Singapore's celebrated former opposition leader JB Jeyaretnam has become the first person honoured by the Think Centre's ‘Human Rights Defenders Award', for his "significant contributions to the promotion and protection of human rights in Singapore."
MalaysiaKini
S'pore's Jeyaretnam honoured with first human rights award
6 Dec 2003
Singapore's celebrated former opposition leader JB Jeyaretnam has become the first person honoured by the Think Centre's ‘Human Rights Defenders Award', for his "significant contributions to the promotion and protection of human rights in Singapore."
The man who finally broke the ruling People's Action Party's (PAP) sixteen years' monopoly in the Singaporean Parliament in 1981, Jeyaretnam, 78 was credited for building the Workers' Party into the island republic's leading opposition party.
In 2001, he lost his parliamentary seat after being declared a bankrupt for failing to pay the massive damages awarded to PAP members in a series of defamation suits.
Jeyaretnam believes the defamation suits against him were politically motivated to remove him from parliament.
As a result, he was barred from standing in future elections, and could no longer practise law.
His most recent book, The Hatchet Man of Singapore, talks in detail of the attempts by Singaporean leader and former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew to destroy the political careers of key Singaporean opposition leaders, including Jeyaretnam among them.
Wants the best for people
In a press statement released yesterday, Singapore's media watch organisation Think Centre said it will taking today to honour Jeyaretnam for his "fearless and tireless" advocacy of human rights.
"The Singaporean government has a history of using civil defamation suits to stifle political opposition. Such defamation suits place unreasonable restrictions on the right of Singaporeans to peacefully express their opinions and to participate freely in public life," Think Centre said.
"JB Jeyaretnam wants the best for his people and he was brave and critical of the government in parliament.
"He never succumbed to the pressures of being an opposition politician and many call him the lion of Singapore politics.
"For many people who were disaffected by PAP policies that meant a lot."
The organisation has also taken the opportunity to declare Dec 6 as Human Right's Day, which will be celebrated with a public forum, with speakers such as Think Centre president Sinapan Samydorai, media critic James Gomez, and Jeyaretnam.
7 Dec 2003
The Sunday Times
JBJ given Human Rights Defenders award
By Lydia Lim
ABOUT 50 people marked International Human Rights Day yesterday with a forum held in the basement of the Oxford Hotel in Queen Street.
They also witnessed former opposition politician J.B. Jeyaretnam receiving a Human Rights Defenders award from the activist group Think Centre.
Mr Jeyaretnam dressed for the event in a T-shirt with the words 'Human Rights' written boldly across the front.
Before an audience that included opposition politicians, civil society activists and other interested observers, he accepted a small gold-coloured plaque from Think Centre president Sinapan Samydorai.
Mr Jeyaretnam praised the Think Centre for daring to honour him even though the authorities viewed him as a 'disturber of the peace'.
The man who broke the People's Action Party's monopoly in Parliament by winning the Anson seat in a 1981 by-election, said it was 'exhilarating' to be recognised at the age of 78, for his work in human rights.
Mr James Gomez, deputy secretary-general of the Workers' Party, of which Mr Jeyaretnam was once secretary-general, read out parts of a letter from the London branch of Amnesty International, which congratulated the veteran human rights activist and praised his contributions in the field.
The three-hour forum also featured speeches by Mr Samydorai and Dr Tan Chong Kee, a member of the board of directors of the theatre group Necessary Stage.
They criticised Singapore laws that allow detention without trial and limit freedom of expression here.
Separately, the police yesterday rejected an application by the Open Singapore Centre to hold a forum titled, Freeing Myanmar - How Can Asians Help?
Police spokesman Stanley Norbert said the application was turned down because 'the proposed event is likely to be contrary to the public interest'.
The Open Singapore Centre, led by opposition politician Chee Soon Juan, had planned to hold the forum today.
Sources and Relevant Links:
MalaysiaKini S'pore's Jeyaretnam honoured with first human rights award 6 Dec 2003
The Sunday Times JBJ given Human Rights Defenders award By Lydia Lim, 7 Dec 2003
Think Centre J.B.Jeyaretnam conferred with Human Rights Defenders Award
Think Centre UN MESSAGE ON HUMAN RIGHTS DAY and AWARD
