Amnesty launches appeal for
Chee
AMNESTY International (AI) has launched a letter-writing campaign
on behalf of Singapore Democratic Party chief Chee Soon Juan,
saying it was concerned that a defamation ruling could bankrupt him
and prevent him from seeking election to Parliament.
An e-mail message initiated by AI Canada urged people to approach
their local MPs to write to the Singapore Government and to
'request an initiative by Canada's Department of Foreign
Affairs'.
They were also asked to 'seek publicity in your local media' and
write to President S R Nathan and Mr Vanu Gopala Menon, Singapore's
Permanent Representative to the United Nations who is also the High
Commissioner to Canada.
A note accompanying the Sept 24 statement suggested that those
outside Canada 'can adapt the appeal for use in your own
country'.
The statement explained that Dr Chee faced a defamation suit
brought against him by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Minister
Mentor Lee Kuan Yew for remarks made during the 2001 election
campaign.
Amnesty described Dr Chee as someone 'recognised internationally as
a human rights defender' and referred to a 'pattern of potentially
ruinous defamation suits' against opposition politicians.
'Damages now are being spoken of in the US$500,000 (S$850,000)
range, with legal costs of approximately US$200,000, which he
states he cannot pay,' the statement said of the defamation
suit.
'Bankruptcy proceedings would then be started against him and, as a
bankrupt, he would not be allowed to seek a parliamentary seat. He
is being accused of having foreign links with such organisations as
Amnesty International, Parliamentarians for Global Action and Human
Rights Watch.'
Amnesty said letters to President Nathan and Mr Menon should note
previous instances of defamation suits and cases against opposition
politicians J.B. Jeyaretnam and Tang Liang Hong, and should call
for an end 'to the use of libel suits'.
A High Court hearing was held on Sept 6 to assess damages Dr Chee
must pay Mr Goh and Mr Lee. Dr Chee did not attend the
hearing.
But he asked for, and has been given, an opportunity to convince
the court as to why he thinks the hearing should be
reconvened.
The court sits tomorrow and will hear arguments from him and the
lawyers for Mr Goh and Mr Lee.
Amnesty was one of 13 foreign groups that Dr Chee had kept informed
when he wrote to the courts asking that the hearing be
reconvened.
He is already barred from standing for election for five years,
having been fined $4,500 in 2002 for trying to provide unlicensed
public entertainment.
He chose to go to jail rather than pay the fine.
