UN Special Rapporteur urged to intervene in Singapore’s repression of human rights defenders
30 May 2008 2:22 am
FORUM-ASIA has appealed to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo, for his intervention in the increased restriction of the right to freedom of opinion and expression of human rights defenders in Singapore.
Press Release
The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression is urged to intervene in Singapore’s repression of human rights defenders
(Bangkok, Friday, 30 May, 2008) The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) today has sent an appeal to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo, for his intervention in the increased restriction of the right to freedom of opinion and expression of human rights defenders in Singapore.
FORUM-ASIA has expressed its concern over two recent cases. First is the defamation lawsuit against Dr. Chee Soon Juan and Ms. Siok Chin Chee of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP). The lawsuit was filed by Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in regard to an article that the SDP published in its newsletter in 2006 comparing the running of Singapore to a scandal involving a charity. The second case is the raid conducted by the Media Development Authority (MDA) on Saturday, 17 May, 2008, on a private screening of the film One Nation Under Lee. The film is a critical narration of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew’s rise to power by championing democracy and then using his power to crush his opponents and the media.
According the FORUM-ASIA’s Acting Executive Director, Yap Swee Seng, “Under the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, human rights defenders have the right to seek, obtain, receive, and hold information relating to human rights, and to unhindered access to and communication with the public. The abovementioned cases clearly illustrate that there is an increasing trend of the infringement of this right of human rights defenders by the government of Singapore”.
The Singaporean government is known for its tight rein on freedom of expression and opinion in the country for the reason that it needs to maintain public order and social harmony. The local media is controlled through public ownership, and many foreign media and opposition leaders have been charged with civil defamation suits. FORUM-ASIA has urged Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo to intervene and take the necessary steps to urge the Singaporean government to respect the right to freedom of expression of human rights defenders.