Singapore's media controls clash with regional aims
Fri Sep 1, 2006 1:15 PM BST143
By Sara Webb
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A month before Singapore goes under the
international spotlight as the venue of a major International
Monetary Fund conference, the government flexed its muscles to
remind the media of its controls on the press.
On August 3, it ordered five foreign publications -- the Far
Eastern Economic Review, Time, Newsweek, the Financial Times and
the International Herald Tribune (IHT) -- to post bonds of
S$200,000 and appoint representatives in Singapore.
It was a sharp reminder of hefty damages paid in the past by media
groups such as the Economist, IHT and Bloomberg to Singapore's
leaders. The bonds would serve as security in any future government
lawsuit for alleged defamation.
The moves highlighted the contradiction between Singapore's desire
to become Asia's leading business center and its determination to
maintain the tight controls that have given the country decades of
stability in a turbulent region.
But such steps -- which press freedom groups see as intimidation --
did not go unnoticed in the business world, where investors depend
on warts-and-all coverage of economics, politics and business in
the countries in which they invest.
Mark Mobius, a fund manager at Templeton, declined to comment
specifically on Singapore, where his firm has an office. But he
said the general rule of thumb is that investors value a free press
in countries where they put their money.
"In general, if there is a climate of fear or intimidation, it's a
drag on investments," said Mobius, who oversees about $20 billion
invested in various emerging economies.
Many analysts say they prefer not to comment directly on
Singaporean issues because of the risk of legal action, given that
government leaders have successfully sued opposition politicians
and the foreign media in Singapore's courts.
MF CONFERENCE
Singapore is seeking to shift from manufacturing to services such
as higher education, the media and finance to boost its
international profile as it competes with Hong Kong as a base for
foreign investment in the region.
Analysts say strict media laws might hamper this effort.
"One of the things that sustain Hong Kong's attractiveness as a
financial center is its freedom of speech. It improves transparency
and facilitates the discussion of important issues," said David
Webb, a shareholder activist in Hong Kong.
The IMF meeting on September 19-20 could provide an excellent
opportunity for Singapore to promote itself with 16,000 delegates
due to attend the conference.
But with about 2,000 journalists expected to converge on Singapore
to cover the event, the media restrictions may come under scrutiny
at an embarrassing time as financial and political leaders gather
in the country.
Still, the government is not concerned about a backlash.
"We are confident that Singapore will remain a good investment
location," said K. Bhavani, press secretary to the minister of
information, communications and the arts.
"Singapore offers a stable, pro-business environment and a safe,
secure and vibrant place for foreigners to live, work and play,"
she added.
Reporters Without Borders slammed the decision to issue
restrictions against the five foreign publications, including the
Far Eastern Economic Review, which last month published an
interview with opposition politician Chee Soon Juan.
"The authorities are looking for effective ways, including fear of
prosecution and heavy fines, to intimidate these publications into
censoring themselves," the media watchdog said. It ranks Singapore
140th out of 167 countries for press freedom -- worse than Russia
but better than North Korea.
BALANCING ACT
Even the pro-government local media can run into trouble. In July,
state-owned paper Today axed a popular blogger's column after the
government complained his sarcastic comments on economic policies
"distort the truth."
Last year, the University of Warwick scrapped plans for a campus in
the city-state citing concern over academic freedom.
Despite this, Singapore has lured leading names in banking, the
media and education, thanks to tax breaks and lower costs.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, son of founding leader Lee Kuan
Yew, said in his annual address to the nation this month that he
welcomed criticism. Two years ago at his inauguration, Lee promised
a more open, inclusive society, but his government has shown little
sign of implementing change.
Opposition politician Chee and two supporters were charged with
speaking in public without the required permit ahead of the May 6
general election.
The People's Action Party, which has ruled since independence in
1965, fears losing its huge majority in parliament and its leaders
argue they have to take a tough line on critics.
"If we don't respond, untruths will be repeated and will be
believed, and eventually will be treated as facts, and the
government and the leaders will lose the respect of the population
and the moral authority to govern," Lee said in his annual address
earlier this month.
Lee's government has kept a ban on public protests in place and has
clamped down on homosexuals and political bloggers who were told by
a senior minister of state before the May 6 election that it was
illegal to "propagate, promote or circulate political issues" in
election periods.
Last year, the authorities banned a gay and lesbian festival for
being "contrary to public interest."
So far, Singapore's balancing act has proved successful.
"Thus far the PAP government has shown a remarkable capacity to
reconcile tensions between political controls and economic
progress," said Garry Rodan, head of the Asia Research Center at
Murdoch University in Perth, Australia.
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