It was meant to be a ceremony to recognize one man’s contributions to freedom and democracy. Like a true leader, however, that man drew attention attention away from himself to highlight other people’s role in the long and difficult struggle to democratize Singapore. Like a true leader, he said that while he was honored to be recognized, what he longed for, more than anything else, is “to win that ultimate prize of freedom for the people of Singapore.”
That man is Chee Soon Juan – recipient of Liberal International’s Prize for Freedom 2011. In a deeply emotional and moving ceremony at Singapore’s Furama Hotel on 3 November 2011, more than a hundred friends and invited guests joined officials of Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), Liberal International (LI), International Network of Liberal Women (INLW) and Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty (FNF) in a “ceremony of reflection and hope.”
Drawing attention to the political persecution of Dr. Chee, CALD Chair Rajiva Wijesinha remarked: “The reason Dr. Chee was treated so badly… was because he took on the Singapore regime on its own terms. Indeed he could have been a favoured son of that regime had he not believed that freedom is not only about economic freedom but also about political and social freedom. From a Liberal standpoint, asserting the importance of all freedoms, he exposed the pretensions of the People’s Action Party.”
LI President Hans van Baalen highlighted Dr. Chee’s tireless struggle for democracy: “We admire your record and the dedication of your life to freedom, democracy and human rights.” Referring to the disjuncture between Singapore’s economic growth and political development, the LI President argued: “With democracy, Singapore would be a cleaner, more beautiful, and more prospherous city.”
In his moving acceptance speech, Dr. Chee reiterated his enduring call to fellow Singaporeans: “Let us have the confidence to see that we have the ability to change the system, not yield to it; that we can win over public opinion, not pander to it. In other words let us be leaders, not just politicians… We can – and will – succeed but only if we stop spending our time doubting our own ability and losing our focus of doing the hard work of organising ourselves and planning our strategies. The parents of change are persistence and perseverance. There is no short cut.”
Messages of solidarity were also given by LI Secretary General Emil Kirjas, FNF Regional Project Coordinator Juliane Schmucker, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD) Vice President Maysing Yang, and Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) Treasurer Vincent Wijeysingha. A video tribute was also prepared containing the messages of FNF Philippines Country Director Jules Maaten, Philippine Budget Minister and former CALD Chair Butch Abad, and Philippine Environmental Protection Minister and CALD Secretary General Neric Acosta.
In his video message, Acosta said to Dr. Chee: “You may be far away in Singapore, suffering, sacrificing for the greater cause of freedom and democracy all over the world, but we have all taken notice, all through these years, and we salute you for the inspiration, example and the enduring sense of solidarity that you continue to show us.”
Categorised in: News Article
This post was written by CALD
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