Have been away overseas for over twenty days and on the day of arrival back home... :)
I was greeted with what I have been waiting for... that the Film Act and Public Assemblies will be amended and relax. But there are some irony to it.
It is of no surprise to me. I guess the authorities have realized a bit late the collateral damage they have incurred for being too restrictive in this digital-age. My opinion is that with these new technologies (video cameras, youtube, blogs, podcasts etc) available, advocates of civil resistance in Singapore now at least have a good fight against the state machinery for withholding information or being too repressive... basically whatever harsh actions they undertake, it will be documented and the whole world will be watching and those face saving bureaucrats wanting to put the little red-dot as a "vibrant hub here and there" will have a lot of explanation and accountability to do :P
Either way I am optimistic to the point that time is on our side... for instance if Film Act is not amended, any films banned and subsequently uploaded... more people will yearn to watch it... and if now the Film Act has been relaxed... it opens a floodgate for people to forgo their fears and starts recording alternative news.
And at this point... should myself or others be contented. I hope not. Cause it is precisely the actions of a few (like Martyn See and some filmmakers who persistently choose not to be silenced that pressure the authorities to relax the law) and it is also the actions of a few like Dr Chee Soon Juan and some activists who brave themselves to protest that the authorities decided to spare an avenue to "let them off steam".
Thank you but it is actually our rights, we only got it partially back and we will continue to push for more. I am happy and yet "ungrateful".
Talking about who being the ungrateful one...
Ironically while the authorities are now "enlightened to know that they are being too restrictive" and thus offer those little goodies to open up, they seems to be coming hard on those "agitators" - the very people who cause them to be wise up in the first place.
It is with dismay that recently there is no letting up of activists being charged in court for "illegal assemblies" and worst of all some Burmese activists have their stay in Singapore revoked.
So I guess... after the boy alerted the King that he has no clothes on, instead of bestowing the boy with gifts, the King has the boy whipped for saving him the embarrassment.
Martyn... will you ever get a PBM or cultural medallion from the Trinity?
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