DOCSLIB.ORG

Judicial Harassment of Journalist Is an Affront to Freedom of Expression

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Judicial Harassment of Journalist Is an Affront to Freedom of Expression Open letter to the authorities: Judicial harassment of journalist is an affront to freedom of expression Extract of Worldwide Movement for Human Rights https://www.fidh.org/en/region/asia/Singapore/Open-letter-to-the-authorities Open letter to the authorities: Judicial harassment of journalist is an affront to freedom of expression - [english] - Region - Asia - Singapore - Publication date: Friday 23 July 2010 Description: The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), representing 164 organisations across the world, is deeply concerned about the arrest of and charges leveled against British journalist Mr. Alan Shadrake on 18 July 2010, a day after he launched his book, Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice on the Dock, which contained evidence suggesting double standards in Singapore's policy and the use of the death penalty. Copyright © Worldwide Movement for Human Rights - All rights reserved Copyright © Worldwide Movement for Human Rights Page 1/3 Open letter to the authorities: Judicial harassment of journalist is an affront to freedom of expression The Honourable Mrs. Koh Juat Jong Acting Attorney-General The Attorney-General's Chambers Republic of Singapore Subject: Judicial harassment of journalist, an affront to freedom of expression Your Excellency, The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), representing 164 organisations across the world, is deeply concerned about the arrest of and charges leveled against British journalist Mr. Alan Shadrake on 18 July 2010, a day after he launched his book, Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice on the Dock, which contained evidence suggesting double standards in Singapore's policy and the use of the death penalty. According to information received, the arrest was made based on a complaint lodged by the Media Development Authority. According to court documents obtained by the media, your office accuses Mr. Shadrake for making allegations in his book that impugn on the impartiality, integrity and independence of the judiciary. During his detention at a police complex, he was reportedly kept awake for interrogation for extended period of time and he was asked to explain all chapters in his book, his research and the reasons behind authoring the book. Publishing a book of investigative journalism is not a crime, nor is peaceful expression of dissent, and by taking legal action against someone for doing so, Singapore is seriously undermining the freedom of expression and brings into question the independence and integrity of the very institution it is accusing Mr. Shadrake of impugning, namely its judiciary. While FIDH welcomes Mr. Shadrake's subsequent release on 20 July after posting bail, we remain troubled about the continued restriction of freedom of expression and the press in Singapore. The arrest and the legal action against Mr. Shadrake is the latest example in a worrying trend of suppression of opposition and criticisms through judicial intimidation. FIDH recalls that "in October 2009, former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, successfully brought a defamation suit against the "Far Eastern Economic Review" and its editor-in-chief Hugo Restall for a 2006 article based on an interview of an opposition politician who was critical of the ruling party. There have been other defamation lawsuits filed by the government against international media, including Bloomberg, "The Economist" and "The International Herald Tribune" and "Wall Street Journal", the latter for allegedly 'impugning the independence of Singapore's judiciary'. The judicial harassment of Mr. Shadrake for authoring a book critical of the use of the death penalty also creates a climate of fear and restricts the openness of the public discussion on sensitive issues, such as the death penalty. Furthermore, it underscores Singapore's refusal to take note of changing international opinion in favour of abolition of this inhuman practice and of empirical evidence and experience that strongly suggest that the death penalty is not an effective deterrent of crimes. Singapore's handling of the case of Mr. Shadrake will be a barometer of its readiness to match its economic progress as the most prosperous nation in ASEAN with strong commitment to adhere to the human rights clauses in the ASEAN Charter as well as the rights guaranteed by the United Nations Universal Declaration for Human Rights. FIDH sincerely hopes Singapore will end the use of judicial action against individuals or organisations peacefully expressing their opinions or dissent regarding governmental policies and actions. Thank you in advance for taking into consideration our concerns and recommendations. Copyright © Worldwide Movement for Human Rights Page 2/3 Open letter to the authorities: Judicial harassment of journalist is an affront to freedom of expression Sincerely yours, Souhayr Belhassen FIDH President Copied to : * The Honourable Mr. George Yong-Boon Yeo, Minister for Foreign Affairs * The Honourable Mr. K. Shanmugam, Minister of Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs * The Honourable Mr. Mr Lui Tuck Yew, Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts * The Media Development Authority Copyright © Worldwide Movement for Human Rights Page 3/3.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Why Are Gender Reforms Adopted in Singapore? Party Pragmatism and Electoral Incentives* Netina Tan
    Why Are Gender Reforms Adopted in Singapore? Party Pragmatism and Electoral Incentives* Netina Tan Abstract In Singapore, the percentage of elected female politicians rose from 3.8 percent in 1984 to 22.5 percent after the 2015 general election. After years of exclusion, why were gender reforms adopted and how did they lead to more women in political office? Unlike South Korea and Taiwan, this paper shows that in Singapore party pragmatism rather than international diffusion of gender equality norms, feminist lobbying, or rival party pressures drove gender reforms. It is argued that the ruling People’s Action Party’s (PAP) strategic and electoral calculations to maintain hegemonic rule drove its policy u-turn to nominate an average of about 17.6 percent female candidates in the last three elections. Similar to the PAP’s bid to capture women voters in the 1959 elections, it had to alter its patriarchal, conservative image to appeal to the younger, progressive electorate in the 2000s. Additionally, Singapore’s electoral system that includes multi-member constituencies based on plurality party bloc vote rule also makes it easier to include women and diversify the party slate. But despite the strategic and electoral incentives, a gender gap remains. Drawing from a range of public opinion data, this paper explains why traditional gender stereotypes, biased social norms, and unequal family responsibilities may hold women back from full political participation. Keywords: gender reforms, party pragmatism, plurality party bloc vote, multi-member constituencies, ethnic quotas, PAP, Singapore DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5509/2016892369 ____________________ Netina Tan is an assistant professor of political science at McMaster University.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Singapore's Dominant Party System
    Tan, Kenneth Paul (2017) “Singapore’s Dominant Party System”, in Governing Global-City Singapore: Legacies and Futures after Lee Kuan Yew, Routledge 1 Singapore’s dominant party system On the night of 11 September 2015, pundits, journalists, political bloggers, aca- demics, and others in Singapore’s chattering classes watched in long- drawn amazement as the media reported excitedly on the results of independent Singa- pore’s twelfth parliamentary elections that trickled in until the very early hours of the morning. It became increasingly clear as the night wore on, and any optimism for change wore off, that the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) had swept the votes in something of a landslide victory that would have puzzled even the PAP itself (Zakir, 2015). In the 2015 general elections (GE2015), the incumbent party won 69.9 per cent of the total votes (see Table 1.1). The Workers’ Party (WP), the leading opposition party that had five elected members in the previous parliament, lost their Punggol East seat in 2015 with 48.2 per cent of the votes cast in that single- member constituency (SMC). With 51 per cent of the votes, the WP was able to hold on to Aljunied, a five-member group representation constituency (GRC), by a very slim margin of less than 2 per cent. It was also able to hold on to Hougang SMC with a more convincing win of 57.7 per cent. However, it was undoubtedly a hard defeat for the opposition. The strong performance by the PAP bucked the trend observed since GE2001, when it had won 75.3 per cent of the total votes, the highest percent- age since independence.
    [Show full text]
  • Lee Kuan Yew V Chee Soon Juan (No 2)
    Lee Kuan Yew v Chee Soon Juan (No 2) [2005] SGHC 2 Case Number : Suit 1459/2001 Decision Date : 06 January 2005 Tribunal/Court : High Court Coram : Kan Ting Chiu J Counsel Name(s) : Davinder Singh SC, Hri Kumar, Nicolas Tang (Drew and Napier LLC) for the plaintiff; The defendant in person Parties : Lee Kuan Yew — Chee Soon Juan Tort – Defamation – Damages – Assessment of damages – Defendant alleging plaintiff mishandling nation's funds – Principles of assessment – Quantification of damages Civil Procedure – Reconvening hearing – Defendant not attending assessment of damages hearing – Defendant applying to reconvene such hearing – Defendant applying to cross-examine plaintiff and plaintiff's counsel in application to reconvene hearing – Factors to consider when deciding whether to grant defendant's applications to reconvene hearing and to cross-examine plaintiff and plaintiff's counsel at such reconvened hearing 6 January 2005 Judgment reserved. Kan Ting Chiu J: 1 This matter came before me for damages to be assessed following a finding that the defendant had defamed the plaintiff. 2 The plaintiff, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, was the Senior Minister of Singapore before he assumed the office of Minister Mentor on 12 August 2004. The defendant, Dr Chee Soon Juan, was and is the Secretary-General of the Singapore Democratic Party. 3 This action arose out of words the defendant said in the course of campaigning in the 2001 Parliamentary General Elections. The subject words 4 On 28 October 2001, the defendant spoke at an election rally at Nee Soon Central. He told his audience: Yesterday, Mr Lee Kuan Yew was at his best.
    [Show full text]
  • Lee Kuan Yew Continue to flow As Life Returns to Normal at a Market at Toa Payoh Lorong 8 on Wednesday, Three Days After the State Funeral Service
    TODAYONLINE.COM WE SET YOU THINKING SUNDAY, 5 APRIL 2015 SPECIAL EDITION MCI (P) 088/09/2014 The tributes to the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew continue to flow as life returns to normal at a market at Toa Payoh Lorong 8 on Wednesday, three days after the State Funeral Service. PHOTO: WEE TECK HIAN REMEMBERING MR LEE KUAN YEW SPECIAL ISSUE 2 REMEMBERING LEE KUAN YEW Tribute cards for the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew by the PCF Sparkletots Preschool (Bukit Gombak Branch) teachers and students displayed at the Chua Chu Kang tribute centre. PHOTO: KOH MUI FONG COMMENTARY Where does Singapore go from here? died a few hours earlier, he said: “I am for some, more bearable. Servicemen the funeral of a loved one can tell you, CARL SKADIAN grieved beyond words at the passing of and other volunteers went about their the hardest part comes next, when the DEPUTY EDITOR Mr Lee Kuan Yew. I know that we all duties quietly, eiciently, even as oi- frenzy of activity that has kept the mind feel the same way.” cials worked to revise plans that had busy is over. I think the Prime Minister expected to be adjusted after their irst contact Alone, without the necessary and his past week, things have been, many Singaporeans to mourn the loss, with a grieving nation. fortifying distractions of a period of T how shall we say … diferent but even he must have been surprised Last Sunday, about 100,000 people mourning in the company of others, in Singapore. by just how many did.
    [Show full text]
  • Transcript of a Press Conference Given by the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, at Broadcasting House, Singapore, A
    1 TRANSCRIPT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE GIVEN BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF SINGAPORE, MR. LEE KUAN YEW, AT BROADCASTING HOUSE, SINGAPORE, AT 1200 HOURS ON MONDAY 9TH AUGUST, 1965. Question: Mr. Prime Minister, after these momentous pronouncements, what most of us of the foreign press would be interested to learn would be your attitude towards Indonesia, particularly in the context of Indonesian confrontation, and how you view to conduct relations with Indonesia in the future as an independent, sovereign nation. Mr. Lee: I would like to phrase it most carefully because this is a delicate matter. But I think I can express my attitude in this way: We want to be friends with Indonesia. We have always wanted to be friends with Indonesia. We would like to settle any difficulties and differences with Indonesia. But we must survive. We have a right to survive. And, to survive, we must be sure that we cannot be just overrun. You know, invaded by armies or knocked out by rockets, if they have rockets -- which they have, ground-to-air. I'm not sure whether they lky\1965\lky0809b.doc 2 have ground-to-ground missiles. And, what I think is also important is we want, in spite of all that has happened -- which I think were largely ideological differences between us and the former Central Government, between us and the Alliance Government -- we want to-operate with them, on the most fair and equal basis. The emphasis is co-operate. We need them to survive. Our water supply comes from Johore. Our trade, 20-odd per cent -- over 20 per cent; I think about 24 per cent -- with Malaya, and about 4 to 5 per cent with Sabah and Sarawak.
    [Show full text]
  • Deliberative Rhetoric in Electoral Authoritarian Regimes: a Case Study of Singapore
    Political Science 4995: Honour’s Thesis Deliberative Rhetoric in Electoral Authoritarian Regimes: A Case Study of Singapore Nicolette Stuart 001158635 Dr. von Heyking University of Lethbridge April 2015 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER ONE Shaping the Audience with the Language of Politics ........................................................................................... 4 CHAPTER TWO Singapore: Testing Aristotle’s Theory of “Regime Mixology” ............................................................................ 27 CHAPTER THREE Aristotle’s Framework for Rhetoric: The Singapore Equation ............................................................................ 52 CONCLUSION Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................................... 75 BIBLIOGRAPHY Bibliography ....................................................................................................................................................... 79 1 Introduction The power of language is often overlooked despite its influence on human interaction. Perhaps the nature of communication as pervasive in the lives of humans makes language less notable. The seemingly natural use of communication, however, does not negate the ability of language to compel human action. Political scientists
    [Show full text]
  • The Son of Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Lee Hsien Loong Is His Country's Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister
    Lee Hsien Loong 1 The son of Singapore's senior minister Lee Kuan Yew, Lee Hsien Loong is his country's minister of finance and deputy prime minister. Lee Hsien Loong discusses his views in relation to globalization, and Singapore's position in Asia and the modern world economy. Maintaining a Singaporean Identity in a Global Economy INTERVIEWER: What are the main challenges that globalization poses for you, particularly regarding cultural identity? LEE HSIEN LOONG: It's a totally open and fluid situation. We are open to the world; the world is at our doorstep. It washes in, not just through the windows, but we are immersed in it completely—through the Internet, through the media, through people traveling, coming here, as well as Singaporeans going abroad. Half the population goes overseas every year. So we are completely open. We speak English. And to keep some sense of identity and place and loyalty and cohesion, at the same time as being adaptable and open to change and creativity, that's a tremendous balancing act. INTERVIEWER: Singapore is not alone. You hear that same concern in France, elsewhere. LEE HSIEN LOONG: Yes, but we are more open than most of the others. The French speak French, and they're 60 million or so. We are three million, and we speak English as the working language. And we don't have an ancient history starting with a long line of generals and kings. We [are] 35 years old as a country and still trying to build a national identity at a time when identities are in flux and in question.
    [Show full text]
  • Government, National Identity, and the Arts in Singapore
    University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Undergraduate Humanities Forum 2013-2014: Penn Humanities Forum Undergraduate Violence Research Fellows 5-2014 State of the Arts: Government, National Identity, and the Arts in Singapore Shawn Teo University of Pennsylvania Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/uhf_2014 Part of the Asian History Commons, and the Cultural History Commons Teo, Shawn, "State of the Arts: Government, National Identity, and the Arts in Singapore" (2014). Undergraduate Humanities Forum 2013-2014: Violence. 1. https://repository.upenn.edu/uhf_2014/1 This paper was part of the 2013-2014 Penn Humanities Forum on Violence. Find out more at http://www.phf.upenn.edu/annual-topics/violence. This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/uhf_2014/1 For more information, please contact [email protected]. State of the Arts: Government, National Identity, and the Arts in Singapore Abstract In the 1960s, countries in Southeast Asia such as Indonesia and Malaysia were wreaked by ethnic violence. Race riots broke out in Malaysia in 1969 between Chinese and Malays. In 1973 and 1974 anti- Chinese riots and pogroms erupted in Indonesia. Amidst a sea of ethnic unrest, the Singaporean government became aware that the multiethnic nature of Singapore rendered it vulnerable to riots.Memories of the 1964 race riots and the 1950 Maria Hertogh riots were still fresh. The government hoped that the creation of a cohesive national identity would reduce the risk of ethnic and racial violence. In this project I examine the development of national identity in Singapore from 1965-1990 to see how the government and civil society interacted to create a national identity.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Summaries 2017 Highlights PAGE CONTENTS
    ATTORNEY- GENERAL’S CHAMBERS Annual Summaries 2017 Highlights PAGE CONTENTS 04 CIVIL DIVISION 12 CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION 24 FINANCIAL & TECHNOLOGY CRIME DIVISION 32 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS DIVISION 44 LEGISLATION DIVISION 54 CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION 66 CAPABILITIES DEVELOPMENT 80 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND LIBRARY 83 STRATEGIC PLANNING AND ORGANISATIONAL EXCELLENCE OFFICE 85 AGC’S TRANSFORMATION JOURNEY M A JOR CASES CIVIL ATTORNEY-GENERAL V EUGENE THURAISINGAM DIVISION A lawyer, Eugene Thuraisingam, published a poem on Facebook publicly alleging that our Judges have subordinated their judicial duty to financial The Civil Division plays a vital role in protecting and advancing the Government’s greed. The poem posed a real risk of undermining public confidence in the administration of justice in Singapore. Thuraisingam was eventually interests, facilitating the administration of justice and upholding the rule of found in contempt of court and fined $6,000. law. The Division advises the Government on wide ranging legal issues and represents the Government in court and other dispute resolution proceedings. AXY AND OTHERS V COMPTROLLER OF INCOME TAX (ATTORNEY-GENERAL, INTERVENER) PENDING GROUNDS OF DECISION AS OF 5 APRIL 2018 This was an appeal against the High Court Judge’s decision (see AXY and others v Comptroller of Income Tax [2017] SGHC 42) concerning the exchange of information between tax authorities for the enforcement of tax laws and prevention of tax evasion. The appellants challenged the decision of the Comptroller of Income Tax to provide banking information to the National Tax Service of Korea under a Singapore-Korea tax treaty and an exchange of information regime under the Income Tax Act (Cap 134, 2008 Rev Ed).
    [Show full text]
  • The Construction of Singaporean National Identity in the Rhetoric of Lee Kuan Yew from 1965
    Reclaiming Agency The Construction of Singaporean National Identity in the Rhetoric of Lee Kuan Yew from 1965 – 1970 by Bao En Toh Reclaiming Agency The Construction of Singaporean National Identity in the Rhetoric of Lee Kuan Yew from 1965 – 1970 by Bao En Toh A thesis presented for the B. A. degree with Honors in The Department of English University of Michigan Spring 2011 © 21st March 2011, Bao En Toh For Singapore and for Lee Kuan Yew, in appreciation of his lifetime‘s work Acknowledgements I am extremely indebted to Professor David Porter, my thesis advisor, for his invaluable advice and generous encouragement throughout the writing of this thesis. He has unwaveringly supported my work since September 2010, from the very genesis of this project. Professor Porter has been the only person to read every part of this lengthy thesis as it was produced, even going over some sections more than once. In spite of my tardiness in finishing drafts he has always stoically made time to critique my work before our meetings. I am deeply grateful to Professor Porter for always being reassuring, communicative and patient; this thesis would not have been possible without his effort and dedication. Professor Catherine Sanok‘s genius for drawing out insights I never knew I had is matched only by her ability to calm frantic undergraduates—I always emerge from her office feeling inspired and on track. In addition, I cannot thank her enough for keeping me on a brutal but absolutely necessary writing schedule, without which I would still be on my title page.
    [Show full text]
  • The Four New Senior Counsel
    News The four new senior counsel 1,363 words 4 January 2009 Straits Times English (c) 2009 Singapore Press Holdings Limited Jeffrey ChanLaw runs in the family of deputy S-G Growing up, Mr Jeffrey Chan's role models were the late David Marshall, Singapore's first Chief Minister, and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. Both men were lawyers. Thus, when Mr Chan came to one of life's crossroads, he chose to read law. Now, two of his three children have followed in his footsteps. His daughter is a lawyer with a foreign law firm, while his son is an assistant registrar of the Supreme Court. Both have also married lawyers. His youngest son is studying arts at New York University. Said Mr Chan, 57, with a grin: 'Every time we sit down for dinner, my wife always complains that she's out-lawyered.' His wife Susan is a deputy director of schools with the Ministry of Education. This year, Mr Chan - the deputy solicitor-general(S-G) - is one of two from the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) to ever be appointed Senior Counsel. The other is Mr David Chong. Mr Chan believes that this recognition of legal service officers will inspire younger lawyers to achieve the same status. A President's Scholar, he joined the Singapore Legal Service in 1973. He headed the Civil Division of the AGC from 1995 to 2007, and the International Affairs Division from December 2007 to July last year. He graduated as a top student in 1973 at the then University of Singapore.
    [Show full text]
  • Strong Leadership and Effective Laws Essential in Fight Against Corruption
    PRESS RELEASE Strong Leadership and Effective Laws Essential in Fight Against Corruption 1. Senior Minister of State for Law and Finance, Ms Indranee Rajah S.C, represented Singapore at the inaugural Anti-Corruption Summit 2016 in London yesterday. The Summit was hosted by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mr David Cameron. 2. Senior Minister of State Indranee Rajah spoke at the Summit session on “Driving Out Corruption” on Singapore’s holistic approach to combat corruption and outlined Singapore’s four key success factors: a strong political leadership and will in creating a culture of zero-tolerance to corruption; effective anti-corruption laws and framework; effective enforcement by an independent anti-corruption authority; and a professional public administration with strong public service ethos. 3. At the end of the Summit, a declaration setting out high-level goals to combat corruption was signed by the countries in attendance. The declaration was accompanied by a communique which outlined the specific steps that will be taken. Singapore has submitted a statement (Annex A) to be annexed to the communique, detailing what the country has done and will do in relation to the key issues identified in the communique. 4. Senior Minister of State Indranee Rajah said: “Corruption is a scourge and a root cause of many of the world’s problems. Singapore takes a holistic approach to combat corruption. Most importantly, our strong political leadership and will in creating a culture of zero-tolerance to corruption is key. While Singapore has had some measure of success, we will continue to work with partners from various sectors of society to eradicate corruption, and learn from the best practices of other countries.” 5.
    [Show full text]