Singapore Opposition Leader Questions Current and Former Prime Minister in Court
By Daniel Hollingsworth
May 28, 2008 | Printer Friendly

Soon Juan Chee, leader of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and Member of the Nongovernmental International Steering Committee of the Community of Democracies (ISC/CD), had an opportunity on May 28 to directly question Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his father, former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, in an ongoing court battle that threatens to bankrupt the SDP.  AFP writes, “The two leaders had sued over allegations of government corruption made in an SDP newsletter ahead of general elections in May 2006, and the hearings this week were held to determine the amount of damages.”  The decision in the case was delivered through a summary judgment without a trial, and Dr. Chee’s lawyer was not present at the time the judgment was rendered.

The May 28 hearing was the first opportunity for Dr. Chee to address his accusers.  Chee focused much of his questioning on the lack of democracy and human rights in Singapore.  Reuters writes, “Most of Chee's questions to Lee Hsien Loong, which ranged from the secrecy of Singapore's sovereign wealth fund investments to ministerial pay that is amongst the world's highest, were objected to by Lee's lawyer on the grounds of irrelevance and upheld by the judge.”  AFP reports that in his own defense, “Lee [Kuan Yew] told Chee the final test of his legacy was what Singapore has become now -- a country favoured by foreign investors and ranked consistently worldwide as a business-friendly nation with world-class facilities and little corruption.”  However, human rights groups have repeatedly criticized measures the Singapore government has taken against political opponents.  According to Transparency International, “Civil defamation suits are being misused by the Executive to intimidate and deter those Singaporeans holding dissenting views,” such as in this case against SDP.

On May 6, ISC/CD issued a statement on the situation in Singapore, condemning the use of lawsuits to cripple opposition to the government and urging members of the Community of Democracies to voice their protest to these actions by the Singaporean government.

References:

AFP: Sparks fly as opposition politician questions Singapore leaders

Reuters: Singapore politicians hurl insults in court

ISC/CD Condemns Singapore Government’s Use of Lawsuits to Cripple Political Opposition