Bloggers Beware

[athlon24]

Last time, we talked about the Malaysian blogger who was freed by the government but now, in Burma, this is what happened.

"A Burmese blogger has been sentenced to 20 years in jail for posting a cartoon of the military leader Than Shwe." [Source: BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7721271.stm)]

So the next you post something against the government, think about it first. :(:(:(

[Donace]

ofc you have to think about everything you publish...freedom of speech is always cornered by right (power) of sovereignty and in the interest of the public.

Not backing the burmese government but imagine if they allowed these blows to the 'character' of the institution... there non-action could cause more harm then their actions do. I mean undermining the confidence can have a huge impact in all fields.

[Indyan]

This is just utter crap. Since when is posting a cartoon an offense. Its a shame that basic freedom of speech and expression doesn't exist at so many places around the world even in the 21st century.

[akira07]

opine about government figure is sensitive topic so we must think two time before decide to publish it/no. But i think 20 years punishment is too much...!!!

[Indyan]

In India you would probably get a lighter punishment for murder!

[Donace]

@Indyan... thats true!

But realistically speaking there is no TRUE freedom of speech, there never was and Never can be.

[Indyan]

Freedom of search subjected to reasonable restrictions is what I believe in. Yes, the situation may not be perfect anywere, but this is just an extreme case. I am sure you cant arrest someone for posting a cartoon and dispatch them to prison for 20 years for a petty thing like this in USA or even in India.

[athlon24]

@Indyan... thats true!

But realistically speaking there is no TRUE freedom of speech, there never was and Never can be.

I agree in that fact. If you are going to say something, your ideologies and thoughts are bounded by people's opinion and you will eventually please people or reader somehow. and if ever there is someone who dares to step up and got lots of guts, somebody above him will step his head down and again it will create fear in the circle.

[Donace]

Freedom of search subjected to reasonable restrictions is what I believe in. Yes, the situation may not be perfect anywere, but this is just an extreme case. I am sure you cant arrest someone for posting a cartoon and dispatch them to prison for 20 years for a petty thing like this in USA or even in India.


You would be surprised Indyan... to pick a random (:p) UK case the infamous 'spycatcher case' all he did was print about his time as a spy....the recent incident with the dutch papers and a certain cartoon.... rolling back the books a bit in india Gandhi's son...mass suppression?

Control of a country is never total...but controlling the press helps a lot...take the 'fox news' argument... if the press control what you see then you (mass public) only 'think' in one way.

If there was a press release tomorrow that Mr Bush is actually a russian...it may not be true and may later be disclaimed BUT now that the seed is planted he is not seen to be the same.

If that picture was not acted upon...more would be printed until the burmese government is ridiculed to such a extent their 'actual power' is non-existent...you do not fear what is funny..what is ridiculed....you fear power and that what this sentence is...a message you cross us we will sentence you. This will help them retain what limited power they still have there, AND THAT is what is paramount for them...retaining power.

[Indyan]

And that is what I am so upset about. The way they are trying to spread fear, stiffling people's thoughts.

[kocharvimal]

@indyan...i accept..its quite a shame and feel pity on that unlucky blogger:eek:

[Indyan]

Just found this via sphinn - Argentina Forcing Google & Yahoo To Censor Search Results (http://searchengineland.com/argentina-forcing-google-yahoo-to-censor-search-results-15427.php)
Astonishingly, a search on Yahoo Argentina for [Diego Maradona] — one of the world’s most well known soccer stars and the current national team head coach — produces zero results, along with a message from Yahoo that’s roughly translated as follows:

“On the occasion of a court order sought by private parties, we have been forced to temporarily remove some or all of the search results relating to it.”
This is really ridiculous.

[athlon24]

yeah, it is really ridiculous. That kind of things makes it harder to live in a society where authorities are trying to control every aspect of lives. I guess, we are still lucky in our place. In some sense it is better to gain authority because of respect not from fear.