HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES

Mr Sin Boon Ann asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the Government has responded to the allegations in the US State Department Singapore Country Report on Human Rights Practices 1997, including the allegation that the Government had used the judicial system for political purposes, and, if not, whether the Government intends to respond.

Prof. S. Jayakumar: The Government has given a detailed response to the 1997 US State Department Country Report on Human Rights Practices through an Aide Memoire, which was conveyed to the Embassy of the United States of America on 30th March 1998. The Aide Memoire drew the attention of the Embassy to the errors of fact and misleading allegations contained in the Report. It emphasised that the Singapore Government does not condone human rights abuse and takes a serious view of any allegation of human rights abuse in Singapore.

The Aide Memoire expressed the Government's surprise and regret that the 1997 Report has repeated old allegations that the Government has used libel suits to intimidate the opposition and questioned the independence of the judiciary in Singapore.

The Government rejected these unfounded allegations. It has consistently pointed out that libel and defamation are taken very seriously in Singapore. If the integrity of its political leaders or key institutions is questioned, Singapore leaders will not hesitate to clear their names and protect these institutions through due process of law. Legal action against libel and defamation is an established part of Singapore's political culture that seeks to maintain a high standard of truth and honesty in politics.

It is absurd to claim that the opposition in Singapore has not been able to challenge the dominance of the PAP because it has been intimidated by the threat of libel suits. Opposition leaders have themselves never hesitated to sue in the courts to clear their names when they believed they were defamed. In some cases, they have succeeded.

The allegations against the Singapore Judiciary are also completely unfounded. The Singapore Judiciary and judicial system have consistently received high ratings in eminent international surveys which affirm the independence of the judiciary.

The Government has stated that it is regrettable that the US State Department Report on Human Rights Practices persisted in making unsubstantiated and unwarranted allegations despite the facts being repeatedly drawn to its attention. It has requested the errors of fact and wrongful allegations be brought to the attention of the authors of the Report.