GOS HOLDS THE LINE ON FREE SPEECH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 003147

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SN
SUBJECT: GOS HOLDS THE LINE ON FREE SPEECH

REF: SINGAPORE 2058

Classified By: E/P Counselor Laurent Charbonnet for reasons 1.4(b)/(d)


1. (C) Summary: The GOS continues to narrowly define the
parameters of free speech in Singapore -- extending into the
internet -- and constraints on public protest remain firmly
in place. The convictions of three Singaporeans for racist
comments made on the internet are the latest indication that
the GOS will not tolerate speech it deems to be racist in any
forum. A rare public protest over the GOS's failure to open
an expensive subway station resulted in a stern GOS warning
to the unnamed perpetrators. A prominent academic's
discussion of the role of civil disobedience in Singaporean
society elicited a public shot across the bow from the Prime
Minister's office. Though only a small part of his farewell
speech, the Ambassador's comments on Singapore's restrictions
on free expression received widespread media attention. End
Summary.

Bloggers Jailed for Violating Sedition Act
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2. (U) On October 7, the court sentenced Benjamin Koh Song
Huat, 27, and Nicholas Lim Yew, 25, to jail for allegedly
racist remarks posted on the internet about ethnic minority
Malays. Koh was sentenced to one month's imprisonment while
Lim was fined SGD 5,000 and jailed for one day. Both were
convicted of violating the Sedition Act, a 1948 law that had
not been previously used against individuals. On October 26,
a third Singaporean, 17 year-old Gan Huai Shi, was also
convicted of publishing racist comments on his internet blog.



3. (U) Following the filing of sedition charges against the
bloggers, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong stated that the GOS
would not tolerate any racist comments, whether posted on the
internet or in other media: "It doesn't matter where you say
it, this is a message that is not acceptable. It is against
the law and the Sedition Act specifically...If you publish
such stuff, anywhere you go, we will act."

Buangkok Subway Station: A White Elephant?
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4. (U) On August 28, to coincide with the visit of a
government minister, eight cardboard cutout white elephants
appeared outside a subway station that had been completed two
years ago, but never opened. Although PM Lee had stated that
the government does not build "white elephant" public works
projects, complaining local residents disagreed. Even
grassroots members of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP)
had urged the GOS to open the station, to no avail.


5. (U) Immediately after the police allegedly received an
anonymous complaint, the elephants were removed (by whom it
is not known),and police have thus far been unable to track
them down. Police conducted an investigation as to whether
Singapore's Public Entertainments and Meetings Act (PEMA),
which requires a license for public displays, had been
violated. The investigation resulted in a "stern warning" to
the unnamed perpetrators, who many speculated were PAP
grassroots leaders. When ribbed about the case, GOS
officials have (while slightly squirming) stated the police
are obligated to investigate every complaint.

"Managing Civil Disobedience"
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6. (U) In response to the "white elephant" affair, Dr.
Cherian George, a leading academic and political commentator,
placed an article on his blog, which the Straits Times then
published. The article, "Managing Civil Disobedience," noted
that the stern warning issued in the white elephant case
would not deter opposition activists from deliberately
"breaking the law to make a political point" and alluded to
opposition leader Dr. Chee Soon Juan's promotion of
non-violent civil disobedience. Dr. George characterized the
government's method of dealing with public protest in general
as one of "calibrated coercion," wherein challenges to
government rule were suppressed with minimal force and
maximum effectiveness.


7. (C) Chen Hwai Lian, the Press Secretary to PM Lee,
responded to Dr. George on the forum page of the Straits
Times, prompting a response from Dr. George that the
government had mistaken his analysis for advocacy, in turn
prompting a rejoinder from Chen that Dr. George had failed to
be non-partisan in his analysis. A member of the PM's staff
averred that these exchanges were an example of the GOS'
engaging in a dialogue with its critics, not firing a shot
across their bow.
The Ambassador's Farewell
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8. (U) In his wide-ranging farewell speech, the Ambassador
asked, "In this era of Weblogs and Webcams, how much sense
does it make to limit political expression?" He noted that
governments would "pay an increasing price for not allowing
full participation of their citizens," but expressed
confidence that Singapore would rise to this challenge.
Though only a few sentences in a larger speech, the
Ambassador's comments on political expression were played up
by the foreign media, such as the Financial Times (FT),as a
"rare public rebuke" to Singapore.


9. (SBU) Singapore's Ambassador to the United States, Chan
Heng Chee, raised her concerns over the "mischaracterization"
with the Ambassador. The Straits Times published the speech
in its entirety, which put the remarks in the right
perspective. The chairman of the Singapore Institute for
International Affairs -- which hosted the speech -- plans to
publish a commentary in the Straits Times noting that the
Ambassador's comments were a "suggestion from a friend" as
opposed to a "slap in the face" and that such constructive
criticism is necessary for effective international dialogue.

Comment
--------------


10. (C) All these events reinforce how tightly the GOS
continues to monitor and restrict public discourse. Though
the white elephant caper could have been viewed as humorous,
creative dissent, the GOS conducted a criminal investigation.
When the perpetrators were found to be PAP members, the GOS
issued a stern warning rather than prosecuting the offenders
-- a leniency not often afforded the opposition. Though GOS
rhetoric claims to support a freer and more open civil
society, its actions indicate that the GOS will continue to
maintain strict control over public debate.
FERGIN