Watchdog calls for Singapore opposition leader release
Chee Soon Juan, one of the city-state's most vocal opposition politicians and leader of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), was jailed on Nov. 23 after failing to pay a S$5,000 ($3,249) fine for illegally speaking in public before elections last May.
"Chee Soon Juan is being arbitrarily detained for exercising his right to free expression and should be immediately and unconditionally released," the U.S.-based human rights group said in a statement posted on its website (http://www.hrw.org/).
Under Singapore's laws, public speaking is prohibited unless the speaker has been licensed by the government.
A campaigner for human rights and free speech, Chee -- declared bankrupt in February after failing to make libel payments of S$500,000 to former prime ministers Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong -- has had multiple run-ins with the government.
He has been in prison several times. He was jailed for eight days in March for questioning the independence of the judiciary, and in both 2002 and 1999 for speaking in public without a permit. "Once again, the Singaporean government has reacted to public criticism by jailing the critic," Brad Adams, Human Rights Watch's Asia director said in the statement. "Dr. Chee should be released immediately, before his health deteriorates further."
Chee -- who also faces a defamation lawsuit by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his father Lee Kuan Yew over an article in the SDP's newsletter -- was hospitalized on Sunday following complaints of nausea after eating prison food.
His supporters have expressed concerns over food he was served in prison, but government officials say an examination of the food had shown it was not the cause of Chee's discomfort.
Chee's sister, Chee Siok Chin, also a senior member of the SDP, said the opposition leader has lost about 5 kg (11 lb) since being jailed, and has been suffering from abdominal pains and extremely low blood pressure. She said doctors had also found traces of blood in his urine.