CALD Resolution No. 5 S. 2006

CALD resolution regretting the practice of the Singapore government in disadvantaging opposition candidates in national elections through politically-motivated bankruptcy, noting the tendency of the PAP-dominated government to use selectively laws that are detrimental to non-controlling party members and urging the government to manage its elections independently of bias towards any particular party

Believing that free and fair elections upheld by an independent judiciary are the backbone of any democracy;

Alarmed by the government’s decision to ban the use of podcasting and videocasting during elections, an effective silencing of alternative voices without access to centrally-directed media; 

Citing that some opposition leaders have been barred from participating in elections after having been declared by the Singaporean courts as bankrupt;

Noting that the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) has observed that “The system of Group Representation Constituency should be reformed; there are better ways of achieving the important objective of ensuring representation of minority groups than winner-take-all block voting";

The Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats hereby regrets the practice of barring Singapore oppositionists from standing in elections through bankruptcy, notes the tendency of the PAP-dominated government to use selectively laws that are detrimental to non-controlling party members and urges the Singapore government to manage its elections independently of bias towards any party.

For the Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats:  

Liberal Party of the Philippines
Democratic Progressive Party Taiwan
Democrat Party of Thailand
Sam Rainsy Party Cambodia
Liberal Party Sri Lanka
National Council of the Union of Burma
Singapore Democratic Party

(sgd.)
Dr. J.R. NEREUS ACOSTA, MP
Secretary General
Chairman of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats

May 22, 2006