|
|
|
Pro-democracy group in third
day of sidewalk
Antara
News
18 Sep 06
Withstanding a thunderstorm and
constant scrutiny of police, an opposition party head said on
Monday he wanted the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World
Bank to be aware of the denial of basic freedoms in Singapore.
For a second straight night, Chee Soon Juan and his six
supporters tried to sleep on slabs of cardboard on the pavement
surrounding a park, the only place allowed by police.
While
supporters brought food and a change of clothing, six policeman
accompanied each one to the park bathroom.
"What is
this country coming too?" the 44-year-old Chee exclaimed as
reported by DPA.
"Fear is so instilled in the
people."
With the city-state under international
attack for banning 27 activists and prohibiting any outdoor
protests, Chee said he planned to remain until Prime Minister Lee
Hsien Loong completes his speech at the official opening of the
IMF and World Bank meeting on Tuesday.
The ban on 22 of
the 27 was lifted, but 167 civil society groups (CSP) boycotted
the event in retaliation.
"We are protesting against
the denial of the rights of Singaporeans to freedom and speech
and peaceful assembly," said Chee, wearing a t-shirt
proclaiming "Democracy Now."
"These rights
are crucial in helping to protect our interests, including out
economic well-being," he said.
Chee, the 44-year-old
head of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), had initially
planned to march on Saturday past Parliament House, the
convention centre and then hold a rally.
When he or any
of the others started to move, they were surrounded by police
linking their arms.
Chee, a former psychology lecturer,
expressed confidence the police would make any arrests with the
meetings going on.
His sister, Chee Siok Chin, said she
was feeling tired from lack of sleep but would not leave.
A
spokeswoman said police were "engaging" Chee and his
associates.
The park holds Singapore's Speaker's Corner,
started in 2000 to give the public an opportunity to speak but
rarely used.
Registering with police is required.
Speakers are prohibited from discussing subjects that could
ignite religious or racial violence or
threaten national
security.
Police a week ago stopped Chee from handing out
pamphlets urging the public to participate in the march and
rally.
Chee was found guilty last Tuesday in a defamation
case brought against him by the government for articles he wrote
in the party's newsletter.
He was made bankrupt earlier
this year after he was unable to pay Singapore's founding father
Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong 500,000 Singapore
dollars (320,000 US dollars) in libel damages
stemming from
the 2001 election.
|
|
