Singapore defends race policies after UN envoy urges reform

SINGAPORE—Singapore has defended its race policies after a UN envoy called for reforms including lifting restrictions on the public discussion of sensitive issues like ethnicity, language and religion.

The foreign ministry said in a statement issued Wednesday that Singapore could not risk allowing such open discussions, stressing that the government, not the United Nations, would bear the consequences of ethnic strife.

Githu Muigai, the UN special rapporteur on racism, had proposed the reforms on Wednesday, at the end of a week-long visit to the city-state.

Although Singapore had taken steps to foster racial harmony and discourage intolerance, its efforts "may have created blind spots" he said.

Muigai, who will issue a report in June 2011 on Singapore, cited laws prohibiting the promotion of hostility between members of different ethnic groups, which he said limited public debate on race, language and religion.

While the laws were understandable, it was "necessary in a free society" that such restrictions "are not implemented at the detriment of fundamental human rights such as freedom of expression and freedom of assembly."

Muigai said Singaporeans should be allowed "to share their views on matters of ethnicity, to identify potential issues of discomfort and above all, work together to find solutions."

The foreign ministry said it "emphatically" disagreed with Muigai.

Race, religion and language can be discussed in Singapore but the limits were set to strike a balance between free expression and the preservation of racial and religious harmony, the ministry said.

"This balance is only for the Singapore government to determine because only the Singapore government bears the responsibility should things go wrong."

Singapore, a mainly ethnic Chinese nation of five million people with large Malay and Indian minorities, was wracked by race riots in the 1960s.

Race and religion are considered highly sensitive topics to this day despite widespread prosperity, and housing policies are designed to prevent ethnic enclaves from forming.

Muigai also urged Singapore to ratify several international treaties that "enshrine the fundamental principles of equality and non-discrimination."

The foreign ministry said it will accede to these conventions "if there is substantive value in doing so and we are prepared to implement all their provisions." - Agence France-Presse/inquirer.net, Posted date: April 29, 2010