EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT'S RESOLUTION ON CHIA THYE POH

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the government has received the resolution of the European Parliament calling for the immediate release of Mr Chia Thye Poh and, if so, whether it has replied to the European Parliament and in what terms.

Mr S. Dhanabalan: The European Parliament adopted a resolution on 13 March 1986 calling for the immediate release of Chia Thye Poh. The resolution was communicated by the Secretary-General of the European Parliament to the Singapore representative to the European Communities, in a letter dated 27 March 1986.

The Government does not have to justify its decision on Chia Thye Poh to anyone other than the people of Singapore. Our representative explained to the European Parliament that Chia Thye Poh has been told that he will be released if he gives a simple undertaking to renounce the use of force to overthrow the Government. Alternatively he can go to any country willing to accept him. Any country in the European Community can offer to receive him.

The issue has not been raised since then.