AI: S'pore must release UK author

[ruffles]

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-...-british-author-death-penalty-book-2010-07-19

Singapore must release British author of death penalty book

19 July 2010

Amnesty International has called on the Singapore authorities to immediately release British author Alan Shadrake, who was arrested for criminal defamation on 18 July after he published a book critical of Singapore's use of the death penalty.

"Singapore uses criminal defamation laws to silence critics of government policies," said Donna Guest, Asia Pacific Deputy Director at Amnesty International. "The Singapore government should release Shadrake at once."

Shadrake launched his book Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock in Singapore on Saturday. His book features an interview with a former hangman at Singapore's Changi Prison. On Sunday, Shadrake was arrested, and is currently being detained at Cantonment Police Station.

The Singapore Police Force confirmed Shadrake's arrest in a statement, which said: "He is being investigated for alleged offences of criminal defamation and other offences."

Police said the arrest was made pursuant to a complaint lodged on 16 July by the Media Development Authority (MDA) the government body responsible for censoring publications and broadcasts. According its website, the MDA is "developing Singapore into a vibrant global media city".

"If Singapore aspires to be a global media city, it needs to respect global human rights standards for freedom of expression," said Donna Guest. "Singapore should get rid of both its criminal defamation laws and the death penalty."

Criminal defamation in Singapore carries a sentence of up to two years in prison and uncapped fines. This has had a chilling effect on freedom of speech. According to Amnesty International, peaceful criticism of government policies must never be the subject of criminal proceedings.

In 2010 the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, Frank La Rue, called on all states to abolish all criminal defamation laws, which he said could not be justified, given that non-criminal defamation laws adequately protect people's reputations.

Singapore's death penalty laws also fail to meet international human rights standards. Its drug law violates fair-trial standards by a presumption of guilt against defendants charged with drug-trafficking, which in turn carries a mandatory death penalty. This prevents judges from considering the circumstances of a case, or handing down lighter sentences.

The UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions has stated that the death penalty should under no circumstances be mandatory by law, regardless of the charges involved.

 

[bodycells]

Tell these angmo AI fuckers to go fuck spider! In singapore only SDP members like to suck their balls! FUCK HUMAN RIGHT!:oIo::oIo::oIo::oIo::oIo:

Why are you always so angry? ou spam the whole forum with all your repeated threads.

 

[Teo Kok Eng]

Let's see what Amnesty International can do.

Local drug convict: hang till mati

German drug convict: no hang.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~

Ex-Singapore American lawyer: arrested, jailed, business bankrupt!

British author: arrested, maybe release later??

 

[postnew]

Jul 20, 2010
British author freed on bail

Alan Shadrake, a 75-year-old freelance journalist, told AFP at a police complex that he was freed after a local activist posted bail of S$10,000 for him. --PHOTO: REUTERS​

 

[singveld]

he is silly to come to singapore, is he trying to get arrested and gain publicity for his book in around the world.

 

[postnew]

Alan Shadrake's book. Photo: Reuters

​

 

[Taishi Ci]

FUCK HUMAN RIGHT!!!

Wow... mini LKY? Countries like China, Cambodia, North Korea will like you.

 

[postnew]

Alan Shadrake has written a book about Singapore's use of the death penalty

Alan Shadrake and his lawyer M Ravi leave the remand centre after bail was granted​

 

[postnew]

British author Alan Shadrake speaks during the launch of his book "Once a Jolly Hangman" in Singapore July 17, 2010.

 

[postnew]

British author Alan Shadrake speaks to the media after being released on bail from a remand centre in Singapore early July 20, 2010.
'I'm feeling pretty shaken at the moment,' he said.
A police spokesman confirmed that Shadrake was released on bail at 12.35 am on Tuesday, but he must seek police permission if he wants to leave the country.
The arrest was made pursuant to a report that was lodged by the government's Media Development Authority on Friday, the Singapore police said in a statement. Shadrake said he was released on an S$10,000 bail and that his passport had been impounded pending his trial.
On reports that his arrest was linked to the Singapore Government's position on capital punishment, a Ministry of Home Affairs spokesman said on Tuesday: 'The Singapore Government's position on the issue of capital punishment is not new. Those who disagree with our position have presented their arguments and as a matter of principle, we respect their right to hold such opposing views, as we hope they do ours.
'Shadrake is now under investigation for criminal defamation. He is also the subject of contempt of court proceedings initiated by the Attorney-General's Chambers. His anti-death penalty views are not the issue in these investigations; it is his violation of the laws of Singapore which are.
'Anyone, Singaporean or otherwise, who breaks the law regardless of the cause he touts, will be taken to task. Shadrake is no exception - he cannot expect to commit offences and then assume that he will be exempted from being held accountable under the law.'

 

[halsey02]

(A.Toussaint)

Freedom for the stallion, freedom for the mare and her colt,
Freedom for the baby child who has not grown old enough to vote.
Lord, have mercy, what you gonna do about the people who are prayin' to you?
They got men makin' laws that destroy other men, made money, God, it's a doggone
sin,
Oh, Lord, you got to help us find the way.

Big ship's a-sailin', slaves all chained and bound,
Headin' for a brand new land that someone said he up and found.
Lord, have mercy, what you gonna do about the people who are prayin' to you?
They got men makin' laws that destroy other men, they made money, God, it's a
doggone sin. Oh, Lord, you got to help us find the way.

Freedom for the stallion, freedom for the mare and her colt,
Freedom for the baby child who has not grown old enough to vote.
Lord, have mercy, what you gonna do about the people who are prayin' to you?
You know when I look inside my mind searchin' for the truth I find,
Oh, Lord, you got to help us find the way.

Hey, Lord!

(Freedom for the stallion, from Three Dog Night, "seven seperate fools" album)

 

[postnew]

British author Alan Shadrake poses for a photo during the launch of his book "Once a Jolly Hangman" in Singapore July 17, 2010.​

 

[johnny333]

Spore courts in the dock

Thats the title of the BBC report about the story.

Mr. Shadrake said he refuses to grovel like other Sporeans. Looks like the PAP may have picked the wrong angmo to bully.

 

[scoobyhoo]

just sentence this ang mo to 24 strokes of canings on his bare buttocks and he sure lan lan.

 

[HTOLAS]

Can't do that. The Penal Code does not allow caning for anyone over 50.

This is a PAPzi own goal.

just sentence this ang mo to 24 strokes of canings on his bare buttocks and he sure lan lan.