Blogs raising tensions and inciting ethnic intolerance

As we head into the campaign period, the role of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission in clamping down on hate mongers is critical.

There is a proliferation of new channels of information and gossip packaged as news and this is becoming a headache for the watchdogs. While the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and the media, it puts an equally strong emphasis on national cohesion.

The social media is the new frontier for pushing the limits of free speech. Nothing illustrates this more than the numerous blogs that have become a favourite for those looking for alternative news, albeit spiced with a heavy dose of unverified claims.

The salacious nature of such blogs inevitably drives traffic to the sites. Unfortunately, the owners of the same do little to moderate the comments that come through in reaction to stories posted.

Political stories in particular attract the kind of demented vitriol disguised as comment that can only qualify as hate speech.

There is no attempt to moderate the comments, some of which have the potential to ignite simmering ethnic hostilities.

The NCIC appears to be asleep on the job. It should not be seen to be in more of a hurry to pillory politicians and musicians yet ignoring bloggers who also do their bit poison the political climate ahead of the General Election.

Justify extensions

It is not enough for a blogger to place a rider at the end of a comments section calling for moderation when he or she does little to contain the hate-filled language.

In a climate where presidential aspirants are building ethnic voting blocs to lock out other communities, and with the coming ICC trials having been politicised, the NCIC officials must justify the extension of their contracts by Parliament and crack down on such blogs.