Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD)
17 Sep 07
http://www.cald.org
The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) has called on the PAP government to stop its persecution of Dr Chee Soon Juan and SDP members and supporters for their just struggle to uphold democracy and freedom in Singapore.
The appeal was made at the one-day executive committee meeting of CALD in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Saturday, 15 Sept. CALD, an organisation of Asian political parties, some of whom are in governments, holds its executive committee meeting once a year to chart out its programme of action for the region and beyond.
As member of CALD, Singapore Democratic Party was represented at the meeting by its Chairman Mr Gandhi Ambalam who appraised the delegates of the prevailing stifling political climate in authoritarian Singapore.
The resolution on Singapore which is reproduced (on the left) here was passed unanimously.
CALD Resolution No. 4 S. 2007
Worried at the number of cases initiated against Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) for activities that would not be even actionable in most democratic societies
Anxious that some agents of the Singapore government including its police force seem to think of the “promotion of democracy and freedom” as a dangerous activity
Hopeful that the leadership of the SDP would be able to participate actively in international gatherings
Concerned that freedom of speech is subjected to several restrictions in Singapore
CALD calls upon the government of Singapore
To review its laws and legal processes that militate against freedom of expression
To encourage its citizens to engage in the promotion of democracy and justice without fear of reprisal
To permit political leaders to travel freely and engage in discussion and debate on political issues
To stop its prosecution of Dr. Chee Soon Juan, SDP Secretary General, who is currently in prison at Singapore’s Queenstown Remand Prison
For the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats:
Dr. J. R. Nereus O. Acosta
Secretary General
Council of Asian Liberals and DemocratsSeptember 15, 2007
Phnom Penh, Cambodia