Thursday, March 22, 2007

Give Bloggers The Rights

I have been blogging for 3 years in Blogspot now in fact during college days I have developed my own website ranting on my personal life. I can't help it but to express my disappointment on how many governments around the world is forbidding or trying to prevent the freedom of expression online. Is it not a privilege to write whatever they want to write on their personal space? I belief it’s a right that needs defending not just on bloggers but online forums and portals as well. Bloggers worldwide and even in our own country where they can face jail just for criticising the government. What rights do we have now, how can it be measured? Where is the liberal and democratic approach to such issues?

In our country I have read about the Internal Security Ministry issued warning to all local bloggers and media not to quote of publish "anti-government articles". The Ministry needs to know that the online community is bothered about free expression online and willing to stand up for it.

As quote by Lim Kit Siang (DAP) int he TheSun "Was the ministry really concerned whether the truth of falsehood are published in mainstream media, or is it only concerned about the growing, influence of blogs and Internet portals?" This is really true? What are we afraid of if we, our government is on the right track and right mind set? Like what our PM said last few weeks "If we have done nothing wrong, why should we be afraid?"

I do know in US and in UK they have policies that ensure human rights, particularly the rights to freedom of expression, association and the right to privacy are respected and protected. I guess it doesn't happen here.

If you look at the history of human kind. The Internet is a powerful force for human rights, enabling the free flow of ideas and information around the world. But some governments have sought to reduce this freedom. People have been locked up just for expressing their views in an email or a website. Sites and blogs have been shut down and firewalls built to prevent access to information. Companies have restricted Internet searches to stop people accessing information that repressive governments don’t want them to see.

I belief we have failed to respect, protect and promote the rights to freedom of expression, association and privacy, and the rights of human rights defenders.

If i have lost all my memories the next day you will know what happened to me, some ministry brain wash me. :P Last but not the least you should check this local blogger out. extremely popular blog that takes an independent approach to Malaysian politics and society. Its editor, Jeff Ooi, was threatened with imprisonment, at the beginning of October 2004.

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