Singapore
Defamation Suit Monitoring: July 31st to August 4th 2006
Richard Gibbs Q.C. went to Singapore to observe and report on defamation proceedings against Dr. Chee Soon Juan and Chee Siok Chin set for hearing on August 3rd, 2006 in the High Court of the Republic of Singapore in two actions brought by the former and present Prime Ministers:
o Lee Kuan Yew v. Singapore Democratic Party et al - case No. S262/2006Q
o Lee Hsein Loong v. Singapore Democratic Party et al – case No. S261/2006Q
Dr. Chee Soon Juan has long been the target of persecution for speaking publicly on human rights and governance issues. Dr. Chee is the Secretary-General of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), the small opposition to the PeopleÂ’s Action Party (PAP) that has been in power for almost five decades. Chee Siok Chin was a candidate for SDP in the last election. Earlier this year, Dr. Chee was declared a bankrupt for failure to pay S$500,000 damages awarded in a civil defamation suit brought by two PAP former Prime Ministers, Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong.
Gibbs was denied access to the August 3rd 2006 proceedings when the proceedings were moved from the courtroom to the judgeÂ’s office and Justice Woo Bih Li refused Dr. CheeÂ’s request to have Mr. Gibbs present. Also present in the courtroom and denied access were many members of the press and a representative of Amnesty International. In September at a summary hearing, the court gave judgment for the plaintiffs (Lee and Lee) and damages have yet to be assessed.
The use of civil defamation suits in Singapore by high level PAP members against critics has proven an effective tool to prevent opposition at the parliamentary level and to punish human rights defenders. Excessive damage awards and unfair bankruptcy proceedings have severely restricted the ability of PAP critics J.B. Jeyaretnam, Dr. Chee and Ms Chee to participate in public affairs by barring them from public office. In Singapore judgment debtors, where the judgment debt exceeds S$2,000, are barred from public office for a period of 5 years from the date of judgment. Undischarged bankrupts are also barred from public office. This use of defamation and bankruptcy laws has also had a chilling effect on the willingness of lawyers in Singapore to represent defendants in politically sensitive cases brought by PAP members.
On November 23rd 2006, Dr. Chee was sentenced to five weeks imprisonment for refusing to pay a fine for speaking in public without a permit. Organizations publishing statements critical of the conviction and imprisonment included: LRWC, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
Source:
Lawyers' Rights Watch CanadaCountries cited in the report includes Guatemala, Cambodia, Philippines and China. I have no qualms about us being group together with North Korea by World Audit in terms of Democracy.