emails them they sure notice one
This is antipathy at a different com. To lazy to put in name and password
with a media monopoly, you actually dont have much free choice
ReplyDeleteit is up to the police to identify these illetal demonstrators. they must be arrested charged and canned for their insolence, and this includes women as well
ReplyDeleteTo above anon..
ReplyDeleteStop paping lar. Now this is wad I call good civil disobedience. They are fighting for wad most of us believe in, or at least some of us, to have freedom in the media. Lol how else would you voice your concerns? To the 140th media? At least they don't run around with the loud hailer at prime ministers or Bhavani.
Besides, haha I don't think the govt wants to harm them in the light of IMF? oO
How convenient to blame a spokesman or spokeswoman.
ReplyDeleteThey are just what the designation says. We are barking at the wrong tree and in the process showing our ignorance, I suppose.
We should do a PAP-smear test to test our sincerity (for all of us).
Sorry to get in a polemic argument, but I think market democracy doesn't hold very well, because it becomes plutocracy. Thus, social democracy I think doesn't need to be "taken up".
ReplyDeleteCurrently we're not a social democracy though. We're as capitalist and oligarchist as the PRC, with all the bad effects of capitalism and none of its freedoms.
Though I think consumers and producers need to organise more - consumers can enforce their end of the stick.