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(February
3, 2008/ Singapore) Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats
Secretary General J.R. Nereus Acosta and program officer Carlo
F. Religioso concluded their three-day mission to Singapore
where they met with CALD Chair Chee Soon Juan.
In the meeting, Dr. Chee lamented on how the
Singapore government has been man-handling the cases filed
against him and other SDP members. The
Attorney General's office has indicated that it will proceed
with the remaining seven charges against him, with the trial for
the second charge initiated in November 2007. In the event that
Dr. Chee will be found guilty of all subsequent charges, heavier
fines will be imposed on him, prolonging his bankruptcy and
further curtailing his rights and freedom.
His freedom to travel has already been impaired and the only way
he can effectively express his ideas as CALD Chair is through
the “free spaces” of the internet.
On the other hand, Dr. Acosta discussed with Dr. Chee important
issues concerning CALD, specifically its overarching theme for
2008. Both agreed that the theme for its 15th
anniversary should give emphasis to CALD’s founding principles
and its raison d’etre.
The theme “Safeguarding Developing Democracies in Asia” manifests CALD rejection of the idea of “sequential democracy”, the
theoretical anchor for the so-called “Asian values” of
prioritizing development over democracy. CALD will continue to
forward and foster the belief that freedom is universal and that
democracy should be strengthened and sustained by strong,
functioning and open institutions.
CALD’s proposals and activities for 2008 and beyond will seek to
clearly reflect this theme and overarching value.
The meeting was also attended by the Singapore Democratic Party
members: Mr. Gandhi Ambalam, Mr. John Tan, and Ms. Chee Siok
Chin. |
