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Singapore

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Campaigns and Advocacy

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Dissident faces repeated imprisonment

Amnesty International is asking for your support to help prominent Singaporean opposition critic and human rights defender Dr. Chee Soon Juan who is facing a prison term or heavy fine. In recent years, Dr. Chee has lost his university post, served seven prison terms and has been banned from contesting parliamentary elections.

From the Communiqué

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Heavy-handed use of libel suits chills free expression

Hard-hitting investigative journalism is virtually nonexistent in Singapore as the government restricts the work of local and foreign journalists by saddling them with defamation suits – silencing them with the threat or crippling them with exorbitant fines, report IFEX members. Meanwhile, other journalists are simply barred from working in the country.

SINGAPORE GETS FAILING GRADE ON HUMAN RIGHTS, SAYS INTERNATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION

Singapore may be one of the world's most successful economies, but when it comes to human rights, it gets a failing grade, says a new report by the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI).

TAKE ACTION! URGE SINGAPORE TO RELEASE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER CHEE SOON JUAN

Human rights defender and pro-democracy activist Chee Soon Juan has been sentenced to jail for three weeks in Singapore for refusing to pay a fine slapped on him for trying to leave the country unauthorised and while bankrupt. Amnesty International Canada has organised an appeal for his release.

SINGAPORE THREATENS TIGHTER CONTROL OVER INTERNET AND FREE EXPRESSION

Singapore, a city-state where high levels of economic development contrast with some of the world's strictest controls on free expression and assembly, plans to tighten laws governing the Internet and public gatherings. The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) have expressed concern about the proposed amendments, which are part of a penal code review.

SINGAPORE CHASTISED BY U.S. ENVOY FOR REPRESSING FREE SPEECH

The Singaporean government has come under criticism by a departing U.S. ambassador, who questioned in a recent speech whether it made sense to limit political expression in an Internet-dominated era, reports the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA).

AUTHOR LAUNCHES BOOK ON INTERNET SURVEILLANCE

Singaporean author and human rights advocate James Gomez will launch his new book "Internet Politics: Surveillance and Intimidation in Singapore" in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, examining how the the Internet is used by the government to conduct surveillance and by the citizens to practice "counter-surveillance."