S'pore's opposition leader Dr Chee and members jailed
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http://news.asiaone.com.sg/a1news/20061123_story5_1.html
Nov 23, 2006
AsiaOne
SINGAPORE Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan was jailed for five weeks today after he refused to pay a $5,000 fine imposed by a court for speaking in public without a permit.
Also jailed were SDP member Gandhi Ambalam and party supporter Yap Keng Ho for a similar speaking offence on April 22, two weeks before the May 6 General Election. Ambalam was jailed for three weeks, and Yap, 10 days, when they, too, refused to pay the fines of $3,000 and $2,000 respectively. The maximum fine is $10,000.
An AFP report said that the trio came to court ready with their personal belongings before being hauled off to jail. Chee hugged his wife and three young children before police led him away.
Chee, 44, denounced his trial as a farce. He the told the court before the verdict was read: "Every hour, every day, every month that I spend in jail only strengthens my resolve to fight." He said he had "absolutely no remorse" for his actions, and vowed to continue fighting for democracy in the city-state.
He also slammed the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act (PEMA), which prohibits public speaking without a police permit.
Reuters quoted him as telling the court: "The PEMA has been used by the PAP to prosecute and deter legitimate political activity."
In September, Chee attempted to defy a government ban on protests during the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in Singapore.
Chee was bankrupted and barred from standing in elections after failing to pay S$500,000 in libel damages to Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong for comments he made during the 2001 elections.
The SDP did not win any parliament seats in the May election, but won 23 per cent of the votes in the wards that it contested.
The three opted to remain silent in their defence during the trial, which ended on Nov 9. They said they had decided to boycott the trial "in protest of our treatment in this court."
Yap was prepared to go to jail when the trial ended. He told the court then: "I would not pay a fine, and I ask for the maximum sentence. And I am going on a hunger strike in prison to protest the series of daily oppression."
Chee and his sister, Chee Siok Chin, a central executive committee member of SDP,are also facing a defamation lawsuit from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and MM Lee over an article in the SDP's newsletter.
Ms Chee Siok Chin told Reuters that a group of SDP supporters would hold vigils outside the Queenstown Remand Prison to protest against the imprisonment. -
$5K only!
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the trial was indeed a farce. oh gawd.
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I really admire CSJ and his followers for the courage. To give up everything for a cause is not anyone can.
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I also admire his courage and the ability to face the music. At least I'm don't possess the courage to do that.Originally posted by NUS_Superst@r:I really admire CSJ and his followers for the courage. To give up everything for a cause is not anyone can. -
i feel sad for his wife n 3 kids.
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He is a passionate man...
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He has the guts to stand for what he believes in, which is more than what I can say for many of us.
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I feel sad for his wife and kids tooOriginally posted by monoslayer:i feel sad for his wife n 3 kids. -
I pray and hope his children will grow up to appreciate what their father has done in his own way to try and improve what he sees as wrong with Singapore.
The Public Entertainments Act is a piece of outdated legislation that should be scrapped. Why do we need a permit to speak in what clearly is a PUBLIC SPHERE.
Someone please knock the govt's head with the concept of a public space. -
I hope i can give a hard knock too...But dont have ability and power lar...not yet reach government doorstep already kana chase away...Originally posted by LazerLordz:I pray and hope his children will grow up to appreciate what their father has done in his own way to try and improve what he sees as wrong with Singapore.
The Public Entertainments Act is a piece of outdated legislation that should be scrapped. Why do we need a permit to speak in what clearly is a PUBLIC SPHERE.
Someone please knock the govt's head with the concept of a public space. -
There're alot of wrong in singapore..
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what does he believe in?
your enemy's enemy may not be your friend... remember that -
How many of the protesters here wore brown the past Sunday?
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I must say har.
At least CSJ is a responsible person. He stood by his conviction, undaunted by any threats. He makes a statement, let it be a slander or any accusation to anybody, and he won't run and hide like a mouse, looking for cover anywhere
Although I dislike his radical actions, I admire his courage to face all the consequences of his action and how he face all adversary. Isn't this the quality our Gahmen is looking for?
Unlike a certain elite, said something liao then run away, hide here hide there, then after people bue soong liao then look for daddy's cover. PUI! -
I wore, but I'm disappointed that so few wore brown in Vivocity on Sunday.Originally posted by Cindyfeh:How many of the protesters here wore brown the past Sunday?
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sigh ....
what a terrible mistake ....
if you let him be ... he'll just be a clown, gadfly ... funny sideshow ...
surround him with policemen and he becomes a hero ...
jail him and he becomes a martyr to some people ... tsk tsk tsk .... -
not as funny as the mps doing hip hop..Originally posted by Fatum:sigh ....
what a terrible mistake ....
if you let him be ... he'll just be a clown, gadfly ... funny sideshow ...
surround him with policemen and he becomes a hero ...
jail him and he becomes a martyr to some people ... tsk tsk tsk .... -
tsk tsk tsk, I dun think of him as a hero or what. I still think he is a clown. I only think highly of his courage of facing adverasary and the way he take responsiblity.Originally posted by Fatum:sigh ....
what a terrible mistake ....
if you let him be ... he'll just be a clown, gadfly ... funny sideshow ...
surround him with policemen and he becomes a hero ...
jail him and he becomes a martyr to some people ... tsk tsk tsk .... -
Originally posted by Hogzilla:
What radical actions? I haven't seen any of his actions considered radical (in a bad sense)? What he has said and shown so far is far more gentlemanly and "first world" then the PAP govt.
I must say har.
At least CSJ is a responsible person. He stood by his conviction, undaunted by any threats. He makes a statement, let it be a slander or any accusation to anybody, and he won't run and hide like a mouse, looking for cover anywhere
Although I dislike his radical actions, I admire his courage to face all the consequences of his action and how he face all adversary. Isn't this the quality our Gahmen is looking for?
Unlike a certain elite, said something liao then run away, hide here hide there, then after people bue soong liao then look for daddy's cover. [b]PUI![/b]
Singapore so called elite are but a bunch of gutless, unkind which borders down right evil lot. There are only a few honorable people in Singapore and they are unfortunately, constantly being persecuted by these evil lot. There are no honour nor righteousness in the Singaporean govt and I feel totally shameful for their self-serving, self-righteous attitude.
Serve us right for voting them in. Didn't we get what we have asked for? We are all guilty in persecuting Dr Chee and the other oppositions. We all have "blood" in our hands for letting these unworthy MIW rule over us. -
i wonder what his children think of him..?
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if i let Singapore be run by him, i don't think things will get any better either wayOriginally posted by Joe Black:What radical actions? I haven't seen any of his actions considered radical (in a bad sense)? What he has said and shown so far is far more gentlemanly and "first world" then the PAP govt.
Singapore so called elite are but a bunch of gutless, unkind which borders down right evil lot. There are only a few honorable people in Singapore and they are unfortunately, constantly being persecuted by these evil lot. There are no honour nor righteousness in the Singaporean govt and I feel totally shameful for their self-serving, self-righteous attitude.
Serve us right for voting them in. Didn't we get what we have asked for? We are all guilty in persecuting Dr Chee and the other oppositions. We all have "blood" in our hands for letting these unworthy MIW rule over us.
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Originally posted by Joe Black:What radical actions? I haven't seen any of his actions considered radical (in a bad sense)? What he has said and shown so far is far more gentlemanly and "first world" then the PAP govt.
Singapore so called elite are but a bunch of gutless, unkind which borders down right evil lot. There are only a few honorable people in Singapore and they are unfortunately, constantly being persecuted by these evil lot. There are no honour nor righteousness in the Singaporean govt and I feel totally shameful for their self-serving, self-righteous attitude.
Serve us right for voting them in. Didn't we get what we have asked for? We are all guilty in persecuting Dr Chee and the other oppositions. We all have "blood" in our hands for letting these unworthy MIW rule over us.
Exactly.. what radical actions?
Well, after posting a few times @ speaker's corner, I realised alot of people haven't actually bothered to find out more about opposition parties / politicians and details of the unfair trials - apart from our pro-PAP news coverage - before passing judgement.
It's hard to get fellow Singaporeans to think a little farther. Someone gets in trouble with the law, becomes bankrupt, goes to jail... and we stand back and just go "tsk tsk tsk". The person is automatically considered "problematic" and we won't take his/her actions seriously.
Some elites like to take a piss on those (whom they think are) below from their moral high horse. Apparently, so do normal Singaporeans. -
I agree.. But as much as we like to believe otherwise.. Most Singaporeans.. do read and believe our high scoring local media.Originally posted by spinsugar:
Exactly.. what radical actions?
Well, after posting a few times @ speaker's corner, I realised alot of people haven't actually bothered to find out more about opposition parties / politicians and details of the unfair trials - apart from our pro-PAP news coverage - before passing judgement.
It's hard to get fellow Singaporeans to think a little farther. Someone gets in trouble with the law, becomes bankrupt, goes to jail... and we stand back and just go "tsk tsk tsk". The person is automatically considered "problematic" and we won't take his/her actions seriously.
Some elites like to take a piss on those (whom they think are) below from their moral high horse. Apparently, so do normal Singaporeans. -
CSJ is really a darn steady man. Fight for what he wants and he will never give up. How many of us can be like him..