Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is forwarding to you an appeal from the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) regarding the affirmation of the High Court of the guilty verdict on Dr. Chee Soon Juan for “speaking in public without a permit”.
For more details, please contact them at this website: http://yoursdp.org/
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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Dear AHRC,
You may know that the Judiciary has rejected Dr. Chee Soon Juan’s appeals against his conviction for speaking in public without a permit — incidents that date as far back as 2005. He was sentenced to $20,000 fine or 20-weeks imprisonment in default. He has until 10 Feb 2011 to pay up or to go to jail. (See here for details.)
The High Court’s decision is not unexpected but its timing is most unfortunate. The SDP is in the midst of preparing for the General Election which is expected to be called within the first half of this year.
With Dr Chee at its helm, the SDP has grown tremendously in the last few years. It has attracted many credible candidates and energetic young people who are eager to help the party do well in the elections and serve the people.
We cannot afford to have Dr Chee incarcerated during this crucial period. We urge you and your friends to help us ensure that he will continue to lead our party to victory this GE. Please give generously. (See here for ways to help. Reply here if you have questions.)
In solidarity,
Gandhi Ambalam
Chairman
Francis Yong
Vice-Chairman
John Tan
Asst. Secretary-General
Gerald Sng
Treasurer
Jeffrey George
Asst. Treasurer
Chee Siok Chin
Member, CEC
Mohd Jufrie Mahmood
Member, CEC
Mohd Isa Abdul Azizy
Member, CEC
Slvester Lim
Member, CEC
Johnny Hoe
Member, CEC
Laurence Lai
Member, CEC
Chee’s appeals dismissed, another nail in democracy’s coffin
Link: http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/4523?
Dr. Chee Soon Juan’s appeals to the Judiciary to protect the freedom of speech of Singaporeans has again failed. High Court Judge Steven Chong this morning upheld Dr Chee’s convictions for speaking in public without a permit.
The SDP leader was sentenced to $20,000 fine and 20-weeks imprisonment in default. Dr Chee was given until 10 Feb 11 before beginning his jail term.
In his submissions, Dr Chee had argued that the system was abused by the PAP and laws were being used by the ruling party to deny the opposition and civil society from exercising their political rights.
With civil liberties, the opposition and the people are prevented from publicly discussing and bringing pressure to bear on the PAP to protect their economic rights.
Shorn of their rights, Singaporeans today find themselves in a helpless position even as they find their jobs threatened and their wages decline. They continue to remain at the mercy of a Government whose greatest priority to take care of the elite.
Elections by itself is not going to protect the people from an exploitative regime, especially in an electoral system as controlled as the one in this country. Without the ability to congregate in public to protest, the PAP is under no pressure to listen to the people. It will continue to do as it pleases.
But this is the tragedy with authoritarian governments. They get so comfortable oppressing the people that they lose touch with reality and misjudge society’s mood. Until its too late.
Political freedoms allow people to hold their governments accountable and, in so doing, help political systems to develop and evolve peacefully. But when citizens are denied their rights, systems stagnate and eventually erupt in undesirable and violent ways.
Unfortunately, instead of opening up and giving the people room to express themselves politically, the PAP is continuing to clamp down on society – both online and off. The continued denial of permits to NGOs like Transient Workers Count Too to conduct a public procession and the gazetting of The Online Citizen are two recent examples.
Judge Chong’s decision to convict Dr Chee today is yet another nail in democracy’s coffin in Singapore.
How you can help
Stop Dr Chee from going to prison this election
Link: http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/4538
Dear Friends,
You may know that the Judiciary has rejected Dr Chee Soon Juan’s appeals against his conviction for speaking in public without a permit — incidents that date as far back as 2005. He was sentenced to $20,000 fine or 20-weeks imprisonment in default. He has until 10 Feb 2011 to pay up or to go to jail. (See here for details.)
The High Court’s decision is not unexpected but its timing is most unfortunate. The SDP is in the midst of preparing for the General Election which is expected to be called within the first half of this year.
With Dr Chee at its helm, the SDP has grown tremendously in the last few years. It has attracted many credible candidates and energetic young people who are eager to help the party do well in the elections and serve the people.
We cannot afford to have Dr Chee incarcerated during this crucial period. We urge you and your friends to help us ensure that he will continue to lead our party to victory this GE. Please give generously. (See here for ways to help.)
Related articles:
FORWARDED APPEAL (Singapore): Petition for Chee Soon Juan
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/1658/
[Forwarded Statement] SINGAPORE: Statement of Chee Soon Juan submitted to the High Court, Singapore at the Bankruptcy Petition Hearing on 10 February 2006
http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2006statements/431/
[Forwarded Statement by the AHRC] SINGAPORE: Why the case of Dr Chee Soon Juan and another must go to trial
http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2006statements/673/
[Forwarded Press Release by the AHRC] SINGAPORE: Prominent human rights advocate imprisoned for speaking in public
http://www.ahrchk.net/pr/mainfile.php/2006mr/421/
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Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (ua@ahrc.asia)
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