Human rights defender and pro-democracy activist Chee Soon Juan has been sentenced to jail for three weeks in Singapore for refusing to pay a fine slapped on him for trying to leave the country unauthorised and while bankrupt. Amnesty International Canada has organised an appeal for his release.
Chee, leader of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), was fined 4,000 Singaporean Dollars (US$2,600) or three weeks in prison in default of payment after he tried to attend a democracy conference in Turkey in April 2006. Last week, the High Court dismissed his appeal and upheld his conviction.
Chee was declared bankrupt in February 2006 for refusing to pay 500,000 Singaporean Dollars (US$328,900) in libel damages to former Prime Ministers Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong.
Amnesty has repeatedly expressed concern about defamation suits, bankruptcies and criminal charges used or threatened against government critics, human rights activists and foreign news media, which have lead to a climate of political intimidation and self-censorship in Singapore. Freedom of expression is tightly controlled by the People's Action Party, which has been in power for more than 40 years with almost no opposition MPs.
According to Amnesty, Chee has made a dozen applications to travel abroad to attend human rights and democracy meetings, all of which have been rejected. Chee has been jailed five times since 1999 for speaking in public without a permit, and for questioning the independence of Singapore's judiciary.
Despite the loss of his university position, several terms of imprisonment, bankruptcy and a ban on his contesting parliamentary elections, Chee continues to speak out about human rights and democracy. Before his arrest, he was planning a counter-conference on 17 October to the International Bar Association (IBA)'s international symposium in Singapore on the rule of law. Judging by IBA's panels and speakers - high flyers from the Singapore government - Chee did not expect human rights violations and misuse of the law would make it onto the agenda. His parallel conference will feature its own high-profile lawyers, politicians and activists who will prevent the IBA panel from "hijacking the idea and the practice of the rule of law," and also meet with IBA officials to get human rights on the "official" agenda.
Eh honestly ah, he can go on and on about human rights but even if i let him say what he wants to say i think he oso no constructive ideas on how to run the country
then just ignore him lor
Evil bloody LKY and PAP gang will do anything to make their opponents suffer like shit. PAP is a selfish party who care only making money. LKY, we are waiting for you to pass on. There will be celebrations all over Singapore once you report to hell. Hallelujah!
Originally posted by Fantagf:Evil bloody LKY and PAP gang will do anything to make their opponents suffer like shit. PAP is a selfish party who care only making money. LKY, we are waiting for you to pass on. There will be celebrations all over Singapore once you report to hell. Hallelujah!
Dun lah, if he goes, we still hv to spend alots on fireworks and all those parade,...very expensive taxpayer money to cover all
The Lee Kuan Yew family is one of the lowliest people you could ever find on this planet.
Arrogant, cruel to the point of psychotic, evil, without moral restraints and liars.
It is such a shame that that kind of people who have lost any moral authority to govern are being allowed to rule a nation.
the fact that the Lee dynasty are terrible people doesn't take away the fact that CSJ is a clown and charlatan
Originally posted by the Bear:the fact that the Lee dynasty are terrible people doesn't take away the fact that CSJ is a clown and charlatan
He's not a clown and a charlatan(whatever that means) just because he's standing up to a corrupt system. He's a man with balls and a strong conviction to what he's fighting for.
Originally posted by Chris88110:Human rights defender and pro-democracy activist Chee Soon Juan has been sentenced to jail for three weeks in Singapore for refusing to pay a fine slapped on him for trying to leave the country unauthorised and while bankrupt. Amnesty International Canada has organised an appeal for his release.
Chee, leader of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), was fined 4,000 Singaporean Dollars (US$2,600) or three weeks in prison in default of payment after he tried to attend a democracy conference in Turkey in April 2006. Last week, the High Court dismissed his appeal and upheld his conviction.
Chee was declared bankrupt in February 2006 for refusing to pay 500,000 Singaporean Dollars (US$328,900) in libel damages to former Prime Ministers Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong.
Amnesty has repeatedly expressed concern about defamation suits, bankruptcies and criminal charges used or threatened against government critics, human rights activists and foreign news media, which have lead to a climate of political intimidation and self-censorship in Singapore. Freedom of expression is tightly controlled by the People's Action Party, which has been in power for more than 40 years with almost no opposition MPs.
According to Amnesty, Chee has made a dozen applications to travel abroad to attend human rights and democracy meetings, all of which have been rejected. Chee has been jailed five times since 1999 for speaking in public without a permit, and for questioning the independence of Singapore's judiciary.
Despite the loss of his university position, several terms of imprisonment, bankruptcy and a ban on his contesting parliamentary elections, Chee continues to speak out about human rights and democracy. Before his arrest, he was planning a counter-conference on 17 October to the International Bar Association (IBA)'s international symposium in Singapore on the rule of law. Judging by IBA's panels and speakers - high flyers from the Singapore government - Chee did not expect human rights violations and misuse of the law would make it onto the agenda. His parallel conference will feature its own high-profile lawyers, politicians and activists who will prevent the IBA panel from "hijacking the idea and the practice of the rule of law," and also meet with IBA officials to get human rights on the "official" agenda.
How about this...
Release him after he spend some time in a place where he can get food and lodging for free.
Originally posted by Chris88110:Human rights defender and pro-democracy activist Chee Soon Juan has been sentenced to jail for three weeks in Singapore for refusing to pay a fine slapped on him for trying to leave the country unauthorised and while bankrupt. Amnesty International Canada has organised an appeal for his release.
Chee, leader of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), was fined 4,000 Singaporean Dollars (US$2,600) or three weeks in prison in default of payment after he tried to attend a democracy conference in Turkey in April 2006. Last week, the High Court dismissed his appeal and upheld his conviction.
Chee was declared bankrupt in February 2006 for refusing to pay 500,000 Singaporean Dollars (US$328,900) in libel damages to former Prime Ministers Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong.
Amnesty has repeatedly expressed concern about defamation suits, bankruptcies and criminal charges used or threatened against government critics, human rights activists and foreign news media, which have lead to a climate of political intimidation and self-censorship in Singapore. Freedom of expression is tightly controlled by the People's Action Party, which has been in power for more than 40 years with almost no opposition MPs.
According to Amnesty, Chee has made a dozen applications to travel abroad to attend human rights and democracy meetings, all of which have been rejected. Chee has been jailed five times since 1999 for speaking in public without a permit, and for questioning the independence of Singapore's judiciary.
Despite the loss of his university position, several terms of imprisonment, bankruptcy and a ban on his contesting parliamentary elections, Chee continues to speak out about human rights and democracy. Before his arrest, he was planning a counter-conference on 17 October to the International Bar Association (IBA)'s international symposium in Singapore on the rule of law. Judging by IBA's panels and speakers - high flyers from the Singapore government - Chee did not expect human rights violations and misuse of the law would make it onto the agenda. His parallel conference will feature its own high-profile lawyers, politicians and activists who will prevent the IBA panel from "hijacking the idea and the practice of the rule of law," and also meet with IBA officials to get human rights on the "official" agenda.
How about this...
Release him after he spend some time in a place where he can get food and lodging for free.