SINGAPORE
A threat by the prime minister of Singapore (1995)
Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong stated that he would not allow his
authority to be undermined by those who comment regularly on politics and
thus enter the political arena. Given that such commentators include cartoonists,
this meant a major setback for the Singapore political cartoon scene.
A case of censorshop regarding a foreign matter (1992)
This cartoon by Singapore cartoonist Heng Kim Song pertains to
the 1992 democracy movement in Thailand. General Suchinda, who had
earlier orchestrated a coup, was appointed to serve as prime minister in
April 1992. This sparked discontent among the Thais, who demanded a democratically
elected premier and questioned the military's leadership role. There was
a bloody army crackdown on demonstrators. This cartoon, along with two others
Heng made in regards to this issue, was censored by the editors of Lianhe
Zaobao newspaper because, as they pointed out "Suchinda had always
maintained friendly ties with the Singapore government and its press as
chief of the Thai armed forces." They stressed that it was essential
to continue the goodwill with the new Suchinda government. Ironically, later,
when Suchinda was forced to resign, the newspaper allowed the publication
of a Heng cartoon about his downfall.
It's very unfortunate that ideologies are too often nothing more than
a weather-cock in the winds of power.
Heng Kim Song's censored commentary about the Thai ruler's crackdown
on anti-government demonstrators. |
