CSJ - You better dun badmouth us
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Next time when ST interview ppl they must take down IC number and phone number so that later on readers can call up and verify with them wat they say.Originally posted by pikamaster:You expect NMPs to make objective comments, especially when they might be controlled by the Party through invisible strings?
Don't you find it in th least weird that no supporter is quoted at all, that all the comments come from either Ernest Chee or "Party Sources" which are not even specified? How worthy are these anonymous sources, do you think?
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Amnesty launches appeal for Chee
AMNESTY International (AI) has launched a letter-writing campaign on behalf of Singapore Democratic Party chief Chee Soon Juan, saying it was concerned that a defamation ruling could bankrupt him and prevent him from seeking election to Parliament.
An e-mail message initiated by AI Canada urged people to approach their local MPs to write to the Singapore Government and to 'request an initiative by Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs'.
They were also asked to 'seek publicity in your local media' and write to President S R Nathan and Mr Vanu Gopala Menon, Singapore's Permanent Representative to the United Nations who is also the High Commissioner to Canada.
A note accompanying the Sept 24 statement suggested that those outside Canada 'can adapt the appeal for use in your own country'.
The statement explained that Dr Chee faced a defamation suit brought against him by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew for remarks made during the 2001 election campaign.
Amnesty described Dr Chee as someone 'recognised internationally as a human rights defender' and referred to a 'pattern of potentially ruinous defamation suits' against opposition politicians.
'Damages now are being spoken of in the US$500,000 (S$850,000) range, with legal costs of approximately US$200,000, which he states he cannot pay,' the statement said of the defamation suit.
'Bankruptcy proceedings would then be started against him and, as a bankrupt, he would not be allowed to seek a parliamentary seat. He is being accused of having foreign links with such organisations as Amnesty International, Parliamentarians for Global Action and Human Rights Watch.'
Amnesty said letters to President Nathan and Mr Menon should note previous instances of defamation suits and cases against opposition politicians J.B. Jeyaretnam and Tang Liang Hong, and should call for an end 'to the use of libel suits'.
A High Court hearing was held on Sept 6 to assess damages Dr Chee must pay Mr Goh and Mr Lee. Dr Chee did not attend the hearing.
But he asked for, and has been given, an opportunity to convince the court as to why he thinks the hearing should be reconvened.
The court sits tomorrow and will hear arguments from him and the lawyers for Mr Goh and Mr Lee.
Amnesty was one of 13 foreign groups that Dr Chee had kept informed when he wrote to the courts asking that the hearing be reconvened.
He is already barred from standing for election for five years, having been fined $4,500 in 2002 for trying to provide unlicensed public entertainment.
He chose to go to jail rather than pay the fine. -
Perhaps, the Party to exert Psychological pressure like it has done last year at Parliament: remember the them-PM scolding off MPs for "singing the tune of the opposition"?Originally posted by The Barracuda:Are the strings real or imaginary ?
The govt has a choice of who they want to choose to be NMPs but once they are in parliament, the NMPs have have a choice of what they want to say. They may have limited voting powers but they have the right to speak and be heard.
The NMPs represent the professional sector, business and industry, labour movement, tertiary institutions, social and community services and the media, arts and sports. They are not linked to political parties.
Walter Woon who table the Maintenace of parents bill is a govt critic. But he was select to be an NMP as well as the other representatives of other NGOs. They are members of our society who have participate and lead our grassroot organisation.
To say that the NMPs cannot make objective comments and are controlled through invisible strings is an unfair and unjust comment.
THink about it, The Party really does control everything in the country, doesn't it? freedom in parliament may not exactly extend to outside of parliament.
THough I conceed, NMPs should be more objective than Ruling Party MPs.
the pikamaster -
What I meant was: At Least ST should provide the names of their sources, like they do with other stuff, like Nicoll Highway Inquiry. Of course, perhaps they could be hindered by Official Secrets, which might have deformed into Party Secrets by now.Originally posted by paperchicken:Next time when ST interview ppl they must take down IC number and phone number so that later on readers can call up and verify with them wat they say.
the still objective pikamaster -
So ppl dun want to give their names during interviews wat can the reporter do ? Do tell me pikamaster is your real name.Originally posted by pikamaster:What I meant was: At Least ST should provide the names of their sources, like they do with other stuff, like Nicoll Highway Inquiry. Of course, perhaps they could be hindered by Official Secrets, which might have deformed into Party Secrets by now.
the still objective pikamaster
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Maybe thats an official secret he cant tell.Originally posted by papertiger:So ppl dun want to give their names during interviews wat can the reporter do ? Do tell me pikamaster is your real name. -
haha. Forums are very different from Newspapers, man.Originally posted by papertiger:So ppl dun want to give their names during interviews wat can the reporter do ? Do tell me pikamaster is your real name.
Newspapers require credibility, especially if they are making claims; they are supposed to be non-biased information sources. Forums are meant to provide a venue for people to express their opinions and feelings without fear of repurcussions.
the humored pikamaster -
its the same as in newspaper wat. ppl dun give names because they fear repurcussions.Originally posted by pikamaster:haha. Forums are very different from Newspapers, man.
Newspapers require credibility, especially if they are making claims; they are supposed to be non-biased information sources. Forums are meant to provide a venue for people to express their opinions and feelings without fear of repurcussions.
the humored pikamaster -
here's a question: How do reporters interview people if they dun even know who the person is?Originally posted by paperchicken:its the same as in newspaper wat. ppl dun give names because they fear repurcussions.