Human rights activists from two political NGOs, the Open Singapore Centre and the Think Centre, gathered in Hong Lim Park (Speakers' Corner) to commemorate International Human Rights Day on December 10. Not surprisingly, however, the PAP-controlled media portrayed the event as nothing more than a "whimper."
The first piece of controversy had arisen days before the event when the local authorities requested that a permit be applied for a planned marathon that would involve between 20 to 30 runners. However, when the application for the permit was made, the authorities duly rejected it. Despite the setback, the director of the Open Singapore Centre (OSC) and secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party, Dr. Chee Soon Juan decided to continue with the run. His 26-mile route had began at the Whitley Detention Centre at Mount Pleasant Road and ended at Hong Lim Park.
The first 23 miles that Dr. Chee ran signified the 23 years that opposition politician, Chia Thye Poh, was kept in prison without trial under the Internal Security Act (ISA) since 1966. Under the ISA, the government could invoke its powers to arrest any individual who is believed to be "a communist insurgent or a threat to national security." Chia's imprisonment had made him the world's 2nd longest jail-serving politician after Nelson Mandela. The remaining 3 miles marked the following incidents in Singapore's short but dark political history: the 115 people who were indicted under Operation Cold Store, the 22 professionals accused of being Marxist conspirators, and those still presently detained under the ISA.
At the start of the protest, the crowd broke into "We Shall Welcome" - a human rights anthem of sorts. The message "Abolish ISA!" was emblazoned across the T-shirts of many of those who were present at the protest, which was reinforced by a big red banner carrying the same words.
Workers' Party secretary-general and chairman of the OSC, J.B. Jeyaretnam, then read out the letter to Prime Minster Goh Chok Tong which called for the abolition of the ISA and the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act. It also demanded that the government make a formal apology to Chia and the other detainees held under the ISA. The letter also called on the government to ratify international agreements on civil, political, and labour rights as well as an end to torture in Singapore. (Dr. Chee had earlier passed a copy of the petition to the Prime Minister at the Istana.)
The keynote speaker was Dr. Gopal Baratham (a local neurosurgeon, writer, and human rights advocate). Dr Baratham spoke of the shame of imprisoning Chia Thye Poh without trial for so many years. He said that as long as Singapore continued this type of treatment of its citizens, we can never call ourselves a developed country. Speakers of the Think Centre (TC), and in particular, 19-year old Young Democrat, Anne Cheng, proved to be the toast of the crowd. The young speakers touched on various topics which ranged from human rights issues to the apathetic nature of our youth in today's civil society. It was made known to the PAP that it could not control the minds of all young Singaporeans - there are many of us who know the truth and are willing to speak out.
Those who were present witnessed for themselves how biased the local TV stations were. They completely played down the event. Firstly, they didn't mention Dr. Chee running the marathon. Secondly, the newsreaders said that "there was an APPARENT denial of human rights" in Singapore. Thirdly, TV footage showed the OSC and TC selling their publications with the running commentary that "both centres SEIZED the opportunity to sell their publications." The day after, one of the local radio stations had at first presented J. B. Jeyaretnam's recitation of the petition letter. In the second airing, however, the newsreader, who was apparently unhappy about the revision, said on air that the part of Jeyaretnam's speech had been edited out.
Despite the significance of International Human Rights Day, the local media had disappointingly failed to provide the event its due and unprejudiced coverage. Ironically, this also demonstrated the continued denial of our citizens' rights to a free and independent media. Nevertheless, attention should not be diverted away from the fact that a non-government sanctioned demonstration for human rights took place peacefully and in a most dignified manner. To the PAP: You cannot deny Singaporeans their human rights anymore for the world is watching you.
Bryan Lim
Young Democrats
Singapore Democratic Party
The Young Democrats - An Alternative Vision. A Democratic Future.
