Freest press in Southeast Asia?

RSF’s 2007 press freedom index (rankings for Southeast Asia):

Cambodia tops the list (ranked 85 in the world), followed by Timor-Leste (94), Indonesia (100), Malaysia (124), Philippines (128), Thailand (135), Singapore (141), Laos (161), Vietnam (162), Burma (164). Find out why.

Brunei is not ranked due to lack of data.

Singapore’s leading cyber-dissident tells how he became one

Nope, contrary to popular perception, they’re not all gone.

We’re talking about dissenters in Singapore, and Robert Ho is one of them, ruling in cyberspace, under his real name - which makes him even more a rarity. Arrested four times for the unspeakable crime of exercising free expression and remanded thrice at a mental institution by the Singapore authorities, Ho is still up and at it on his blog and regularly contributes to the Singapore Review.

Martyn See, filmmaker of “The Singapore Rebel” and no stranger to the Singapore government’s tolerance for dissent, interviews Ho via email and phone in December 2006. Read what makes Ho who he is here.

Singapore’s key opposition leader freed earlier for good behaviour

The Singapore government released vocal opposition leader Dr Chee Soon Juan from prison on 16 December 2006, two weeks short of the five-week term meted out to him for speaking in public without a permit.

Singapore opposition leader and two party members imprisoned for exercising right to free speech

Singapore opposition leader Dr. Chee Soon Juan has been imprisoned for five weeks following a 24 November 2006 court verdict which found him and two other party members guilty of breaching the city-state’s restrictions on free speech.

Chee, the secretary general of the Singapore Democratic Party, refused to pay the alternative sentence meted out to him - a fine of S$5,000 (approx. US$3,225).

Local news site “Today Online” reports that this is the fifth time in seven years that Chee has opted to be imprisoned instead of paying a fine for speaking out. Click here for Chee’s parting shot.

Singapore reviews Penal Code, placing more curbs on free expression

A review of Singapore’s Penal Code will see further curtailment of the already limited freedoms in the city-state notorious for its intolerance to basic free expression and assembly rights.

The Singapore government is introducing 19 new offences and expanding the scope of 19 existing offences, to “bring the Penal Code up to date, and make it more effective in maintaining a safe and secure society in today’s context,” read a statement on the website of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Singapore bans circulation of FEER

The Singapore Government has revoked the sale and distribution approval for the “Far Eastern Economic Review” (FEER) after the monthly magazine failed to comply with two requirements under the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act, reports the local “Channel News Asia” on its website.

Singapore detains and deports journalist, prevents him from covering trial

A foreign reporter who has been following a trial in Singapore was detained while attempting to re-enter the country on 24 September 2006, reports “The Epoch Times”.

Singapore’s mighty Lees sue for defamation, yet again (and win, yet again)

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his father, former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, have filed a defamation suit against the publisher and editor of the Far Eastern Economic Review, just two days after winning another libel case against democrat oppositionist Chee Soon Juan. Citing court records, Reuters is reporting that the powerful Lees — notorious for their intolerance of criticism and for keeping international media on a short leash in the city-state — filed the libel suit against Hong Kong-based Review Publishing Company Ltd and FEER editor Hugo Restall on Aug. 22 for an article published in July on opposition politician Chee Soon Juan.

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.

Singapore drops case against filmmaker See

Singapore Rebel reports that Singaporean police have finally dropped their case against filmmaker Martyn See, “after 16 months of investigation, three interrogation sessions, 120 questions, and not discounting a covert round of interviews with some (of Mr. See’s) friends and associates.”