the following is a media release by the press secretary to Law Minister K Shanmugam:
–
We refer to Human Rights Watch’s (HRW) January 2012 country report for Singapore (Report) and the comments of its deputy director Phil Robertson, as quoted on Yahoo! News Singapore.
The Report dismisses Singapore’s Submissions to the Human Rights Council at the Universal Periodic Review, without dealing with the Submissions. Readers are encouraged to read the Submissions and judge for themselves.
HRW also made false assertions. For example, contrary to assertions in its news article1, capital punishment is not prohibited by international law. A large number of countries, including many modern, developed countries (like the US) impose the punishment. In Singapore, capital punishment has contributed to low rates of crime and drug use; and is overwhelmingly supported by Singaporeans.
Statements in HRW’s Report relating to detentions, freedom of speech and association, and the civil rights, as reported in your article, are likewise inaccurate. Singapore’s Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly. The Shadrake trial, which your article mentions, was fully reported by local, international and alternative media. Mr Shadrake was charged because he had alleged, among other things, that the Singapore courts conspired with State agencies to suppress material evidence. Such a statement would be considered to be in contempt of court in several countries.
HRW’s casual approach towards research and analysis, has been criticised by none other than its founder, Robert Bernstein, who has said that HRW “often relies on witnesses whose stories cannot be verified and who may testify for political advantage”.
The Singapore government is committed to creating and defending an environment where Singaporeans are secure, where their well-being is ensured, and where everyone can realise his or her full potential. Every society strikes its own balance between the rights of the individual and the society. National issues are openly debated in Parliament. Elections to Parliament are free and fair, and contested fiercely. Singapore’s stability, public healthcare, education and security have made it one of the most livable cities in the world: Singaporeans enjoy dignity, welfare and security – much more so than many cities and countries which HRW seems to be happier with.
Ms Chong Wan Yieng
Press Secretary to Minister for Law
HRW report: http://www.hrw.org/world-report-2012/world-report-2012-singapore
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What is new for the PAP and therefore news worthy to us for that matter.
This is for those (espc. Potong Pasir residents) who voted for the PAP @ the last GE, there is a saying which goes: “A leopard will never ever change it’s spots!”
Happy Lunar New Year 2012 by the way! Towards A First World Parliament & Istana in 2016 & 17 respectively!
“In Singapore, capital punishment has contributed to low rates of crime and drug use; and is overwhelmingly supported by Singaporeans.”
I didn’t realise that we had evidence to make this causal role of capital punishment – I would like to know from which statistics did the Ministry got to make this causal inference? Also, ‘overwhelmingly supported by Singaporeans’? I also did not realise that there was a national voting for this? People voted for PAP for a variety of reasons and attributing capital punishment to their win is naive and simplistic.
“The Shadrake trial, which your article mentions, was fully reported by local, international and alternative media. ”
Reported by local media doesn’t mean it is not controlled by the government. It merely states that non-state controlled media is accessible.
“Singapore’s Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly.”
Sure it does but you conveniently excluded the numerous clauses and subclauses that make this ‘freedom’ ineffectual. Be honest – Singaporeans are not that dumb.
“Elections to Parliament are free and fair, and contested fiercely.”
The fact that a whopping 40% of Singaporeans who did NOT vote for PAP resulting in how many seats in the Parliament for the opposition permits you to make this statement without flinching? You are amazing. An a 35% President – enough said. Really.
“Mr Shadrake was charged because he had alleged, among other things, that the Singapore courts conspired with State agencies to suppress material evidence.”
If what Mr Shadrake claims is true (hypothetical), is it convincing to use the SAME (corrupt) avenue to seek justice? Does this make logical sense? By your argument, the justice courts (in any world) can never be corrupt and the only way that it can be is if it itself admits that it is????? Sorry, revise that logic to me again please?
The statement has so many numerous loopholes (I did not mention all) that it would had been better if it were not released in the first place.
Who create a corruption system to abuse.
Duh provides very good criticism of the statement. Let me add that the HRW article does not even say that “capital punishment is prohibited by international law.” At least I could not find it after reading very carefully. It only states: “Singapore continued to implement mandatory death sentences for some 20 drug-related offenses in the face of repeated criticism by UN human rights bodies and experts.” It only mentions criticism!
However, I think he suggests something I would like to see: The death penalty and especially the mandatory death penalty should be forbidden by an international body!
Robert Bernstein, who has said that HRW “often relies on witnesses whose stories cannot be verified and who may testify for political advantage”.
Here is the article in question:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/opinion/20bernstein.html?_r=1&em
And the paragraph in question:
“But how does Human Rights Watch know that these laws have been violated? In Gaza and elsewhere where there is no access to the battlefield or to the military and political leaders who make strategic decisions, it is extremely difficult to make definitive judgments about war crimes.Reporting often relies on witnesses whose stories cannot be verified and who may testify for political advantage or because they fear retaliation from their own rulers. Significantly, Col. Richard Kemp, the former commander of British forces in Afghanistan and an expert on warfare, has said that the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza “did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare.””
The quote you gave refers to Robert Bernstein’s criticism on the accuracy on HRW’s warfare reporting methods.
I do not believe that Singapore is currently in a war, that they need expert reporters on warfare to give an accurate report on Singapore.
an interesting article on Yahoo!
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/no-student-freedom-at-nus–foreign-student-.html
How come Singaporens pay stupendously for these people who are soooo…don’t know what to say. Are they there to serve for the good of the citizens or there to make something out for themselves (as they always ask Sporean critics of their regime to do)?
Very good reply by Law Ministry. Firstly, if we all already have food, water, shelter, medicine, who is to say we don’t have human rights? With the world’s best education, healthcare, retirement fund, transport & infrastructure, Singapore is indeed the best place to live. I’ve been living in London for some years now, so what if they can protest outside St Paul’s Cathedral? In all other aspects of life, London is way inferior to Singapore.
Perhaps we do have “human” rights, depending on how the government chooses to define this.
Do we have POLITICAL rights?
someone said world best education? sorry. Einstein born in Singapore will grow up to clean toilet.
“Singapore’s Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly.” Oh why do they always lie?
And the last paragraph is a shame. Made my blood boil telling these lies.
I wonder why traveler continued to live for many years in London which he consider an inferior place to Singapore?
I think traveller is being very sarcastic. It is too strecthed to be real or convincing. I bet the guy/gal haven’t even stepped foot in London, LOL.
@Duh
Bestest of the best! Nice.
Really?27 January 2012
I wonder why traveler continued to live for many years in London which he consider an inferior place to Singapore?
…………
Traveller worked for the GIC government-linked which he is based in london..
when leekingyou needs a britishmade walkin stick..traveller FETCH it
when hojinx need a louisvuitton coinpurse..traveller go to bond street to order 1
traveller
Firstly, if we all already have food, water, shelter, medicine, who is to say we don’t have human rights?
………..
you meant we just waltz in tantockseng hospital or kandang kebrau to use the facilities without payin 1 single dime?
ow the st mary hospital can treat anyPERSON for free without fillin in a medicsave or a ca$hout counter?
why dont you asked leekingyou himself when his belated spouse went in st mary hospital and checkout without payin 1 british sterlin pound…
To : Ms Chong Wan Yieng
(Press Secretary to Minister for Law)
Objection ! I do not support capital punishment and MDP In singapore.
To : Ms Chong Wan Yieng
(Press Secretary to Minister for Law)
Objection ! I do not support capital punishment and MDP In singapore.
To : Ms Chong Wan Yieng
(Press Secretary to Minister for Law)
Objection ! I do not support capital punishment and MDP In singapore.
Reading 3 of 3
“Singapore’s Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly.”
All I can say is HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA What a joke. Thanks Mr minister. You should be a comedian. I like your satirical irony
“food, water, shelter“ are first level needs of a human being, which should not be a major problem in a first world country，and that has nothing to do with human rights.
Freedom of speech/peaceful assembly is NOT ‘apply for permit before you do those’. A requirement for people to apply would be a form of regulation and regulation is not freedom, because it IS control.
HRW assessment of Singapore is correct, because I live in Singapore all my life.
The facts which are not facts presented to justify to oppress the citizens come form nowhere.
Sorry Singapore government, try again.
"In Singapore, capital punishment has contributed to low rates of crime and drug use…"
eh, drug use as in abuse will kenna MDP mey?
"In Singapore, capital punishment has contributed to low rates of crime and drug use" – challenge to SG govt: prove it!
Capital punishment "overwhelmingly supported by Singaporeans." – well then, I seem not to be able to recall being asked for my opinion. Someone seems to be speaking on my behalf, else I am not a Singaporean.
"Singapore’s Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly." – the big rebuttal against the govt is the question: so what? What the constitution guarantees in this country is unfortunately not self-executing. Consult our operational statutes: they bastardize the constitution.
Capital punishment is overwhelmingly supported by Singaporeans??yeah, ditto to a repressive government that tramples on their civic liberties and political freedoms. Also they support overwhelmingly a government controlled press. Wow, what fantastic support from us.
Every single one of them top officials write so unacademically and unscholarly. They write myths after myths after myths. This is as bad as the high pay = no corruption myth and the talent myth. They are scholars but speak very unscholarly - refuting renown scholars, no basis on any research and ignoring proven hypothesis. Sg education teach students to write airy-fairy fluffy stuff, world class indeed!
Oh ya shamugam? Occupy wall street not allowed in Singapore,
Gerrymandering of electorate is fair?
keeping S377A is no discriminative?
Overwhelming support for capital punishment, say who?
60% votes with 90 seats in parliament just and fair?
Suing Dr Chee until his family became bankrupt is called freedom of speech and right to protest?
Is there really no whiff of truth in Alan's book -once a jolly hangman?
Why request for review of of those wrongly accused of "maxist conspiracy" being rejected?
Why must we be threatened with "regret and repent" on every election?
Why is Statutory Board used as political tool against opposition parties?
Is this the kind of systems Shamugam should feel proud of?
Yesterday 27 Jan 2012, The Straits Times reported that Bloomberg claims that “Singapore has the Cleanest Government citizens can buy.” While we citizens in Singapore know that the Government is no better than the junta in Myanmar and elswhere. In S for instance all state Institutions are totally controlled by the PAP as a party organ so that the judiciary bends backwards to please the political masters and financially destroys opposition members with alacrity, the secret police knocks on doors of those who speak bad about the PAP officeholders, conflict of interest has no relevance in S as most government elites wear multiple hats and use each hat according as the situation demands, there is a symbiotic relationship between elite private entities such as elite law firms and the Govt whereby the law firm can order the ISD to harass their clients' enemies, the country is submerged by shiploads of foreigners as workers and new citizens are invited by the Govt indiscriminately to fatten the GDP without caring whether the identity of the country is thus obliterated and its indigenous population crushed, the extra-planetary office holders’ remuneration enjoyed for 7 years is insolently continued amid public protests, PAP's propensity for insulting speeches about the citizenry, after every election except the last one in 2011, witch hunts of political opponents have been carried out in the Law Courts to exact astronomical defamation payments to the Lords of the PAP, etc, etc.
If we are this cowed, we will all be cooked alive in Singapore and Bloomberg will say that the indigenous Singaporean has committed mass suicide for no visible reason.
The PAP propaganda machine sued many publications for what they wrote about Singapore. Conversely we expect Bloomberg to be well rewarded by its false and sycophantic reportage about Singapore.
I find myself pondering why there were no witch hunt by the AG and the ISD after the last election. I think it has something to do with the Internet freeing the flow of information and the PAP knows that it would be disastrous for them to conduct such a circus in the full glare pf the International Community. The Human Rights Watch January 2112 report on Singapore and other writings by the International Community will keep the Singapore Government awake at night because it is realizing that the truth is seeping through.
A typograghical error. The PAP has written their own paychecks for 17 years (not 7 Years) This astronomical remuneration is set to continue by the recent sitting of Parliament.
To : Ms Chong Wan Yieng,
You honestly want Singapore to read all your lies? I have never read so many lies in one letter all my life. It is precisely your denial of the truth, that has caused the govt to do so badly in the last 2 elections.
Please do not treat Singaporeans as idiots. We know what we have gone true. The report from HRW is extremely accurate, I repeat, extremely accurate. So please, do add any lies to it.
To: Ms Chong Wan Yieng,
The entire Singapore citizens know what you wrote in the letter are full of lies. Not only do you dare to lie to Singaporeans but to the whole world. And you are going to get your partner in crime, the SPH, to publish it. How low can you get? How low can the govt get?
Please you and your ministry and the Singapore Govt had better bury your heads in the sands for telling such despicable lies. I am ashamed of you and our govt.
Further to what was mentioned in the government response to HRW’s casual approach towards research and analysis, which has been criticised by none other than its founder, Robert Bernstein, who has said that HRW “often relies on witnesses whose stories cannot be verified and who may testify for political advantage”…maybe you should read the following article to gain more knowledge about HRW flawed principles and selective interpretation of what constitutes human rights violation:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/dec/31/human-rights-imperialism-james-hoge?INTCMP=SRCH%29
I'm glad that Ms. Chong Wan Yieng had accurately and objectively pointed out HRW's fallacy, hypocrisies and double standards. Singapore does not need to work on nor flow along with the flawed principles that HRW advocated.
Quote
"The Singapore government is committed to creating and defending an environment where Singaporeans are secure, where their well-being is ensured, and where everyone can realise his or her full potential. Every society strikes its own balance between the rights of the individual and the society. National issues are openly debated in Parliament. Elections to Parliament are free and fair, and contested fiercely. Singapore’s stability, public healthcare, education and security have made it one of the most livable cities in the world: Singaporeans enjoy dignity, welfare and security – much more so than many cities and countries which HRW seems to be happier with." Unquote
Is this a "new" Singapore that I haven't heard of?
It must be such a fabulous place that I only can dream of! Hello still sleeping???
the papies master has certainly succeeded in using astronomical pay to get the devil to push their carts to anywhere they wish – 'yao qin xai dak guai toi ce' in cantonese.
thus, it's not surprising that these devils would not hesitate to stoop so low in doing and saying what pleases the master only.
just a bunch of evil ministers with no human souls!
do you guys really think you can get away with so many repeated curses laid upon you day after day for your continued evil deeds???
even if you guys don't believe that their's spiritual truth in this, there's certainly scientific truth that sound waves travel and affect and influence the human minds. so, with lots of cursed sound waves created and radiated by angry sigaporeans against your names travelling in the air and in the universe, soon your body, soul and spirit would be affected negatively by these negative and cursed sound radiation surrounding you.
don't believe? we shall see!
To : Ms Chong Wan Yieng
(Press Secretary to Minister for Law)
Objection ! I do not support capital punishment and MDP In singapore
I'm glad the Singapore government did not succumb to the fallacies and hypocrisies of HRW, an organization heavily funded by Western government to impose their double standards to the world through a seemingly non-political way…another attempt to imperialize and colonialize the world.
Ms. Chong Wan Yieng had very accurately pointed out facts, and indeed, I'm glad to be living in a country that is considered much more secure and comfortable than many of those hypocritical and double standrards western countries supporting HRW!
@Grateful
Wow you write like a scholar – the Sg kind. Pls let us know from which source did you get the info that HRW is 'heavily funded by Western Govt'? Other countries Govt do not have power over everything single thing, it is not like Sg. Time you know this.
Though it might be interesting for readers to know that since 1995, HRW had repeatedly refused to grant a request for an independent audit of it funds' origin…I wonder why and what are they trying to hide.
In its Annual Reports, HRW always claims that it "accepts no government funds, directly or indirectly." However, that was a lie according to the 1995 list, and it is still a lie. The Dutch Novib – now part of the Oxfam group – is a government-funded aid organisation, and in turn it funded the activities of Human Rights Watch Africa in the Great Lakes region and Angola. Oxfam itself is primarily funded by the British government and the European Union. It is also funded by the United States Agency for International Development, USAID. Oxfam in turn partly funds Novib, so some of that money finds it way to HRW.
Ms. Chong Wan Yieng,
We are Singaporeans who have lived through years of repression by the PAP govt. Do you think we are deaf, dumb and blind as to not know what is going around in Singapore? You and your ministry are an utter disgrace to the good name of Singapore.
I just hope that people posting comments in TOC use their real names. It is easy to post irresponsible comments online and hide behind anonymity. On the other hand, if real names are used, there is a tendency for one to check and moderate the language, research the facts, address your counterparts politely, and not just turn TOC into a public toilet into which people pour their emotional trash. If your conscience is clear, if you firmly believe what you say, you should back it up by putting your name (first and last names) behind it.
There is no point digging into the credentials of HRW just to prove that what they say are lies. I am a Singaporean born and bred here and I can testify that what they say are all true and what Ms Chong Wan Yieng says are half truths, half lies and blatant lies. Is the Law Ministry saying that no one was detained here without trial? For goodness sake, stop denying the facts and accept the criticisms and reports from HRW as the truth, blatant truth and nothing but the truth. The Ministry of Law should not make a fool of itself and Singapore. What the Ministry is doing is to tell Singaporeans who are subjected to such repressive laws for years to accept what Ms Chong says as the truth. This is absurd, totally absurd and blatantly absurd. and simply preposterous.
May I take this opportunity to congratulate HRW for a very accurate report of the human rights situation in SIngapore.
Most Singaporeans are not against capital punishment but against the way capital punishment is caried out in Singapore. Lately a man named Roslan who was not at the scene of the crime and yet was sentenced to death based on the talk provided by his accused friends. Lately also, the AG arbitrarily divided the weightage of drugs, allocating more of it to Ramalingam who was thus over the limit allowed by Law and so sentenced to death and his partener in crime got a jail sentence. I am personally in favor of capital punishment because the criminal mind fears no less. But in a judicial system like in Singapore where the judges crumble under orders of their political masters and the AG is nothing but a stooge for the PAP to wipe out their enemies, the jury system also absent , I think capital punishment is just in the wrong hands and bring havoc to society.This Govt is not fit to wield capital punishment.
The Press Secretary to Minister of Law has created a perfect parody when he asserts, the series of status statements about Singapore.
Singaporeans are not secure, they have to look over their shoulders whenever they talk about the Government handling of their housing, medical , job, transport problems. Or swarm of foreigners, nepotism in the highest places, cronyism etc. It is either massive defamation penalties or incarceration by the ISD, True every society strikes its own balance, but Singaporean society has to strike the PAP exceptionalism in all aspects of life. Democracy itself is redefined as a system of Chinese Confucianist obedience to the overlord in absolute terms. Thus the overlord extracts mountains of cash as remuneration for their supply of purely municipal services and as there is no effective opposition, this has gone on for 17 years and is set to continue by Act of Parliament. .National issues are indeed debated in Parliament by predetermined questions posed by a PAP minister and answered by another PAP Minister. There are 82 PAP members against 6 opposition members in Parliament to carry on a "debate..".Elections are on shifting and irrational electoral geographical boundaries and always ( except for the last election in 2011) there is a witch hunt on opposition members for which the compliant courts would destroy by astronomical defamation payout. In their greed for the enhancement of GD, the Govt has unravelled within the last five years, the public healthcare, housing, transport , education and security systems of the country. They did this by importing shiploads of foreign labour and so called foreign talent to work in Singapore, get scholarships to study in universities and get quickie citizenship. At the last count, there are 2 million foreigners granted citzenships in a population of originally 3.5 million.
The police and army in Singapore are no longer focussed on enemies of the State but enemies of the PAP. Security is so lax that a so called Muslim terrorist Mas Selamat could escape from a toilet window and never recaptured y the Govt. The Malaysians recaptured him.The Singapore citiizen is looked down upon by the political elite in Govt as daft, not knowing what is best for himself.This may well be true and may well be the truest statement of all issuing out from this Govt. For 50 years they have stifled freedom of speech, freedom to vote for whichever persons they wish, freedom to think any societal or political thoughts except those officially announced. In short the citizenry have in large proportion been castrated and walk about the market places as political eunuchs, fearful of every shadow of officialdom..
son of s
But in a judicial system like in Singapore where the judges crumble under orders of their political masters and the AG is nothing but a stooge for the PAP to wipe out their enemies, the jury system also absent , I think capital punishment is just in the wrong hands and bring havoc to society.This Govt is not fit to wield capital punishment.
………………………………………………………..
donkey ears ago there was this angmor charbor who was not used to singapoor road drove CARELESSLY killed a korean mother and daughter who was in the middle of the busy road(maybe koreans never seen a zebra crossin)
the angmor charbor was not JAILED for manslaughter(if it was a singapoorium driver..women/child slaughterin already multicharges ) she was given a few slaps on her wrist and a minimal siap siap suuey fines
Pro Democracy camp in ASEAN: Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia
Repressive Regimes: Singapore , Burma, vietnam
On global scale, repressive regimes (some): North Korea, Syria, China, Cuba, SINGAPORE
Well done, Law Minister and PM Lee of SINGAPORE.
To: Ms Chong Wan Yieng
Press Secretary to Minister for Law
i wasn't born yesterday.
Ms Chong Wan Yieng is merely following the practice of her predecessors. Whenever there is a criticism of Singapore's human rights record, she has to respond, even if that criticism is legitimate. To claim that our human rights are protected by our constitution is to make a further mockery of it. What freedom is she talking about when Martyn See is hauled up before the police over a peaceful assembly within closed doors? We all know that our constitution does not have the status of what it claims – that it is the supreme law of Singapore.
BS, BS, BS, BS…
the article is true,so, what are you singaporeans complaining? do u want holigans, drug mules or rapist to screw your life? we are from China and so, Singaporeans should appreciate this govt and the tough laws, if you are all not so happy, why not all go stay in Johor or even Batam or can go to Shenzhen or even Indonesia, you all should sometime really get screwed by this pple then u know what is tough laws like when a little loan sharks already you call angry so much but when pple in govt keep your country safe, you screw and fck your own ass!
Jing, clearly you don't understand what this is all about.