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Singapore ban on
foreign speakers may affect EU ties
DPA
13
Apr
07
http://jurnalo.com:80/jurnalo/storyPage.do?story_id=29055
European
Union lawmakers banned from speaking at a public forum in
Singapore warned Friday they intended to take up the issue in the
European Parliament.
A statement by the EU assembly's
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, whose members were
banned from speaking at the public forum, warned that the
"unprecedented situation. throws into question democratic
co-operation with Singapore. "
A spokesman for the
group told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa the incident raised
questions about Singapore's commitment to human rights and
democracy.
As such, the liberal group would "consider
withholding approval" of a new EU-Singapore cooperation
agreement being negotiated by the two sides, the spokesman said.
The European Parliament must ratify all EU pacts with
foreign countries. The EU assembly has held up several EU
agreements in past years because of human rights concerns.
The
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats has 105 parliamentarians in
the 785-member EU parliament.
The spokesman said liberal
group members had gone to the meeting in Singapore to talk about
EU-Asia relations and questions related to democracy.
The
meeting's focus was not on ministerial pay raises as indicated by
the government, he said.
Seven European lawmakers,
including liberal group leader Graham Watson, as well as Asian
parliamentarians had been scheduled to address the event
organized by the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP).
But
the government insisted that "Singapore's politics are
reserved for Singaporeans," and visitors should not
interfere in domestic politics.
It is illegal in the
restrictive city-state to organize a public forum with foreign
speakers without a permit. It is also an offence for foreigners
to speak at such a forum without professional visit passes.
Danish politician threatened
with arrest in Singapore
Gregers Moller
ScandAsia, Denmark
13 Apr
07
http://www.scandasia.com/viewNews.php?coun_code=dk&news_id=3213
A
Danish politician, Anders Samuelson visiting Singapore has been
told that if he speaks at a meeting promoting democracy in
Singapore he will be arrested. The same goes for seven other
members of the EU parliament who are visiting Indonesia and
Singapore this week.
Anders Samuelsen has complained
about the restriction placed on him through a press release
issued in Danish in Denmark. If this will land him in trouble in
Singapore remains to be seen.
"It is indeed proof
that the fight for democracy in Singapore is still on, when you
can prohibit someone to speak at a public meeting,"
Samuelsen is quoted by the his party's press release.
Samuelsen
and the seven EU parliamentarians are members of the liberal
group in the EU parliament (ALDE). The meeting is with the
Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD).
"I
am shocked. This is state control of the worst kind and ought to
be a black spot on the democratic conscience of the government. I
have along with the other participants objected to the foreign
committee of the Singaporean parliament, but the decision stands.
Also the EU ambassadors have had no luck in trying to influence
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore," Samuelsen
says.
Still Samuelsen and his colleagues have decided to
stay in the meeting.
"We have decided to participate
anyway, but we have been issued a clear message that we will be
arrested if we say something. It is absurd but then again it
comes as no surprise when you consider the government of
Singapore," he adds.
According to the press release,
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore issue on Tuesday a
statement saying that Singaporean politics were for Singaporeans
only to debate and that foreigners who involve themselves in
domestic Singaporean affairs are not welcome in Singapore.
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