|
|
|
RWB
condemns FEER ban
2 Oct 06
RWB
Press Statement
Reporters
Without Borders (RWB) today condemned an immediate ban on the
distribution and sale in Singapore of the Far Eastern Economic
Review (FEER), which has been imposed by the information minister
under article 23 of the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act
(NPPA).
The ban was imposed as a result of a lawsuit
brought against the Hong Kong-based magazine by Prime Minster Lee
Hsien Loong and his father, former Prime Minister Lee Kuan
Yew.
"We condemn the application of legislation that
violates press freedom," Reporters Without Borders said.
"The minister's decision has created a barrier to the entry
of any foreign publication that wants to be distributed in
Singapore."
The Lees have won hundreds of thousands
dollars in libel suits, which they say have been necessary to
protect their reputation against baseless allegations. But, as
things stand, it would be hard for them to win anything in their
lawsuit against the FEER because it has no bureau in
Singapore.
Using article 23 of the NPPA, the information
minister has suspended sale of the FEER until it appoints a legal
representative and deposits a security bond of 200,000
Singaporean dollars (100,000 euros). The NPPA gives the minister
complete freedom to impose restrictions on foreign
newspapers.
Singapore's legislation also provides for a
fine of 50,000 dollars or two years in prison, or both, for any
person who distributes a newspaper illegally. The requirement to
appoint a legal representative and deposit a bond also applies to
the other foreign publications that are sold in Singapore,
namely, the International Herald Tribune, Time, the Financial
Times and Newsweek.
|
|
