(March 23, 2006 / Manila) In a resolution signed by CALD Chairman and Philippine Senate President Franklin Drilon, , the Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats expressed its concern over the conviction and incarceration of Dr. Chee Soon Juan, Secretary General of the Singapore Democratic Party.
Dr. Chee, an outspoken critic of the Singapore government, was imprisoned last March 17, 2006 after being sentenced by High Court Justice Lai Siu Chiu for contempt in court to one day in jail and an additional seven days jail since he did not pay the fine of S $ 6,000.
The same resolution commented that civil suits are being utilized by the Singaporean government against the opposition. It echoed the observation of the International Commission of Jurists that defamation suits “have done little to overcome the courts’ reputation as improperly compliant to the interests of the country’s ruling People’s Action Party”.
CALD reiterated its conviction that the interests of Singapore are best served by the Singaporean government’s adherence to its own constitution that provides for freedom of speech and assembly and to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Please click here for a copy of the resolution.
Categorised in: News Article
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