Chee's appeals dismissed, another nail in democracy's coffin

Home

News

Singapore

Thursday, 20 January 2011

Singapore Democrats

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 or 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.

Share this article:

Comments (16)

Thu 20 Jan 2011 6:03 PM | BryanTi

!Judge Chong's decision to convict Dr Chee today is yet another nail in democracy's coffin in Singapore."

Indeed! This authoritarian government is really really really out of touch with the ground.

Fri 21 Jan 2011 9:13 AM | Cheers

LKY declared that he didn't want JBJ and CSJ to be his opposition. 20 weeks in jail that is equivalent to 5 months. For speaking without a permit? Come on it just goes to prove that LKY is so fearful of CSJ

Fri 21 Jan 2011 7:55 AM | Tan Tai Wei

Five months jail for such acts as only trying to talk to passers-by and staying at it abit long, long enough to enable it to be technically and legalistically defined in court (but only in courts heard by legally-trained judges and not ordinary citizens with commonsense as jurors) as "speaking in public", etc, etc?

Leave aside all that about abuse of powers, etc., which the appeal judge might arguably be right in dismissing as exaggerated.

Nevertheless, our judges need our sympathy for having to pass and uphold such sentences for such things, thus trivialising both themselves and their profession. Reminds us of the games we played when we played police and theives as children!

Something must be amiss about the laws that require them to so "judge"!

Fri 21 Jan 2011 8:46 AM | quantum - Content of speech

What was Dr Chee speaking in public that led to his arrest?

Fri 21 Jan 2011 10:49 AM | Cheers

quantum - What was Dr Chee speaking in public that led to his arrest?

NKF - 2005? they have a mask over their mouths.

2006 - I believe this is what he will say.

Don't let PAP bully you
Fight for democracy
Help us to speak for you

Fri 21 Jan 2011 11:18 AM | freedomT - They can go to HELL..

For speaking the truth, Dr Chee was arrested and charged. Is this how LKY and his PAP define honesty? Wearing white, appear for photoshoot and NDP Parades that only show their party flag like in communist states are honesty? Paying themself millions while the rest of us suffer day and night is honesty to them? Please ah, Dr Chee is correct and we must not allow them to trample over us anymore. Support Dr Chee and vote LKY and his PAP out now before we become the minority in Singapore. Period!!

Fri 21 Jan 2011 11:24 AM | quantum - First Singaporean to receive Nobel Prize

It seems that Dr Chee is well poised to help Singapore clinch her first Nobel Prize - the Peace Prize I mean.

Fri 21 Jan 2011 12:06 PM | maxchew - Start a donation drive to help CSJ

I wish SDP would start an urgent donation drive to collect the $20k to pay off the PAP monkeys so that Dr CSJ can be free to inspire and help his SDP candidates to contest the imminent GE?

I'm sure there's enough staunch supporters and sympathisers who would not mind donating just $10 (or more) for the cause of Justice and democracy!

I'll donate $100 to start the ball rolling.....
Ghandi, John, SiokChin........please think abt it and take action asap?

PS: Read TR's latest posting on this.....many indicated they are willing to donate. We need just 2,000 democracy-minded people to donate just $10 each and we end up with $20k.

Fri 21 Jan 2011 12:37 PM | PAP Voter

It is hard to believe and sad that even our honourable high court judge Steven Chong cannot or do not have a mind of his own in the Singapore High Court.Singapore is going to the dog.

Fri 21 Jan 2011 7:12 PM | foxtrot

"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."

So there is a good chance of elections being called from 10 Feb to 17 March, I take it?

Fri 21 Jan 2011 11:46 PM | maxchew - Please donate to save Dr Chee

No lah......the judge who has no mind of his own was being compassionate to Dr CSJ to celeb CNY with his family b4 being jailed. He of course assumed that CSJ won't or can't pay the $20k fine.
GE 2011 likely to be held during the March school holidays...

SDP and S'pore really needs Dr CSJ to campaign during the coming hustings. We must act fast to donate towards the $20k goal.I hope the SDP CEC is seriously organising the donation drive asap. The dateline is 10 Feb. Although a poor retiree I have pledged $100. The balance is required is now $19,900.....please donate at least $10 asap? Calling all freedom/democracy loving citizens!!!!

Sat 22 Jan 2011 5:59 AM | Cheers

foxtrot - I believe you are right originally should be around 10 Feb to 17 March 11 but because of one upskirt YPAP chairman of punggol and one vulgar YPAP chairman of Toa Payoh, there would be a possible delay, to field in two new candidates. If they field in the 26 new YPAP candidates into GRC, they will lose big time, moment two GRC gone, the two new candidates from the reserve pool is something to watch out. They will replace Eric Low with one YPAP candidate knowing they will lose and a way to gain experience for the new candidate.

Lately, you have George Yeo hinting not once but few times that election to be scheduled 2nd half of 2011, a way to catch opposition unprepared.

Sun 23 Jan 2011 12:46 AM | freedomT

Let us pray and support Dr Chee for he can save us. LKY has finally admitted that PAP will lose big time but his reasons are all wrong to begin with. Somebody need to tell him that it is due to his selfishness and greedS that let to the downfall of the PAP. Their stupid policies that only benefit the rich and outsiders. Their policy of making a race more superior over the others. Their policy of not asking the people for permission in everything they do resulted in us losing billions of dollars of our hard earned money to outsiders. Their policy of calling others our own neighbours around us bloody idiots. Everything about the PAP are a huge failure. YOG, NKF, Ren chi, LTA and the infamous failed investementS in US last year had in fact caused us in Billions of dollars in loses and yet this freaks are giving themself a pay rise of 95% in salary this Nov 2011. Waaaaa Pian ah!!!

Sun 23 Jan 2011 10:49 PM | Rage

What do you expect from Singapore everyone in Judiciary is a pap cronies you will never received a fair justice from them as long you are a opposition party,time will prevail justice one day and all involved will pay for their sins

Mon 24 Jan 2011 12:10 AM | quantum - Well-said

Well said FreedomT , well said.

Thu 27 Jan 2011 12:58 AM | Dick - Low Quality judge

We have very low quality judge in our current system, yes they do have all the necessary papers to show that they are more then qualified but judges and judicial systems are measured by their willingness to protect the weak and the constitution. They have failed badly in their most basic duties, that is to uphold justice.