Chinese ZaoBao Fairer in Reporting

The following is the press report on NSP and SPP press release:

反对党促亚细安与缅甸划清界线

　　国民团结党和新加坡人民党日前分别谴责缅甸军人政府残酷镇压平民示威，并促请国际社会向它施压，制止血腥事件继续发生。

　　由波东巴西区议员、人民党秘书长詹时中签发的文告吁请缅甸政府停止使用暴力对付人民，并同国内各民主派系合作，以恢复缅甸的民主、法治和经济发展，改善人民生活。

　　他指出，除非军人政府停止独裁统治和恢复议会民主，否则亚细安各国应同缅甸当局划清界限。

　　团结党中央执行委员会也呼吁世界各国，包括新加坡政府各尽所能，阻止缅甸的流血镇压事件继续发生，并且为缅甸制定一个时间表，协助它从现有的体制过渡到和平稳定的民主制度。

　　另外，它表示对政府拒绝发出准证给本地大学生举行和平集会表示遗憾，并且批评政府的作法跟不上时代的发展，也没意识到学生自发地抗议缅甸军人残酷镇压平民的举动，是提高社会公民意识和让民众参与政治活动的好机会。

　　团结党说，在户外举行的和平集会有助国民团结，并让民众针对他们所关心的课题发表看法和进行交流。它指出，世界各地都举行反对缅甸军人政府的集会，不仅没有破坏社会和谐，反而因此加强了社会与国民的认同感。

　　它在声援缅甸人民争取民主的同时，也吁请政府展现民主及开放的姿态，允许大学生举行和平抗议与示威游行。它表明同大学生站在同一阵线，鼓励他们在不抵触法律的情况下，向当局争取举行集会。

Comparing this to the press report on English Straits Times, I would consider the Chinese newspapers doing a fairer job. ST report is as follows, printed on 06 Oct:

ST, Oct 6, 2007

S'pore opposition parties condemn crackdown

THREE Singapore opposition parties have condemned the violence in Myanmar and called on the international community to help put a stop to the crisis.

The Singapore People's Party, in a statement signed by secretary-general

Chiam See Tong, the MP for Potong Pasir, called on Myanmar's ruling military junta to restore democracy.

'We call on all Asean nations to distance themselves from the Myanmar military junta unless they stop their dictatorial rule and (re-install) their parliament and comply with the ideals of Asean,' it said.

The Workers' Party, in a separate statement, also condemned the use of violence by Myanmar's military.

'Whatever the 'peace' that will be achieved by the present crackdown, the yearnings of the people to be free from more than four decades of military rule will not go away,' said party chairman and Non-Constituency MP Sylvia Lim in the statement.

She called on the international community, including Singapore, to 'use all influence and means at its disposal to stop the continued repression of the Myanmar people and to free all political detainees'.

Meanwhile, the National Solidarity Party said it 'unreservedly' condemned the killing of civilians in Myanmar and urged other countries to do what they could to 'prevent any further bloodletting and help Myanmar to set a timetable towards a stable and peaceful transition to democracy'.

YEO GHIM LAY

It seems that the Straits Times has deliberately left out the main message of our press release on the need of PAP government to progress with time and recognize the need to open up for citizens to express themselves as in public demonstrations.

Public demonstrations could well help to mold our core values and build our own National identity as a people. This is totally ignored by the PAP government.

I share touch on this topic in my next post.

Goh Meng Seng