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SDP
website problems: Systems error or mischief-making?
Singapore
Democrats
12 Feb 08
We reported yesterday that visitors
to this website were automatically re-directed to an "Insurance"
blog. We were unsure as to the cause of the problem and left it
open to the possibility of a genuine computer-network anomaly.
However, deliberate mischief-making seems increasingly
likely. Yesterday evening the Insurance blog popped up again,
only this time the title read "SDP".
A singular
message was posted on the blog with titles that changed every
time the blog was accessed such as "Interested in sdp?",
"Here are some my favorite sites about sdp", and "The
collection of sites about sdp".
Below the title was
the message: "Particulary (sic) I like the first site
but other sites are informative as well, so if you have interest
in sdp you should check all those links. I hope you'll like
them." This was followed by a few comments.
While we
would like to refrain from being alarmist, we are also reminded
that PAP MP, Ms Denise Phua, had said in the aftermath of the
last elections that the Government would have to "manage the
Internet." Minister Ng Eng Hen was subsequently reported to
have sent PAP members to respond to its critics.
There is
little doubt that the PAP is trying to ameliorate the
overwhelming negative sentiment against it in cyberspace. The
question is whether it tries to do this under disguise or in more
blatant ways. The answer is probably both.
In this
regard, we call on our supporters and friends on the Internet to
be extra vigilant and to jealously guard the only space that we
have left in Singapore where information and discussion can flow
without obfuscation and censorship by PAP gate-keepers.
Previously, the SDP has been held hostage by the
mainstream media. We depended on them to disseminate our news.
But they have censored our information with a vengeance –
and still do. A quick comparison with what is going on in this
website with what has been reported in the newspapers and TV
tells you the whole story.
Not only that, the newspapers
have repeatedly refused to give us the right of reply when they
write reports about us that contain half-truths and outright
lies.
But with the Internet, the equation has altered. We
now use this website not only to provide information about the
party and our platforms, but also to build-capacity and organise
our activities.
This website is, with few exceptions,
updated on a daily basis. We have made use of new technology to
make our communication with our fellow Singaporeans more
effective and will continue to look to improve on this.
In
fact, we are in the process of enhancing the capabilities of this
website to further spread our message of democracy and political
reform in Singapore. We will announce the changes in the coming
weeks.
The one thing that cannot be said about the
Singapore Democrats is that we come alive only during election
time and hibernate during the interim.
Given all this,
however, it would be surprising if we also did not attract
attention from mischief-makers in cyberspace, especially those of
the autocratic kind.
These encounters, and there have
been a few, only proves to us that the SDP is pushing in the
right direction and that we need to crank up a notch in our fight
for justice and freedom in Singapore. In the meantime, we
will monitor the present problem and rectify it.
We
therefore ask you, our cyber-supporters, to help us spread the
word about this website and to encourage your family and friends
to visit us here.
Democracy, onward march!
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