Laughable Fear of Cartoon

Cartoonists in Southeast Asia are facing pressure and are being muzzled when they criticize those in power. The rise of self-censorship weakens criticism.

Tempo

May 17, 2021

GOVERNMENTS should not see political cartoons as a threat. This visual art is not a force to overthrow governments, but a humorous way of expressing criticism. The muzzling of cartoonists by governments in a number of nations in Southeast Asia is a reflection of the fear and insecurity of anti-democratic regimes.

For democratic governments, criticism must be more open. Cartoons are created to criticize governments using cynicism or sarcasm. Fans

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