CALD Statement No. 1 S. 2008

Statement of the CALD Secretary General SDP must be allowed democratic space in Singapore

The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), chair party of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), is on the brink of shutting down as one of the strident opposition parties calling for democratic reform in Singapore. For years, SPD has been in the forefront of political dissent in Singapore, openly challenging the autocratic policies in the government.

In 2006, the Lees sued the SDP for defamation after the party published in its newsletter comparing the running of Singapore to scandal involving charity. Dr. Chee Soon Juan, SDP Secretary General and CALD Chair, and Ms. Chee Siok Chin, member of the SDP Central Executive Committee, are also being sued for not apologizing to the plaintiffs. Dr. Chee and Ms. Chee have already been made bankrupt in previous legal actions.

The party will know its fate on May 12, 2008 when it goes to court to face the lawsuits filed by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and his son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Ms. Chee Siok Chin has called upon various groups and leading organizations including the Liberal International, the world federation of liberal democratic political parties and individuals from which CALD is a regional cooperating organization, to appeal and intervene in this matter.

The CALD leadership strongly appeals to the liberal family to get involved and accord the necessary attention to the unjust processes that attends this case.

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