A RESPECTFUL PRESS?

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000503820008-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 20, 2012
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: February 17, 1987
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

ST
ARTICLE APPEARS, '1E'A YORK TIMES
ON PAGE _PA 17 February 1987
ABROAD AT HOME Anthony Lewis
A Respectful Press?
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/20: CIA-RDP90-60965R000503820008-9
BOSTON
1here are always Americans un-
happy with our tradition of a
free and aggressive press. The
country could be run so much more
effectively, they argue, if you in the
press did not keep raising doubts
about the Government. Why can't you
show some respect?
The respect theory is being tested
now in a case that engages the views
of one of our vigorous press critics,
Herbert Schmertz. As the Mobil Cor-
poration's vice president for public
affairs, Mr. Schmertz has cam-
paigned to make it easier to sue the
press for libel. Lately he has also
written a column distributed by the
Heritage Foundation.
In a column from Singapore last
July Mr. Schmertz looked approv-
ingly at the way the press is disci-
plined in that country. He quoted with
relish some harsh comments by Sin-
nathamby Rajaratnam, a cabinet
minister who was no doubt reflecting
the view of Singapore's leader, Prime
Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
Mr. Rajaratnam denounced what
he called "James Bond journalists,"
Western reporters who thought they
had "an 007 license to destroy the
reputation of leaders and govern-
ments in Southeast Asia with impuni-
ty." He said the Singapore Govern-
ment could accept constructive criti-
cism - but not these reporters' impli-
cation that "cabinet officers, bureau-
crats and businessmen here did not
all know what they were doing."
At that time the Lee Government
was putting through Parliament a
law aimed at those disrespectful jour-
nalists. The act authorized restric-
tions on the circulation of any foreign
publication found - by the Govern-
ment - to be "engaging in the domes-
tic politics of Singapore." Mr.
Schmertz noted the legislation with-
out criticism.
"Quite obviously," Mr. Schmertz
said, "Singaporean leaders ... fear
that unduly dramatic or exaggerated
coverage of Singapore's present eco-
nomic difficulties may seriously in-
jure the trade and foreign investment
upon which this tiny city-state de-
pends."
Last week, using its new press law,
Singapore ordered The Asian Wall
Street Journal to cut its circulation
there from 5,000 copies a day to 400. It
did so after the editors refused to print
an official's letter that they considered
inaccurate and unfair.
The letter denounced an article in
The Journal about a new second-tier
Singapore stock market. The article
said some people thought the Govern-
ment would use the market "to un-
load state-controlled and govern-
ment-backed companies."-That was
indeed a widely held view in the ttnan-
cial community. But the Government
said the statement amounted to a
malicious insinuation that it planned
"to cheat its own citizens."
This was the second punishment of
a foreign publication under the new
press law. Time magazine had its cir-
culation in Singapore cut from 18,000
to 2,000 when it carried an article
about the punishment of an opposition
politician and then refused to print an
fll
official's letter about it. The-*" I
press has also felt the heat.
What is happening in Singapore is
plain enough. Mr. Lee, who has
achieved much over his 28 years in
power, is growing increasingly sensi-
tive as the economy turns sour -and
increasingly intolerant of criticism.
Will the clampdown on the -press
produce better government in Singa-
pore? That is the respect theory: Re-
strict the press to supportive com-
ment, and a country's life will be
calmer and better.
But experience and reason suggest
that the opposite will happen. Faulty
government policies, if they are not
A test
case in
Singapore.
subject to real criticism, grow worse.
Autocrats become more autocratic.
Can anyone really believe that re-
pression of criticism leads to effi-
ciency in a society, to new ideas?
Look at the Soviet Union. Or look at
Britain, which despite its democratic
character has the most repressive
press laws of any major Western
country - and the worst record of
failed government policy.
Mr. Schmertz said Singapore lead-
ers'`won accept the damage to their
country~thiat)wiil3result from brig
libeled by journalists. He conclud-
ed: "That's aii idea- a government
protectin& itself from the_ damage
caused by libels about it not dis-
simll'ir to the important issues raised
-15y-C.I.A. Director William Casey in
his recent efforts to protect secrets
affecting the national security."
After Iran, no one needs to be told
the real reason William Casey and
others sought more secrecy. They
wanted to be able to conceal disaster.
Like officials in Singapore, they
wanted to avoid criticism. They
wanted to hobble the press so the
American Government could exer-
cise power without accountability. U
4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/20: CIA-RDP90-00965R000503820008-9