S’pore hits back at Economist: Protesters not in court over criticism

SINGAPORE — Refuting a recent article in The Economist alleging a lack of free speech here, Ms Foo Chi Hsia, Singapore’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, has pointed out that the three protestors who were convicted for creating a public nuisance at Speakers’ Corner were not taken to court for criticising the Government. 

Rather, they had in 2014 “loutishly (barged)” into a performance by a group of special education-needs children, “frightening them and denying them the right to be heard”, Ms Foo wrote in her letter to the UK-based weekly that was published in its latest edition. 

The convictions were mentioned to back the weekly’s allegation in an article published on March 9, titled Grumble and Be Damned. 

In her letter, Ms Foo added that Singapore does not stifle criticism of the Government, and there is free access to information and the Internet here.  

“But we will not allow our judiciary to be denigrated under the cover of free speech, nor will we protect hate or libellous speech. People can go to court to defend their integrity and correct falsehoods purveyed against them. Opposition politicians have done this, successfully,” she said.

The protestors’ appeal against a district court’s decision was thrown out by a High Court. 

Earlier this week, comments by one of them, blogger Han Hui Hui, on the same case were deemed by the Attorney-General’s Chambers to be tantamount to scandalising the judiciary. Ms Han was given a week from March 13 to remove and apologise for her various posts alleging impropriety on the part of judges who heard her case, or face contempt of court proceedings. 

Ms Han’s allegations of mistreatment by Singapore Prisons Service officers during her time in the lock-up for the case were also repudiated by the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

Ms Foo reiterated in her letter that no country gives an absolute right to free speech. 

Society pays a price when the right to free speech is extended to fake news, defamation or hate speech, she added, citing the Brexit campaign and elections in America and Europe. “Trust in leaders and institutions, including journalists and the media, has been gravely undermined, as have these democracies,” wrote Ms Foo. 

“In contrast, international polls show that Singaporeans trust their government, judiciary, police and even the media. 

“Singapore does not claim to be an example for others, but we do ask to be allowed to work out a system that is best for ourselves.”