Dismay over the quiet in Singapore

Singapore has put in place many restrictions to covering and taking part in the IMF-WB meetings set to take place in the city-state this week. Civil society representatives must contend with strict rules for assembly, and many NGO reps have been blocked from even entering the country, to the dismay of the IMF-WB officials themselves. In the months prior, meanwhile, Singapore put foreign media operating in the city-state on a short leash, and advised bloggers to be on their best behaviour. Last September 6, SEAPA invited Singapore bloggers Alex Au and Gayle Goh to Bangkok to speak on the media and free expression environment in their country — or the lack thereof. Alex’s talk is available on his blog, here. Gayle, meanwhile, expresses her disgust at how the entire IMF-WB preparations are being handled.