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DemocracyAlertsFrom time to time, the World Movement for Democracy issues alerts concerning participants and other colleagues who are, or may be, facing personal danger due to their work on behalf of democracy and for whom a vigorous response from around the world may be critical. To see previous alerts go to www.wmd.org/democracyalerts/democracyAlerts.html. (October 15, 2007) Alert: Democracy Institutions Call on International Bar Association (IBA) to Address Human Rights Issues in Singapore On October 11, international organizations around the world endorsed a resolution urging the International Bar Association (IBA) to address the human rights abuses in Singapore during its annual conference, which began on October 14 and will run through October 19. The resolution calls for the IBA to "express its concern at the lack of respect for the rule of law in Singapore" and to "urge the Singapore government to practice the rule of law and not the rule by law by signing and ratifying the ICCPR (International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights)." Representatives from democracy organizations, as well prominent lawmakers and democracy advocates, signed the resolution, putting Singapore firmly on the radar of the global democracy movement. Signatories of the resolution include Ayo Obe, chair of the World Movement Steering Committee; Carl Gershman, president of the National Endowment for Democracy; Richard Rowson, president of the Council for Community of Democracies; and Bo Tedards, World Forum for Democratization in Asia. Singapore has a democratic constitution; however, the government lacks the independence of the judiciary, and basic human rights, such as freedom of speech and association, are often violated. Many courageous democrats in Singapore, including Singapore Democratic Party leader Dr. Chee Soon Juan, have been consistently harassed by the government because of their activities promoting democratic principles and questioning the government’s policies and practice. Most recently, Dr. Chee and four other activists were arrested on October 8 for protesting against the city-state’s ties with Burma after a week of unprecedented demonstrations outside the Burmese embassy. The Asian Human Rights Commission is asking concerned individuals to send appeals on their behalf. The IBA’s annual conference presents an important opportunity to highlight the failures of the Singapore government to consistently apply the rule of law and to apply other democratic principles in the country. The full text of the resolution is available below. To send an appeal on behalf of those arrested in Singapore for demonstrating in front of the Burmese Embassy, go to: www.ahrchk.net/ua/support.php?ua=UA-295-2007%20 For previous alerts on Singapore, go to: www.wmd.org/democracynews/sept07.html#1 ************************************************************************************ Appreciative of the effort made by the IBA to hold the Rule of Law Symposium during its annual conference and opening the attendance to members of the public in Singapore; Concerned that there are several outstanding cases of criminal prosecution and police investigation against democracy activists for speaking in public and for holding public gatherings in Singapore; Aware of the on-going defamation suits against the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and the Far Eastern Economic Review by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew as well as numerous past cases of defamation suits brought on by ruling People's Action Party leaders and officials against members of opposition parties; Vexed by the continued ban on SDP Secretary-General Chee Soon Juan's travel overseas as well as the disbarment of his standing for elections as a result of his bankruptcy from repeated defamation suits; Alarmed at the award of summary judgments to the PAP plaintiffs in defamation lawsuits in 2001 and 2006 involving Chee Soon Juan, Chee Siok Chin and the SDP, and the con-sistent and repeated awarding of cases to the Singapore Government and the PAP in court cases by the Judiciary; Noting the use of detention without trial on political dissidents and the intimidation of released political prisoners; Wary that there is no independent election commission and that elections are conducted by the Elections Department which is supervised by the Prime Minister's Office; Saddened by the control of the media through state-owned companies like MediaCorp and the Singapore Press Holdings as well as the ban on political films and videos; Observing that Singapore has yet to ratify the United Nation's International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); Regretting that one of the objectives of the IBA's Rule of Law Symposium on 19 October 2007 is to give participants "a clear understanding of the Asian perspective of the Rule of Law." NOW THEREFORE THAT WE, the undersigned, call on the IBA to: Express its concern at the abuse of human rights by the Singapore government and the lack of respect for the rule of law in Singapore; Urge the Singapore government to practice the rule of law and not the rule by law by signing and ratifying the ICCPR; Call on the Singapore government to respect the universality of human rights as en-shrined in the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Meet with Singaporean dissidents and victims of the Singapore Government's human rights violations and invite them to speak at the Rule of Law Symposium. Reject the notion of the "Asian perspective" of the Rule of Law and reaffirm its commitment to the universal concept of the Rule of Law. Inform its members of the human rights situation in Singapore by posting this resolution on its website. Signed, Mr Carl Gershman Ms Ayo Obe Mr Richard Rowson Lord John Alderdice Mr Ted Piccone Mr Sean Carroll Mr Vincent Brossel Mr Graham Watson Mr. Neric Acosta Ms Emily Lau Mr Sam Rainsy Ms Tioulong Saumura Mr. Wang Dan Mr. Larry Diamond Ms Cecilia Wigstrom Dr. Herta Däubler-Gmelin Mr. Basil Fernando Mr. Bo Tedards Ms May-sing Yang Mr. Gus Miclat Mr. Timothy Cooper Mr. Fred Lubang Ambassador Julio A. Jeldres Mr. Matteo Mecacci Mr. Sivarasa Rasiah Mr. Chua Tian Chang Mr. Law Yuk Kai Mr. Roby Alamplay Dr Richard A. Deck Dr Vo Van Ai Ms Penelope Faulkner Mr Princewill Akpakpan Mr. David Matas Mike Mitchell Dr. Paul Scott Mr. Ramon Casiple |
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