Democracy News

Singapore’s SDP Celebrates 30th Anniversary; Party Leaders Serve One Week Jail Sentence
March 9, 2010
By: Randi Zung | Printer Friendly

On February 27, at a dinner celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), Dr. Chee Soon Juan, a member of the International Steering Committee of the Community of Democracies, gave an address to party members and guests that celebrated the party’s continuing growth and commitment to promoting democracy, SDP’s website reports.  Dr. Chee called the SDP “a dynamic and committed organization,” and stated that the party would continue to fight against the autocratic government by promoting democracy.  Dr. Chee stated that bringing about democracy would allow “a better Singapore [to] emerge.”  Dr. Chee, who is head of the SDP, called for the younger generation of Singaporean pro-democracy activists to begin to take a more active role in ensuring the country’s continued steps toward democracy – but also stressed the continued commitment of activists from his generation to push for democracy as well.

According to the website for the SDP, on March 1, Dr. Chee was found guilty for attempting to participate in a procession during the September 2006 World Bank-International Monetary Fund meeting.  Dr. Chee, along with two other SDP leaders, Gandhi Ambalam and Chee Siok Chin, were each sentenced to one week in prison by a district judge.  The three also served one week sentences in January 2010, charged with distributing flyers that were critical of Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).  The accused protested the charges, citing that the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) had held a similar mass demonstration without prosecution.  All three of the accused appealed their convictions, but served their jail sentences.  In addition, the SDP website reports that Teoh Tian Jing, a member of the SDP’s Young Democrats, was also found guilty but, at the time of publication, his sentence was currently suspended pending an appeal.

Sources:

Singapore Democrats - Dr. Chee Soon Juan's address at SDP's 30th Anniversary Dinner on February 27, 2010

Singapore Democrats - Ruling will go down as one that ignored common sense: Tian Jing

For previous coverage about Singapore, also see:
http://ccd21.org/news/asia/singapore_chee_imprisoned.html