[MinMin]

Freedom of speech is on the rise, slowly but steadily

THERE are many writers who have valuable views to contribute to the media, but there is not enough space to publish every letter. This phenomenon can be viewed from two angles. First, there is not enough 'media space' for people to air their views, particularly older citizens who are not computer savvy. Second, people may have a view on certain matters, but these represent the minority, who cannot air their views.

Things are better today since the Government introduced Reaching Everyone for Active Citizenry @ Home (Reach), which enables the public to register views on government policies. Therefore, it is evident that before the Advisory Council on the Impact of New Media on Society (Aims) made its recommendations, the Government had already taken steps to broaden the channels for citizens to give feedback. I must acknowledge the work of the staff at Reach because they have a heavy responsibility after they promised all contributors that a government agency will examine their feedback.

Freedom of speech must be exercised in the context of society, where there are available avenues for feedback such as the Forum page and Reach. If freedom of speech is about having more avenues to articulate one's views, there is also Speakers' Corner.

Things are much better now than 20 years ago when I wanted to air my views but feared being 'monitored' for not toeing the line. Having written countless letters to The Straits Times in these two decades, I realise that because of space constraints, pertinent issues relevant to the majority are usually given space, while other day-to-day matters are best delivered to individual government agencies for them to examine.

While public debate is not immediately obvious in the limited press space, I noticed the Forum page gives priority to matters that may not have been researched adequately by government agencies, and it gives space for further response and clarification by those agencies.

I must also acknowledge the Online Forum, where readers can leave comments if invited to do so. This is valuable space to exercise freedom of thought, and 'speech' in some sense.

Putting political advertising aside, it may be worthwhile to dig further into so-called 'freedom of virtual identity and online anonymity' the Internet provides. Unless society faces oppression, and the Government locks up everyone who has a dissenting view, the need to remain anonymous is not great. I do not want to be anonymous when I speak out against government policies because I believe the other party to whom I put my view should have the right of reply. Apart from the danger of mischief behind remaining anonymous, further constructive debate after the initial anonymous complaint becomes impaired.

Coming to political advertising, we must be honest to admit that the intent is to influence the people who see the advertisement to 'buy them over'. It is difficult to spell out clearly and without ambiguity what is factual and objective. While the former is easier to determine by asking whether the information in the film is true, it becomes almost impossible to define what is 'objective'. For example, a murderer shot at his victim, and it is a fact but what was his objective? It may take the court several days before it reaches a conclusion.

In a similar tone, if a political film carries information about a particular event, what is the objective of making that film?

In conclusion, I salute the Government for taking a brave step forward to face the advent of the digital world by interacting with the public in the new medium, one step at a time, leading to slow but steady progress.

What is needed now is for that momentum to build up quickly in other government agencies, to take some of the load from the officers manning Reach, otherwise, it will become merely a modern age post office, and the complaint will be, why introduce a middleman who adds no value but only distributes feedback?

Patrick Sio

http://www.straitstimes.com/ST+Forum...ry_327846.html

[kyouta]

right ........

[Guyvr111]

in our dreams..

[itrush07]

Agree...