The peaceful gathering on 10 December 2000, International Human Rights Day, organised by Think Centre will be a normal event in most representative democracy.
| James Gomez and Kevin Liew were questioned for organising an "illegal assembly" and let off with a "warning" by the police. They were merely exercising their right to express their opinion and organised a peaceful assembly [UDHR article 19 and 20]. |
The Minister of State (Law and Home Affairs) Ho Peng Kee says to hold such an event or gather for a cause needs a permit - according to the law.
The Minister apparently practices the "human rights trade-off theory". The trade-off theory, rightly or wrongly, gaves priority to securing basic needs [UDHR Article 23, 24, 25] like food, adequate housing, health, employment etc for which we the people need to sacrifices in the short-term our civil and political rights.
The theory is that to ensure economic development there must be social and political stability. No rocking of the boat - no protests, no unsolicited public speech! So the Minister may have concluded its naive and ridiculous to talk about fundamental human rights until people have enough and everyone acheives their 5 C's!
But Singapore has already achieved developed country status and absolute poverty has been alleviate for a long time.
Then why this continuous infridgement on the civil and political of the people? How much longer will the people have to wait to have their rights to opinion, expression and peaceful assembly recognized? Its timely to review such outdated practices and adopted constuctive attitude towards civil society.
It is true that the right to development is accepted as a human right. Poverty is an affront to human dignity and prevents the individual from enjoying his or her human rights. The human person is the central subject of development. Thus, individual persons and the community should be the main participant and beneficiary of such development.
It is essential to promote a rights-based approach to development which is two-pronged, emphasizing civil and political rights on the one hand - in particular people's right to freedom of expression and participation - and to economic, social and cultural rights on the other hand, in particular people's freedom from want. These two cannot be divorced from each other.
Promotion and protection of fundamental human rights will not be an obstacle for development and economic growth. In fact, respect for human rights will improve the quality of life enjoyed by Singaporeans.
Everyone will be proud to be a Singaporean and no more shame or self-censorships! Economic growth should strengthen fundamental rights of the peoples and should not weaken respect for human rights.
Economic progress can no longer legitimize suppression and coercion even if governments argue that national security, social stability and public order are necessary for development.
The members of parliament and the public should be introduced to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Convention on civil and political rights. Both are relevant in a globalized world to understand where the developed and developing countries are heading to. S21 promotes an active citizen participation that is in line with gloablization - how do we face globalization and respect the international standards of human dignity. Citizenship Education which promotes human rights should be incorporated into the school curriculum. So that our youths will understand the need to put into action the S21 spirit. Learning to respect and protect each others rights - starting with treating each other as equals!(UDHR Article 26 [2])
In a globalized world, it is important to empower the people through citizenship education and training, build their capacity to advocate and claim their rights, enable them to negotiate through effective participation, and support the design and implementation of policies that affect them. Effective participation is an essential component of successful and lasting development. The foundations for a democracy essentially are respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms including transparent and accountable governance and administration in all sectors of society, and effective participation by civil society.
"Human rights are the foundation of human existence... Human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent... Human rights are what make us human. They are the principles by which we create the sacred home for human dignity... It is the universality of human rights that gives them their strength. It endows them with the power to cross any border, climb any wall, defy any force."
-- Kofi Annan (UN Secretary-General, 1997 - )
Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Article 20
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
Article 23
(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
Article 24
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
Article 25
(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
Article 26
(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
MAY 17, 2001
THURSDAY
SPEAKERS' CORNER GOVERNED BY LAW!
PEOPLE who want to speak at the Speakers' Corner do not need permits, but if they plan to hold an event or gather for a cause, they need to apply for one.
Minister of State (Law and Home Affairs) Ho Peng Kee said Speakers' Corner was a public place, and was still governed by the law of the land.
He was responding to opposition MP J.B. Jeyaretnam who wanted to know what offences political activists James Gomez and Kevin Liew had committed by gathering there.
Both were investigated by the police, but were let off eventually with a warning.
Last December, they had organised a demonstration to mark International Human Rights Day.
More than 60 people attended the event and calls were made to abolish the Internal Security Act.
BELOW: James Gomez and Kevin Liew at Speakers' Corner (Hong Lim Park) on International Human Rights Day (10 Dec 2000)
