6 Mar 2006

Open letter to Singapore PM

Open letter to Singapore PM on WB-IMF meeting on Sept 19-20, 2006
By hegelchong
Created Feb 21 2006 - 08:34

During the SAPA (Strategic Action Planning for Advocacy) meeting in Bangkok (Feb. 3-4), many participants, from Singapore and other national, regional and international organizations expressed their concerns about possible restrictions and threats (including caning for protestors) being made by Singaporean authorities regarding civil society actions at the September meeting of World Bank and IMF in Singapore.

Participants decided that as the first response, concerned civil society groups should send a letter to the Singaporean authorities expressing our concerns.

Below is the open letter drafted by some participants. Should you want to endorse this open letter, please email your name and the name of your organization to ruki@forum-asia.org. Please circulate this also amongst your networks and encourage more civil society groups to join this campaign. Thank you.

8th February 2006

Mr Lee Hsien Loong
Prime Minister
Republic of Singapore

CC.
Ms. Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Ms. Hina Jilani, Special Representative of the (UN) Secretary General on Human Rights Defenders
Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom opinion and expression of the UN Commission on Human Rights
Mr. Manfred Nowak, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of the UN Commission on Human Rights
Mr. Paul Wolfowitz, President, World Bank
Mr. Rodrigo de Rato y Figaredo, Managing Director, IMF

Dear Mr. Lee Hsien Loong;

As a network of the national, regional and international civil society organisations, we the undersigned express our grave concerns about the impending restrictions and threats reportedly being made that will hamper meaningful civil society participation at the upcoming WB-IMF meeting in Singapore, 19-20 September 2006. These threats and restrictions will jeopardize civil society engagement with various inter-governmental bodies on strategic issues such as trade, aid, debt, sustainable development, human rights, peace and human security.

We understand that your government, as well as WB-IMF, are making some arrangements for actions by foreign NGOs, during the above meetings. In our experience such regulated processes tend to be selective, exclusive and provide very limited opportunities for the expression of civil society voices, particularly of marginalised groups who are directly affected by the deliberations and decisions of these meetings. Thus, we would like to highlight the importance of spontaneous and unrestricted civil society actions before, during and after the WB-IMF meeting.

We are also concerned by reports that only selected foreign organisations may be “allowed” to stage peaceful protests – waiving the rules that normally apply in Singapore – and that like-minded Singaporean organisations will not be allowed to do so. We emphasise that freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, particularly the right to organize and participate in peaceful protests are universal rights that should be enjoyed by all people, including Singaporean people and organisations.

We consider statements such as the one reportedly made by Mr Wong Kan Seng, Singapore Home Affairs Minister, that certain civil society actions may “attract severe punishment, including caning and imprisonment”, as veiled threats towards civil society.

The World Bank – IMF meeting in September is not a meeting that concerns only Singapore. Its deliberations and decisions will affect millions of people in hundreds of countries. Hence it will bring thousands of activists from all parts of the world to Singapore, and the eyes of the world will be on this country.

This will be an excellent opportunity for Singapore to display its respect and commitment to uphold universally-recognised human rights standards, particularly freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. Restrictions on peaceful civil society actions of any kind and threats of using cruel, inhumane and degrading punishments such as caning will only erode Singapore’s credibility in the eyes of global civil society.

We look forward to your response to our concerns.

Sincerely yours,

1. Anselmo Lee, Executive Director, FORUM-ASIA
2. Sinapan Samydorai, President, THINK CENTRE
3. Debbie Stothard, Coordinator, ALTSEAN-Burma
4. Lucia Victor Jayaseelan, Coordinator, Committee for Asian Women
5. Al Alegre, Executive Director, Foundation for Media Alternatives
6. Aileen Bacalso, Secretary-General, Asian Federation Against Disappearance
7. Fred Lubang, Regional Representative, Nonviolence International
8. Lidy Nacpil, International Coordinator, Jubilee South
9. Jenina Joy Chavez, Senior Associate, Focus on the Global South
10. Irene Xavier, Coordinator, TIE Asia
11. Hye-Woo Na, Coordinator, Leaders and Organizers of Community Organization in Asia
12. Zinithiya Ganespanchan, Coordinator, Women's Network for Peace and Freedom
13. Wilfred Dcosta, General Secretary, Indian Social Action Forum
14. Khalid Hayat, Balochistan Rural Development & Research Society
15. Sultana Kamal, Executive Director, AIN O SALISH KENDRA
16. Anis Hidayah, Migrant Care, Perhimpunan Indonesia
17. Agnes Khoo, Executive Director, Asian Regional Exchange for New Alternatives
18. Mohiuddin Ahmad, Regional Committee, Jubilee South/Asia-Pacific Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD)
19. Hemantha Withanage, Executive Director, NGO Forum on ADB
20. Ana Maria R. Nemenzo, Freedom from Debt Coalition
21. Steve Hellinger, President, The Development GAP
22. Bernadette T. Aquino, World Council of Churches Women and Globalization Program
23. Danielle Mahones, Executive Director, Center for Third World Organizing
24. Deus M. Kibamba, Gender Networking Programme
25. Andrew Mushi, Tanzania Association of Non Governmental Organisations
26. Mouafo Florent Noel, Centre for Promotion of Social and Economic Alternatives
27. Novita M. Tantri, Yayasan NADI
28. Rosemarie R. Trajano, Executive Director, Kanlungan Center Foundation
29. Nikki Reisch, Africa Program Manager, Bank Information Center
30. Dr. Mala Bhandari, Social and Development Research & Action Group NOIDA, India
31. Virgilio da Silva Guterres, President, Timor-Lorosa'e Journalists' Association (TLJA
32. John Mihevc, Chair, Halifax Initiative Coalition, Canada
33. Chris Wangkay, Coordinator for Debt Campaign, INFID (International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development)

Please contact Ruki Fernando, Coordinator of Human Rights Defenders Program of FORUM-ASIA (+66-4-0991538 / ruki@forum-asia.org) for further details and information.

8 comments:

rench00 said...

i wonder... if we asked all Singaporeans to vote whether we would allow protests in Singapore when IMF and WB meets here, and if a majority of Singaporeans vote to not allow protests, would these people who are signing this letter respect the wishes of the Singaporean people?

Anonymous said...

You joking right Rench00, we can't even vote for the Presidential elections and you want Sngaporeans to vote for whether other people can protest or not har. How bread and butter is that?

At any rate, the typical response from the gahmen will be that Singapore will strive it best to protect its sovereignty, and will not be pressured by people with no stake in Singapore to destabilise the society by bringing in undesirable values that are detrimental to the functioning of the Singaporean society.

rench00 said...

no la... i'm not saying that such a referrendum would happen. i'm just wondering if it happens, and if the result is that Singaporeans vote against protests, then will the 'general will' of the Singaporean people be respected.

Anonymous said...

Overseas self-righteous so-called do-gooders don't give a shit if all Singapore voted against protesting. Look at Palestine, Hamas was democratically voted into power and Western countries are aghast at how 'stupid' the Palestinians are.

rench00 said...

ha... well put anonymous... i have the same sentiments.

Anonymous said...

really? the EU has approved going ahead with aid to the palestinians which was held back after Hamas' victory. Only the USA, with strong jewish lobbyists, continues to desist.

Anonymous said...

Singaporean wont protest in the main street. Why? You will be taken away by the police. Why? because some citizens will defintely going to report you to the police....

Then on the other note, if I can vote for legal protesting in SG, do i vote 'For' or 'Against'? Its an 'against'. WHY? I dont want the trains to stop service, the buses to stop services, shopping centers closed, SIA missing flights here n there, and lastly, i dont have time for protest, peaceful protest or strike! No efficiency

Look at other asian ctries ard SG. Philipines get their current President through 'human power-protest n strike'. So? How well does the current govt perform? And even the citizens are sick of 'human power'. They are losing faith in it as well.

What i like to see from SG, is a VERY fair, equal election! same treatments given to all estates!

oh yes, i dislike the name of this blog. whats bloodypore? yucks. :P

Anonymous said...

if there is a protest i want to see the protest be AUSTRALIANS and MALAYSIANS OUT OF SG!