Abolish ISA! Abolish ISA! Abolish ISA! was chanted three times both in the beginning and at the end of the session at Hong Lim Park's Speaker's Corner yesterday (10/12/00). Curious onlookers, opposition types, the media and others gathered to observe the first public celebration of International Human Rights Day in Singapore.
A large banner with words ABOLISH ISA, measuring ten feet across, was also on display and hoisted up in full view. With this inaugural success, the organizers plan to make it an annual affair with an even bigger scale event for next year.
However, the organization of the event is not a substitute for a Human Rights Commission in Singapore. The Republic continues to one of the few countries in Southeast Asia alongside, Burma, Brunei, Laos and Vietnam that still does not have an independent national human rights institution.
Recently at a NUS Society forum PM Goh Chok Tong said that Singapore does not need a human rights commission because his government does not abuse human rights.
