OP-ED: Climate of fear must end
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SINGAPORE’S
The Straits Times
Restoring calm and trust in Hong Kong
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After over a week of angry mass demonstrations, the question that arises is what might qualify as a happy ending to Hong Kong’s worst political crisis. At the core of the protests is the controversial extradition Bill that Chief Executive Carrie Lam declared a useful device to plug loopholes turning the city into a haven for fugitives. Critics suspected it was a vehicle to allow dissidents to be dispatched to China’s opaque judicial system. Since last Saturday, the Bill lies indefinitely shelved and, yesterday, Mrs Lam said it was as good as dead. Police have walked back on the “riot” label for the protests they controlled with batons, tear gas and rubber bullets. Mrs Lam has appeared contrite, twice tendered sincere apologies and promised to be humble, in response to protesters’ charges that she led an arrogant administration .
Among the protesters, the hope of being able to prevail over a perceived unjust law, snuffed out after the 2014 Occupy protests, has stirred again. But to insist on having Mrs Lam’s head, as some of the demonstrators are doing, risks turning an upswell of the common man’s indignation into a political game, in which society at large risks being the biggest loser.
TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE:
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/st-editorial/restoring-calm-and-trust-in-hong-kong
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THAILAND’S BANGKOK POST
EDITORIAL:
Climate of fear must end
With the March election and “democratic institutions” camouflaging his military regime with “the elected government” he is forming, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha still has to do more as a “democratic leader”. The regime’s heavy-handed, authoritative approach to critics must stop. Instead, Gen Prayut should start letting freedom of speech take its course and put an end to the entrenched climate of fear.
Several disturbing incidents in the headlines recently, however, imply that Gen Prayut’s second term as prime minister will likely be as repressive and authoritative as it has been since he staged the coup in 2014.
On Tuesday, comedian Naphat Chumjittri almost certainly came under pressure from the authorities as he told his followers to delete a video clip of him mimicking and mocking Gen Prayut’s media interviews.
Then, on Wednesday, a French man, Yan Marchal, was visited by police and forced to apologise publicly for a music video mocking the National Council for Peace and Order’s (NCPO) anthem, and then delete the video.
On Thursday, police paid a visit to Chumpholphonphisai School in Nong Khai province after photos of students’ pedestal trays, decorated for Teachers’ Day, questioning justice and democracy under the regime’s rule were shared on social media.
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