Online Sedition II: New Accused Charged

When I predicted that the recent arrest and charge of two men in Singapore for sedition would be the start of the regulators expecting for a more balanced and composed speech online I had not expected that the next arrest would only be within days (see "COMMENT: Is Free Speech Online Become Too Costly for Society?").

The latest arrest is of a 17 year old who posted racist remarks on his blog. It is noteworthy that the ages of these three range from 17 to 27. This generation never saw the race riots in the early post war years. Unfortunately for them, they never experience the pain of intolerance. In the past few years the goodwill of tolerance and racial harmony built over the past few decades seemed to have been swept away by a new generation of bigots and chauvinists. Or are they?

I suspect that while some are – most are angst ridden and a frustrated lot. Hopefully the authorities in their sincere efforts to keep racial harmony, they will realise that racism is a symptom of greater problems. They need to deal with the illness and not the symptom of the illness. It is commonly known that racism begins when people are beset with failures and frustrations.

Also, there needs to be an establishment of a strong educational programme of about the benefits and needs of racial tolerance. Most critically, the new generation needs to know that free speech is not the right to say anything one likes without concern or care. It is about the right to speak without fear. However, the right to free speech is tempered by each individual’s legal rights as well.

Third person charged with sedition for racist remarks on blog site :Channelnewsasia.com