Celebrate SDP's Entry Into Liberal Int'l

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Coffeeshop Chit Chat - Celebrate SDP's Entry Into Liberal Int'l</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right>

Subscribe </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>Rowbox <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>9:33 pm </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 7) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>20753.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt><TABLE class=contentpaneopen><TBODY><TR><TD class=contentheading width="100%">http://www.yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/2746-li-takes-up-singapore-issue-at-un-meeting
LI takes up Singapore issue at UN meeting
</TD><TD class=buttonheading width="100%" align=right> </TD><TD class=buttonheading width="100%" align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=contentpaneopen><TBODY><TR><TD class=createdate vAlign=top>Thursday, 10 September 2009 </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>Singapore Democrats

The Liberal International (LI) has submitted a written statement to the United Nations' Human Rights Council. The statement cites human rights violations in several countries including Singapore and Burma. (See below)

LI is an international body of liberal democratic parties with ruling parties as members including the US Democratic Party. The SDP's membership was recently approved by the LI's Bureau and will be confirmed at its Congress to be held in Cairo in October this year.

On another front, the Young Democrats have just returned from a communications workshop in Hong Kong this week. The event was organised by the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD). YD Honorary Secretary Jarrod Luo attended the workshop together with activist Chong Kai Xiong. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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LI Statement ​

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly expresses the rights to which all human beings are respectfully entitled to. In Article 18 and 19, the Declaration states clearly: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion,” and that “everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression.”

Unfortunately in many parts of the world today, human rights violations and infringement of fundamental freedoms are still taking place.

Liberal International would like to address the grave situation and appeal to the Human Rights Council to pay greater attention particularly to the following countries:

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Singapore

The International Bar Association (IBA) produced a report in July 2008 after it held one of its annual conferences in Singapore. In that report, the IBA stated that:

“The judiciary in Singapore has a good international reputation for the integrity of their judgments when adjudicating commercial cases that do not involve the interests of People’s Action Party (PAP) members or their associates. However, in cases involving PAP litigants or PAP interests, there are concerns about an actual or apparent lack of impartiality and/or independence, which casts doubt on the decisions made in such cases.”

That same year, half a dozen individuals were found guilty of contempt of court in three separate cases. The five Singaporeans and one US citizen were imprisoned.

In addition, the editor of the Wall Street Journal was ordered to pay approximately 5,000 Euros for contempt of court in three articles that appeared in the newspaper.

In March 2008, a group of activists participated in a peaceful protest against price hikes and the million-dollar salaries of the ministers. Led by Chee Soon Juan, the group was arrested and the activists were prosecuted for taking part in an assembly and procession without permit.

Action:

Notes the Attorney-General's Chambers’s complicit role in its suppression of freedom of expression, assembly and procession and urges the Attorney-General's Chambers to stop prosecuting activists in Singapore;

Stands in solidarity with the persecuted democracy activists and censures the Singapore Government for its use of public institutions against the Singapore Democratic Party and its associates;

Urges the judiciary to adhere to its commitment to uphold justice in the city-state without prejudice, fear or favour;