We're always happy to report the rise of political freedom in Singapore.. although as always the government there will be keeping a very beady eye on proceedings if they do relax their ban on political films...
Singapore is to ease its decade old ban on films that promote a politician or political party next year, the Straits Times reported on Saturday, citing a government minister.
Lee Boon Yang's remarks in the newspaper followed an announcement by PrimeMinister Lee Hsien Loong last week that the government may well relax a ban on both political films and demonstrations to keep up with the spread of video and other free expression on the Internet.
The government may allow films that are factualdocumentaries or recordings of live events that were "held inaccordance with the law", the newspaper quoted Lee Boon Yang,who is in charge of Information, Communications and Arts, assaying in an email.
"However, political commercials and films which aredramatised and made to distort issues or create a slantedimpression should not be allowed," the minister said.
Currently the government bans the production and screening of all political films, imposing amaximum fine of S$100,000 (39,000 pounds) or a two-year jailterm on offenders.
The ban came into effect in 1998, two years after the opposition Singapore Democratic Party applied for a license to sell a videotape about the party.
Martyn See, a Singaporean film maker who had two films banned by authorities because of their political content,welcomed the news although he noted it was unclear to what extent the government will relax its controls.
"My reaction is to re-submit my two banned films forreappraisal to test whether the PM's pronouncements are forreal."
So.. this begs the question .. which films will remain banned ?
