|
|
|
SDP
expresses wish to see victims of PAP repression speak at IBA
conference
22 Mar 07
22 March 2007
Dear
Mr Ellis,
It is gratifying to know that the IBA will
organise a panel discussion specifically focused on the human
rights situation in Singapore and that it will be open to the
Singaporean public. I also welcome the news that concrete
proposals vis-à-vis the problems surrounding the lack of
the rule of law in Singapore will be studied and presented.
In
my previous letter, I suggested that victims of repression in
Singapore – those who have been detained without trial,
sued for defamation, and imprisoned for exercising their
political rights – be invited to speak at the panel
discussion. Apart from being able to present first-hand accounts
of the repression that goes on in Singapore, we would be able to
apprise your participants of the clever use of laws by the ruling
party to stifle the rule of law and human rights.
For
example, the Public Entertainment and Meetings Act ensures that
only pro-Government rallies and marches are allowed to be staged.
Even protests such as the displaying of placards or wearing of
T-shirts that the Government deems political can be punished
under this law.
The Newspaper and Printing Presses Act
stipulates that Singaporeans cannot own and run newspaper
businesses.
The Defamation Act has enabled ruling party
leaders to sue and make bankrupt their political opponents. The
Act was amended in 1991 so that the plaintiffs could get summary
judgments and avoid going to court where they would have to take
the stand and be put under public scrutiny.
The Bankruptcy
Act is used to prevent opposition leaders from standing for
elections and to campaign for their colleagues.
The
Political Donations Act was introduced in 2001 to ensure that
NGOs that are identified as "political" by the
Government are prohibited from receiving financial support from
international democracy-assistance foundations.
The Films
Act allows the Government to prosecute filmmakers who produce
material critical of the ruling party whilst allowing the
state-run TV stations a free hand to glamorize leaders of the
Government.
The ruling party has put into good use the
infamous Internal Security Act to detain without trial its
political and parliamentary opponents and to cripple the
Opposition.
And if all else fails, the Miscellaneous
Offences Act is invoked to ensure that political activities are
curbed.
These are just some of the myriad of laws that the
Singapore Government uses to cripple democratic activity in
Singapore. Very few people are familiar with these laws and, more
significantly, how they are employed. It is therefore vitally
important that speakers who are knowledgeable about such an issue
be invited as part of the panel.
Otherwise the discussion
would not serve its intended purpose and, worse, it would allow
Singapore's establishment to hijack the topic. This would also
compromise the IBA's fact-finding mission.
I appreciate
the difficulty of the IBA putting up position letters on the
front page of its website. At the same time, however, I don't
think there has been so much controversy before surrounding the
choice of venue for an IBA Annual Conference. Perhaps it could be
reflected on your website the concern the Singaporean and
international human rights communities have with Singapore
hosting this prestigious IBA event. It would certainly be more
reflective of reality than the portrayal of Singapore purely as a
destination for the carnal and the mundane. I would like to think
that my country has more to offer than that which appeals only to
the flesh.
I look forward to cooperating with you to see
how we can ensure a meaningful way of dealing with the problems
of human rights in Singapore. Thank you.
Chee Soon
Juan
Secretary-General
Singapore Democratic Party
|
|
