CALD Resolution No. 2 S. 2006

“I want to be free but freedom is nothing when one cannot speak the truth”

 Dr. Chee Soon Juan

CALD resolution expressing concern over the conviction and incarceration of Dr. Chee Soon Juan and relaying its support to Dr. Chee and the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP)

Aware that Dr. Chee Soon Juan, SDP Secretary General, was imprisoned last March 17, 2006 after being sentenced by High Court Justice Lai Siu Chiu for contempt in court to one day in jail and was fined $ 6,000 or seven days jail if he does not pay the fine;

Noting that the contempt charges stemmed from the defamation suits filed by Messrs. Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong against Dr. Chee in 2001;

Saddened that Dr. Chee was declared bankrupt after failing to pay Messrs. Lee and Goh S$ 500,000 in libel damages and that, prior to this, Dr. Chee had already paid S $ 400,000  in costs and damages in another defamation lawsuit involving his dismissal from the National University of Singapore after he joined the opposition;

Knowing that as a result of his bankruptcy Dr. Chee is effectively disqualified from running for any public office

Concerned that civil suits are being utilized against the opposition and that, as observed by the International Commission of Jurists, defamation suits “have done little to overcome the courts’ reputation as improperly compliant to the interests of the country’s ruling People’s Action Party”;

Citing that Dr. Chee had previously been jailed thrice for refusing to pay the fine, once for seven days, another time for twelve days and another time for as long as five weeks;

Believing that Dr. Chee, an outspoken critic of the Singapore government,  is motivated by nothing more than a sincere desire to institute democratic reforms in Singapore—especially with regard to upholding the freedom of speech and peaceful assembly;

Convinced that Singapore's interests are best served by adhering to its own Constitutional provision regarding "freedom of speech and freedom of assembly" as set out in Article 14 and to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and, further, that such adherence will ultimately benefit Southeast Asia as a region of peace, prosperity, progress, justice and democracy;

The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats hereby express concern over the conviction and incarceration of Dr. Chee Soon Juan of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and relay its support to Dr. Chee and the Singapore Democratic Party 

For the Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats:

(sgd.)
Senator Franklin M. Drilon
President of the Philippine Senate
Chairman of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats

March 23, 2006
Manila, Philippines