Singapore: End Efforts to Silent Opposition Vanida Chithtamath 11:34 am

Oct. 17,2008
11:34am

Defamation Suits Puts Party at Risk Of Bankruptcy

Released this morning, Oct. 17th, 2008, reports from the New York Times states that Singapore's leader is using defamation claims to change the views of political oppositions. The opposition is speaking out against the Singapore government, and this "model" democracy is prohibiting the peaceful speech of these oppositions. On the most current ruling by the judge on Oct. 13th,2008 he ruled for the governing prime minister and made the opposing party's (SDP) secretary general pay $400,000 dollars for defamation of the government. This is a scandal to get all of the opposition out of the way. This ruling is threaten the SDP to file for bankruptcy, which is lessening the chance of having any SDP members in governing seats. Since 1991, there has been only three SDP members in the governing body elected to represent the people. In July 2008, the government refused to permit Ms. Chee to take part in a democracy leadership program at Stanford University in the United States. The Chee's have been a predominate figure in speaking out against The People’s Action Party. They have also filed for bankruptcy and this is not the first time Singapore's government and brought such cases against opposing forces. “The history of defamation in Singapore shows a pattern of making people pay dearly for exercising the basic right of peaceful expression,” said Pearson. “Singapore has nothing to fear from a vocal opposition and its people have everything to gain.”

It is once again a case of the big guys versus the little guys. The PAP is afraid that the SDP is going to bring in new ideas and a new wave of followings so it will weaking the forces of the PAP. The fear is bringing in the large defamation suits and the excuses to bring down the SDP is a weak political stradegy which is working for the moment. Hopefully the HRW can come in a persuade and overview some of the bogus claims and throw them out. This is completely unfair if Singapore is going to claim that it is a democracy when it isn't allowing the opposing party to speak their views.

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/10/16/singap19993.htm