TR EMERITUS

From our Correspondent The government's REACH portal has seen feedback on its site gone up by about 34 per cent for the first six months of the year, compared to the same period last year. (source: Straits Times) Formerly known as the "Feedback Unit", it was renamed and revamped in 2006 to foster greater engagement with the citizenry. The administrative team consists of 18 women – all of whom are under 30 years old. Since the REACH website was changed significantly to include new capabilities such as podcasts and vodcasts, hits have gone up by over 54 per cent. Ms Ng Sok Hoon, 30, a former webmaster who now manages its social networking tools, said the team meets with other government agencies to share its efforts, and stays abreast of new media trends. The team surfs mainstream media websites as the main source of online information, but also visits alternative news sites for a gauge of ground sentiment on hot issues. The identities of these sites are not revealed. While the government has adopted a proactive approach to seek constant feedback from the public on its policies, the actual influence of public opinion on its governance is a mystery. There were often ramblings on the ground that their feedback appeared to enter a "black hole" with no response from the authorities. Dr Amy Khor, REACH’s chairman, said the website “actively generates discussion and solicits feedback”. “I don’t think people can say it (REACH) is a black hole still. There’s some light. It’s still not bright enough, but that’s where we are. We are constantly looking to how we can improve,” said Dr Khor. Whether the government is serious and sincere about soliciting feedback or it is a symbolic gesture to allay concerns of the public remains to be seen. The government has cleverly delineated the limits for public discourse and mould it in its interest through the control of the mass media over the years. There are certain OB markers and taboo topics which are censored by the officialdom such as the heavy losses incurred by the state sovereign wealth funds, the implications of having family members of the prime minister as heads of these SWFs and the continuing use of the police and ISD to stifle political dissent. As famous American linguist Noam Chomsky puts it succinctly: "The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum - even encourage the more critical and dissident views. That gives people the sense that there’s free thinking going on, while all the time the presuppositions of the system are being reinforced by the limits put on the range of the debate." No matter how REACH continues to evolve, there will always be some who remains sceptical of its purpose and effectiveness as an official conduit to provide feedback directly to the government so long as discussion and debate remains tightly controlled and moderated to suit the agenda of the establishment.  Read More →

YANGON (Reuters) - A Myanmar court on Friday postponed the verdict in the high-profile trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to August 11, her lawyer said. Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace prize winner who has spent 14 of the past 20 years in detention, is charged under Section 22 of a law protecting the state from "subversive elements." A guilty verdict had been widely expected on Friday. "The judge adjourned the trial until August 11. He didn't elaborate on the reason why," lawyer Nyan Win told Reuters. A diplomatic source who attended the proceedings said the verdict was delayed "because of the need to interpret legal terms relating to the 1974 constitution." The charges stem from a bizarre incident in May when an American intruder, John Yettaw, swam across Inya lake to Suu Kyi's home, where he stayed uninvited for two days. Prosecutors said this breached the terms of her house arrest. Yettaw told the court in May he had been "sent by God" to warn Suu Kyi she was going to be assassinated. Nyan Win said Suu Kyi was cheerful during Friday's brief court session and had told him the adjournment was "typical." Benjamin Zawacki, a Myanmar specialist for Amnesty International, said the repeated adjournments were orchestrated by the junta to make the court appear fair and impartial. "It's very suspicious since most courts wouldn't take this long," he said. "We knew the verdict was decided long ago. This is clearly political and not legal." MOUNTING PRESSURE A Western diplomat in Yangon said the junta could be stalling as a result of international condemnation of the trial. "The regime wants to take its time because of the mounting pressure it is under," the diplomat said. "They're being attacked from all fronts and they have a lot of things to consider." Suu Kyi's legal team has argued that she should be acquitted because the law she is charged under was part of the 1974 constitution, which is no longer in use. The prosecution, however, says the charges are relevant because the 1974 constitution was still in force when Suu Kyi's latest period of house arrest commenced in 2003. The courts routinely favor the military junta, which has ruled Myanmar with an iron hand since a 1962 coup. Verdicts were also postponed for Yettaw and two women who live with Suu Kyi and who face charges similar to hers. Suu Kyi faces five years in prison if found guilty. Yettaw is charged with immigration offences and for the municipal violation of swimming in a non-swimming area. Myanmar could improve ties with the United States, which has long imposed sanctions on Myanmar, if it released Suu Kyi, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said at a regional security forum earlier this month in Thailand. But neither Western sanctions nor a strategy of engagement by Myanmar's neighbors in Southeast Asia has achieved much over the years. Myanmar occupies a strategic place between Asian powers India and China and both have been reluctant to apply pressure on the generals. In Washington on Thursday, President Barack Obama and his Philippine counterpart, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, voiced concern about Myanmar's human rights record. Opponents of Myanmar's military government say the trial is an attempt to keep Suu Kyi in detention before and during elections next year, which they say will be a sham intended to legitimize the regime. Source: Reuters  Read More →

From our Correspondent A letter to the Straits Times Forum by a Canadian Permanent Resident (PR) exhorting Singaporeans to be grateful for what they got has brought on a torrent of online vibes and sneers from Singaporeans. It attracted over 60 comments by 6pm, with more than half of them disagreeing with his views. Entitled "Be grateful, S'pore", Eric Brooks began his letter with the following sentence: "I am writing to share many things Singaporeans take for granted", (read full letter here) before going on to make comparisons between Singapore and his homeland Canada. Below is a point by point rebuttal of the content of his letter by a netizen, Rointan1: Eric Brooks, My very first question is why dn't you give up your Canadian citizenship and take up S'pore citizenship?? That would be the litmus test as to whether you really believe that S'pore is a "great" place to live!!!! Anyways, let's look at what you claimed: 1) "Now, with its economy rebounding at a 20 per cent rate this last quarter, Singapore has recovered from the collapse faster than any other country." Are you aware that S'pore is the FIRST Asian country to go into recession?? Do you also know that S'pore suffered the worst decline in GDP globally?? 2) "..... Toronto in Canada, has its rubbish collected only once a week, yet it is considered one of North America's cleaner cities." Are you comparing apples with apples? S'pore is a tiny red dot whereas Toronta or North America land mass size is many many times S'pore's. Also, rubbish are collected daily at all developed Asian cities (eg. Tokyo, HK, S.South, Taipei). At any rate, we pay for such service. Sure it may costs less here, but the wages in America are significantly higher than in S'pore (after tax basis). 3) "Most buildings in the US and Canada have no sheltered walkways to protect residents from rain or snow, unlike most HDB blocks." That is becos we don't own HDB flats....we only lease the the flats from govt. The "buildings" you mentioned are obviously privately owned. 4) "If a poor person lives in a building without a lift in the US or Canada, that is his tough luck. In Singapore, the Government is upgrading our four-storey HDB blocks with a new staircase and a wheelchair-friendly lift that stops at every floor." That is is call vote buying!!! And such "upgrading" is not free. It is also due to the poor foresight of HDB in failing to notice an ageing population earlier. Above all, these are govt properies (see point above). 5) "If a poor person cannot afford to pay his mortgage in the US or Canada, he can be turfed out and left homeless. If an HDB dweller cannot pay his mortgage after he loses his job, he can seek a moratorium on payments from his community development council." That's where your ignorance is so telling. You obviously don't know of people being forced to downgrade or got kicked out of HDB flats!! Also, what about the generous social security you enjoy in Canada?? There is very little social security in S'pore. You won't die of starvation, but you will live a very miserable life. 6) "After living and working in six countries, I have known for a long time that no country takes care of its people the way Singapore." I have also lived in a number of countries and I find S'pore sorely lacking in many areas. So?? What are you waiting for? Take up S'pore citizenship. Oh, you will miss your family in Canada?? Then ask them to take up S'pore citizenship. Come come. Source: Straits Times Forum   Related article: >> Canadian PR drew online flak  Read More →