23 NOVEMBER 2006
The World Forum for Democratization in Asia (WFDA) strongly condemns the
jail sentence passed on one of our Steering Committee members, Dr. Chee Soon
Juan, Chairman of the Alliance of Reform and Democracy in Asia (ARDA). The
Subordinate Court of Singapore today sentenced him to five weeks in prison
for the “crime” of speaking in public without a valid permit; his term began
today. Two of his colleagues from the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), Mr.
Gandhi Ambalam and Mr. Yap Keng Ho, were also sentenced to shorter terms.
The “offense” for which they were convicted was an instance of speaking to
passing citizens as they were selling the party newspaper on the street on
22 April of this year.
This is yet another step in the ongoing judicial persecution of Dr. Chee and
the members of the SDP. Dr. Chee has already been bankrupted and deprived of
his civil rights, including the right to travel, as a result of a libel suit
by Singapore's strongman Lee Kuan Yew and then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.
Similarly, a critical article in the party’s newspaper in the run-up to the
general elections in May 2006 has resulted in a further libel suit against
the whole party leadership, including ARDA’s Secretary General and one of
its staff members, who are likely to be rendered bankrupt at a separate
hearing tomorrow (24 November). Dr. Chee also faces a further trial in
December on charges of attempting to leave the country to attend the World
Movement for Democracy Fourth Assembly earlier this year.
These actions have not taken place in a vacuum. In recent weeks, amendments
to the Penal Code have been drafted to further restrict and criminalize many
forms of speech, including internet content, drawing complaints from several
international media organizations. In September, the Far Eastern Economic
Review was banned, and accredited civil society representatives from many
countries were refused entry for the IMF/World Bank meetings.
We call on the judiciary of Singapore to live up to its proper mission to
uphold the rule of law by protecting the basic human rights of all
Singaporean citizens, including the right to free speech and participation
in public affairs. In particular, it should immediately cease this
politically motivated persecution of Dr. Chee, overturn his prison sentence,
and restore all his civil rights, including the right to stand for office
and the unfettered right to international travel.
We further call on the international community, especially democracies in
Asia and beyond, to place issues of human rights firmly on the agenda in
their relations with Singapore. The government of Singapore must be made to
understand that such repressive tactics are not compatible with Singapore’s
image as an advanced society. This process should begin at the upcoming 12th
ASEAN Summit -- with its theme “One Caring and Sharing Community” – and the
2nd East Asian Summit, as well as in all relevant meetings with ASEAN
dialogue partners.
ENDS
For Further Inquiries:
Bo Tedards, Coordinator, WFDA
+886-2-2708-0100, ext. 212
bo@taiwandemocracy.org.tw
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