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(April 13,
2007/ Singapore) The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) announced
on its website plans to hold a public forum tonight on the
ministerial pay issue but the Government yesterday stepped in to
say no.
The police
have rejected its application for a permit for the forum while
the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has denied
professional visit passes to foreign speakers the SDP had
invited.
The
applications were rejected “on the ground of public interest”,
said a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) statement last evening.
The party website said secretary-general Chee Soon Juan would
speak at the forum to “debunk” recent remarks by Minister Mentor
Lee Kuan Yew defending the pay increase for ministers.
Members of a
delegation of legislators from the Alliance of Liberals and
Democrats for Europe, and the Council of Asian Liberals and
Democrats were also expected to speak at the forum, which was
meant to be on the development of democracy in Europe and Asia
as well.
They include
Ms Lydie Polfer, former deputy prime minister of Luxembourg.
The MHA
statement said: “Singapore’s politics are reserved for
Singaporeans. As visitors to our country, for foreigners should
not abuse their privilege by interfering in our domestic
politics.”
The ministry
noted that this is not the first time the SDP has involved
foreigners in Singapore’s domestic politics.
In 2003, the
party organised a conference with foreign funding, but failed to
declare it as required under the Political Donations Act. Dr.
Chee, SDP chairman Ling How Doong and treasurer Abdul Rasheed
were subsequently warned by the police.
In 2005, the
SDP brought in foreign political activists Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan
to conduct a workshop on civil disobedience. The activist has
since been banned from entering Singapore.
Yesterday,
the ministry statement said: “Foreigners who abuse the
privileges that Singapore accords to guests and visitors, and
meddle in Singapore’s domestic politics, are not welcome here.”
It added:
“Like all other political parties, the SDP is free to express
its views and organise political activities in Singapore within
the law.
“Indeed, the
SDP has organised public meetings to enable Chee Soon Juan to
expound his political views, including criticism of the
Singapore Government.
“The SDP can
continue to organize such activities provided they do so
lawfully.”
It is not
known if the SDP will proceed without permits.
But the MHA
statement said: “It is an offence to organise a public forum
with foreign speakers without a permit. It is also an offence
for foreigners without professional visit passes to be speakers
at the forum.” |
