Civil Society
Can Singapore Government’s Statutory Boards sue Singapore citizens for defamation?
Speech by Han Hui Hui at the National Day Celebrations at Hong Lim Park. She speaks about the letter of demand from Singapore’s biggest law firm, Allen and Gledhill that she had defamed the Council for Private Education (CPE) through her email and asked whether a statutory board which is part of the government body sue a citizens for defamation.
[blockquote style=”3″]Han Hui Hui has created a blog dedicated to her case and is currently raising funds to fight her case. http://statboard-suecitizen.blogspot.sg/[/blockquote]Good afternoon everyone, my name is Han Hui Hui.
On 15th April this year, I received a letter of demand from Singapore’s biggest law firm, Allen and Gledhill.
It states that I’ve defamed the council for private education through my email.
I was only 21 years old and I was puzzled.How can them, CPE, a statutory board, a government body threaten to sue me a Singaporean for defamation?
How is asking questions defamatory?
Where is our freedom of speech?
Is this what they call a fair and just society last night?So I sent the letter of demand to more than ten law firms out there but they were afraid to take up this case.
That was when I know our courageous lawyer Mr M Ravi.
As a human rights lawyer, he explained that the freedom of speech, enshrined in article 14 of the Singapore constitution, protects Singaporeans from defamation proceedings by the government and public bodies.
The right to sue for defamation is reserved only for individuals and private entities, not public bodies.On 19th April, I went to the high court to seek declaration that CPE being a government body does not have the rights to sue or threaten to sue Singaporeans for defamation.
I’m now seeking protection against this defamation suit via the constitution and the ordinary laws of the land.
This lawsuit is not for anyone but for everyone, for the entire Singapore population, for the sake of our freedom of speech.
I took up this case not because I’m against the government but because of the love for our country, the need to protect human rights, our constitutional rights, our freedom of speech, our basic citizens’ rights.Who does the CPE reports to? The ministry of education.
Who does MOE reports to? The parliament.
Who pays them their salary? Us, we the taxpayers.
How can they use our money to sue us for defamation?The attorney general’s chamber is now involved as well.
The fact that AGC, the government is being involved further shows that our stand that the CPE a government body under Ministry of education does not have the right to sue for defamation.
If public bodies funded by the public, can sue for defamation this will result in a stifling of criticisms, or genuine grievances, especially from those who do not have such an amount of resources.
How can they use their public fund to sue us?We should not allow public bodies to use lawsuits to silence criticisms against them.
Why is the government going against our most creative cartoonist Mr Leslie Chew?
Did any of his work Demon-cratic caused violence or people to have inability to pay their bills or be forced to leave the country?
We need to build a stronger and more inclusive Singapore so can we have our freedom of speech to hear the voice of everyone?
So our constitutional rights must be upheld against being sued for defamation by public bodies.Statutory board being a governmental body does not have the rights to sue or threaten to sue Singaporeans.
I can forget about this case, I can forget about this lawsuit, I don’t have to fight this lawsuit especially when they’re trying to negotiate with me now.
But I want to protect the rights of all other Singaporeans out there.
Should we fight for our constitutional rights and the future of Singaporeans?How would we ever know even if they are in the wrong?
If we do not love Singapore, if we do not love our own country, would we be here today?
Singaporeans, it’s time for us to play our part for the sake of our future.
Thank you very much.Happy national day and Selemat Hari Raya.
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Civil Society
Thailand withdraws reservation on refugee children’s rights, welcomed by UN Human Rights Office
Thailand’s withdrawal of its reservation on Article 22 of the CRC is hailed by the UN, marking a key step in enhancing protections for refugee and asylum-seeking children.
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The UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia (OHCHR) has praised Thailand for its decision to withdraw its reservation on Article 22 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), a move expected to improve the protection of refugee and asylum-seeking children in the country.
Cynthia Veliko, the OHCHR Representative for South-East Asia, hailed the decision, calling it “a significant, positive step” toward aligning Thailand’s laws with international standards. “This move helps protect the rights of all children on the move, no matter their nationality or origin,” Veliko said.
The Thai Cabinet’s decision to withdraw the reservation took effect on 30 August 2024. Article 22 of the CRC ensures that refugee and asylum-seeking children receive protection, humanitarian assistance, and equal access to services provided to national children, in line with international human rights laws to which Thailand is a party.
This withdrawal is also expected to strengthen the implementation of Thailand’s National Screening Mechanism (NSM), introduced on 22 September 2023.
The NSM grants the status of “protected person” to individuals who cannot return to their home countries due to the fear of persecution. However, despite these legal advancements, children without legal status in Thailand remain at risk of being detained in immigration facilities.
The UN has raised concerns over the continued detention of children despite the Thai government’s 2019 Memorandum of Understanding on Alternatives to the Detention of Children (MOU-ATD). The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has reaffirmed that every child has a fundamental right to liberty and should not be detained based on their migration status.
Veliko urged Thailand to focus on ending child immigration detention and adopting human rights-based alternatives.
“Children on the move are children first and foremost,” Veliko stressed, adding that detention due to migration status is never in the best interests of children.
The UN Human Rights Office expressed its readiness to assist the Thai government in developing alternatives to detention, ensuring that all children receive the protection and care they need.
Civil Society
FORUM-ASIA condemns Myanmar junta’s forced conscription expansion, urges international action
FORUM-ASIA condemns Myanmar’s military junta for expanding forced conscription, calling it a desperate bid to maintain power. The policy, affecting men aged 35 to 60, adds to a long list of human rights violations, including forced labor and the use of civilians as human shields.
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The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) has condemned the Myanmar military junta’s recent decision to expand the age limit of its forced conscription policy, calling on the international community to stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar.
The move is seen as a desperate attempt by the junta to maintain control in the face of a growing pro-democracy resistance movement.
On 25 August 2024, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing announced the introduction of a new “security system with public participation.”
This system would require men aged 35 to 60 to serve as guards, potentially placing them on the frontlines of conflict. The announcement follows the formation of the Central Supervisory Committee for People’s Security and Anti-Terrorism on 16 August, tasked with organizing military training and overseeing “people’s security and anti-terrorism” groups at various administrative levels.
The junta’s plan builds upon the forced conscription policy it implemented on 10 February 2024, invoking the 2010 People’s Military Service Law.
The law mandates men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 to serve two years in the military, with professionals like doctors and engineers potentially serving up to five years. Those who evade service or assist others in doing so face up to five years in prison. As part of this policy, the junta planned to conscript 5,000 individuals monthly from April 2024.
#Myanmar’s junta has begun implementing a conscription law to replenish its depleted ranks. pic.twitter.com/YaQ2s83d69
— Radio Free Asia (@RadioFreeAsia) April 18, 2024
Myanmar youth are still risking their lives protesting against recent mandatory conscription law. Stay safe guys. pic.twitter.com/gFJDesRMyT
— Hsan (@HsanLoatheCoup) April 8, 2024
Civilians as Human Shields and Forced Labor
FORUM-ASIA has condemned the junta’s forced conscription policies, highlighting the military’s history of using civilians as human shields and forcing them into hard labor.
The International Labour Organization’s Commission of Inquiry found in October 2023 that the military continues to impose forced labor amidst the ongoing armed conflict, a practice that has escalated since the 2021 coup attempt.
Local news and human rights groups have reported that the junta is also abducting and arresting citizens to use as human shields, further contributing to the human rights violations in Myanmar. Many youths, rather than being conscripted into fighting for a regime they oppose, have fled their homes to join the resistance.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed concern over the junta’s detention and recruitment of Myanmar youth. Meanwhile, Tom Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, noted the junta’s increasing use of powerful weapons against civilians as troop losses and recruitment challenges mount.
Call for Action
FORUM-ASIA is calling on the Myanmar military junta to immediately halt its forced conscription, abductions, forced labor, and the use of civilians as human shields.
“FORUM-ASIA urges the international community, including the UN and ASEAN, to thoroughly investigate the Myanmar military junta’s long list of human rights violations. The junta should be held accountable for all its crimes through sanctions and other punitive measures,” said Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso, Executive Director of FORUM-ASIA.
“The international community must urgently isolate the junta and support the people of Myanmar in their struggle for justice and freedom,” Bacalso added.
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