http://www.straitstimes.com/ST+Forum/Story/STIStory_270633.html
Films: Opposition must walk the walk now
I REFER to Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam's quote on Tuesday headlined, 'No Favour Granted, Just a Right'.
These days, it seems, almost by default, that anyone who wishes to attach an air of credibility to his demand, couches the demand in the language of rights.
I struggle to see how the making of a political film or the holding of demonstrations per se count as human rights. It seems a stretch to include such matters as 'part and parcel' of the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled.
Previously, opposition parties lamented the ban against making political films. Now that that ban is to be relaxed, opposition parties should show their mettle by using that previously-hankered-after medium effectively to communicate their plans and objectives to Singaporeans.
No one expects the Reform Party (or any other party) to prostrate before the Government as a result of this impending change. However, taking pot shots which seek merely to paint a negative picture of the Government's actions is not only self-serving, but communicates nothing.
Please let us hear about clearly thought-out and detailed plans from the Reform Party that will give the electorate a viable choice at the next General Election.
Tricia Tong (Ms)
Latest comments
This writer's view is clearly one-sided and of little value. ST should not have published it. Why must the opposition react ? And does she expect a film to be made overnight? When Low T K kept quiet, they lampooned him in the media for a while. When the govt made a 'honest mistake' , what was the writer's view? Why did she keep quiet?
Then when there was a ban on political films, did she make any noise abt it? Or did she agree with it?
The point here is, pl make objective statements and not make the ST forum a political platform to serve your own inclinations.
Posted by: vbauthor at Fri Aug 22 09:54:48 SGT 2008
"I struggle to see how the making of a political film or the holding of demonstrations per se count as human rights"
That statement sums up what Ms Tricia Tong is - A sad frog in a deep well with a running trickle.
Mr Jeyaretnam is highlighting the value of Freedom of Expression so enshrined in the Singapore Constitution which allows Tricia's letter to see the light of day.
It confounds the senses how education has limited some people's ability to see the woods for the tree.
Posted by: augustus_cesar at Fri Aug 22 09:41:11 SGT 2008
#2,
While most can agree that Burmese government's human rights record has been less than stellar, how is Singapore government complicit? What has Singapore done? How does it compare with other nations in the world?
Remember, Singapore government owes its first and foremost responsibility to Singapore, nor Burmese nationals.
Posted by: grognard at Fri Aug 22 07:47:14 SGT 2008
Ms Tong's letter obviously one-sided.
She accuses the opposition of `taking pot shots which seek merely to paint a negative picture of the Government's actions is not only self-serving, but communicates nothing'.
I am not in the opposition but is of the opinion that main stream media paint usually rosy glorified pictures of the Govt's policies and underplay the unhappiness and views to the contrary. Therefore to allow the public to see both sides of the fence - is not self-serving and does wonders for real communication contrary to Ms Tong's biased views.
Posted by: anghwahong at Fri Aug 22 07:20:08 SGT 2008
Ms. Tong, how is it a 'stretch' to the imagination if these rights are already enshrined in the UN Declaration of Human Rights?
Fair enough, it might then be argued that the protocol for socio-political rights are 'Western-centric'. But the prevailing mindset in Singapore, that these rights are unnecessary, is premised on the assumption that the PAP government will continue to have the people's best interests at heart, indefinitely, eternally.
What about protests which DO champion less contestable notions of human rights? For instance, demonstrating against the S'pore government's complicity in the Burmese government's human rights abuses?
Posted by: dmbutler at Fri Aug 22 06:29:28 SGT 2008
Films: Opposition must walk the walk now
I REFER to Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam's quote on Tuesday headlined, 'No Favour Granted, Just a Right'.
These days, it seems, almost by default, that anyone who wishes to attach an air of credibility to his demand, couches the demand in the language of rights.
I struggle to see how the making of a political film or the holding of demonstrations per se count as human rights. It seems a stretch to include such matters as 'part and parcel' of the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled.
Previously, opposition parties lamented the ban against making political films. Now that that ban is to be relaxed, opposition parties should show their mettle by using that previously-hankered-after medium effectively to communicate their plans and objectives to Singaporeans.
No one expects the Reform Party (or any other party) to prostrate before the Government as a result of this impending change. However, taking pot shots which seek merely to paint a negative picture of the Government's actions is not only self-serving, but communicates nothing.
Please let us hear about clearly thought-out and detailed plans from the Reform Party that will give the electorate a viable choice at the next General Election.
Tricia Tong (Ms)
Latest comments
This writer's view is clearly one-sided and of little value. ST should not have published it. Why must the opposition react ? And does she expect a film to be made overnight? When Low T K kept quiet, they lampooned him in the media for a while. When the govt made a 'honest mistake' , what was the writer's view? Why did she keep quiet?
Then when there was a ban on political films, did she make any noise abt it? Or did she agree with it?
The point here is, pl make objective statements and not make the ST forum a political platform to serve your own inclinations.
Posted by: vbauthor at Fri Aug 22 09:54:48 SGT 2008
"I struggle to see how the making of a political film or the holding of demonstrations per se count as human rights"
That statement sums up what Ms Tricia Tong is - A sad frog in a deep well with a running trickle.
Mr Jeyaretnam is highlighting the value of Freedom of Expression so enshrined in the Singapore Constitution which allows Tricia's letter to see the light of day.
It confounds the senses how education has limited some people's ability to see the woods for the tree.
Posted by: augustus_cesar at Fri Aug 22 09:41:11 SGT 2008
#2,
While most can agree that Burmese government's human rights record has been less than stellar, how is Singapore government complicit? What has Singapore done? How does it compare with other nations in the world?
Remember, Singapore government owes its first and foremost responsibility to Singapore, nor Burmese nationals.
Posted by: grognard at Fri Aug 22 07:47:14 SGT 2008
Ms Tong's letter obviously one-sided.
She accuses the opposition of `taking pot shots which seek merely to paint a negative picture of the Government's actions is not only self-serving, but communicates nothing'.
I am not in the opposition but is of the opinion that main stream media paint usually rosy glorified pictures of the Govt's policies and underplay the unhappiness and views to the contrary. Therefore to allow the public to see both sides of the fence - is not self-serving and does wonders for real communication contrary to Ms Tong's biased views.
Posted by: anghwahong at Fri Aug 22 07:20:08 SGT 2008
Ms. Tong, how is it a 'stretch' to the imagination if these rights are already enshrined in the UN Declaration of Human Rights?
Fair enough, it might then be argued that the protocol for socio-political rights are 'Western-centric'. But the prevailing mindset in Singapore, that these rights are unnecessary, is premised on the assumption that the PAP government will continue to have the people's best interests at heart, indefinitely, eternally.
What about protests which DO champion less contestable notions of human rights? For instance, demonstrating against the S'pore government's complicity in the Burmese government's human rights abuses?
Posted by: dmbutler at Fri Aug 22 06:29:28 SGT 2008
