Chee Siok Chin in Brussels: Democrats
need to pay attention to Singapore
Singapore Democrats
22 Mar 08
The democratic world needs to pay more attention to the growing
attraction of autocrats and dictators to regimes like those in
Singapore.
This was the message conveyed by SDP's representative Ms Chee Siok
Chin at a European Parliamentary Democracy Caucus hearing in
Brussels, Belgium on 5 Mar 08.
A group of six democracy and human rights activists from
Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Egypt, Venezuela, Singapore and Zimbabwe
were invited to make oral presentations to the Parliamentarians on
the topic “Defending Civil Society: Establishing the Rights of
NGOs.”
Ms Chee spoke about the threat of the so-called "Singapore Way" to
democracies in Asia and beyond.
She cited leaders who wanted to follow Singapore's model such as Mr
Nong Duc Manh of Vietnam, former Thai prime minister Thaksin, and
Hun Sen of Cambodia amongst others.
She also pointed how ex-president Vladimir Putin is perpetuating
his power in Russia, following in the footsteps of former prime
minister Lee Kuan Yew who is now Minister Mentor, a position
created for him.
After her talk, Ms Chee was invited to make a similar presentation
at the World Movement for Democracy's biennial conference to be
held in Kyiv, Ukraine in April this year.
Ms Chee was also warmly received by European MP and Leader of the
Alliance of Liberal and Democrats in Europe (ALDE), Mr Graham
Watson.
Mr Watson was banned from speaking at a public forum together with
six other European and Asian MPs when they visited Singapore in Apr
07 at the invitation of the SDP.
The PAP Government had then threatened the parliamentarians with
arrests should they speak, triggering a diplomatic firestorm which
resulted in the European Presidency, European Commission and the
European Council lodging a formal protest with the foreign ministry
here.
Also meeting between the visitors and the group of PAP MPs,
including deputy speaker Ms Indranee Rajah, ended abruptly when
they two sides exchanged their views on the state of democracy in
Singapore. (See here)
During her visit, Ms Chee also met Dr Paul Lim, a Singaporean
working in the European Parliament. Dr Lim was one of those accused
of being part of the "Marxist conspiracy" in the 1987 ISD
detentions.
At that time, Dr Lim was doing his doctoral thesis in Belgium. He
now works for a think-tank in Europe.
Despite the falsehood of what was said of him some 20 years ago Dr
Lim doesn't seem to hold any bitterness towards the PAP government.
He has reconciled with himself that Singapore is no more his home
and is quite happy living in Belgium.
Ms Chee is due back in Brussels in April to participate in the
ALDE-CALD (Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats) meeting. The
SDP is the current chair of CALD.
http://singaporedemocrat.org/articlecsc_EU_brussels.html