(Apologies if you receive this more than once; fell free to repost)
=============
Dear colleagues, comrades
In a meeting in Bangkok early this month, regional NGO advocacy organizations
agreed to draft a letter to Singapore, expressing 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.
The original message from Anselmo of Forum Asia, the draft letter, as well as
background news articles are pasted below (pls email me separately if you want
.doc versions/attachments).
The effort is being coordinated by Forum Asia, and they have set this Friday the
17th of Feb as a deadline for endorsements to the letter to be sent.
If your organization is are interested in signing on, please send your info
(*Name, Position, Organization, E-Mail / Tel)* directly to Ruki of Forum Asia
(you can copy to my email address) (ruki@forum-asia.org / Fax: +66-2-3918764 /
Tel: +66-4-0991538). You could also contact Ruki for further details.
in solidarity
Al Alegre
FMA/APC/CRIS
----- Original Message -----
From: Anselmo <anselmo@forum-asia.org>
> Dear friends of SAPA,
>
> 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 and attached is the open letter drafted by some participants. Please
> let us know if your organization wants to endorse this open letter. Some
> background information is also attached and below.
>
> If your organization would like to join this campaign, please inform Ruki
> (ruki@forum-asia.org / Fax: +66-2-3918764 / Tel: +66-4-0991538) before 17th
> February 2006 Next Friday. You could also contact Ruki for further details.
>
> Please circulate this also amongst your networks and encourage more civil
> society groups to join this campaign.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Anselmo Lee
> Executive Director
> FORUM-ASIA Secretariat
> Baan Vichien, Apartment 3B, 220 Soi Sukhumvit 49/12,
> Klongton Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
>
> Tel : +66 (0)2 391 8801(ext. 502) / Fax : +66 (0)2 391 8764 / Mobile (0)1868
9178
>
> <mailto:info@forum-asia.org> info@forum-asia.org /
> <mailto:anselmo@forum-asia.org> anselmo@forum-asia.org /
> <http://www.forum-asia.org> www.forum-asia.org
>
>
> Asian Solidarity and Human Rights for All
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
DRAFT LETTER
> 8th February 2006
>
> Mr Lee Hsien Loong
> Prime Minister
> Republic of Singapore
>
> Dear Mr Lee Hsien Loong
>
> Open letter to the Government of Singapore on civil society participation in
> World Bank - International Monetary Fund (WB-IMF) meeting in Singapore,
> 19-20 September 2006
>
> 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, particular 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.
>
> Please contact Ruki Fernando, Coordinator of Human Rights Defenders Program
> of FORUM-ASIA (+66-4-0991538 / <mailto:ruki@forum-asia.org>
> ruki@forum-asia.org) for further details and information.
>
>
> Sincerely yours,
>
> Name
> Position
> Organization
> E-Mail / Tel
>
> CC.
>
> 1. Ms. Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
> 2. Ms. Hina Jilani, Special Representative of the (UN) Secretary General on
Human Rights Defenders
> 3. 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
> 4. Mr. Manfred Nowak, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman
or degrading treatment or punishment of the UN
> Commission on Human Rights
> 5. Mr. Paul Wolfowitz, President, World Bank
> 6. Mr. Rodrigo de Rato y Figaredo, Managing Director, IMF
>
=============================
BACKGROUND MATERIALS
> Articles and links regarding Singapore government's position announcement
> about possible measures on protest at the World Bank - IMF meeting (19th -
> 20th September 2006) in Singapore
>
> 1. Reuters Article - 17th January 2006
> 2. Associated Press - 17th January 2006
> 3. Financial Times - 17th January 2006
--------------------------------
>
> Singapore's government said it is prepared to cane or imprison protesters
> who commit violent crimes during the annual World Bank and International
> Monetary Fund meetings, to be held in the city-state in September.
>
> The World Bank and IMF expect about 16,000 people to attend their annual
> meetings, which often attract anti-globalization demonstrations and other
> protesters.
>
> Tightly controlled Singapore bans public demonstrations or protests, and
> uses punishments including caning and the death penalty to curb crime.
>
> "The Police would not hesitate to investigate and prosecute any breach of
> our laws," Wong Kan Seng, Singapore's Minister for Home Affairs, told
> Parliament on Monday, according to a written answer to questions distributed
> by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts on Tuesday.
>
> "This is especially so for any person or groups committing violent crimes
> such as vandalism, arson, and causing hurt which would attract severe
> punishment, including caning and imprisonment," Wong said.
>
> Singapore attracted worldwide attention in 1994 when an American teenager,
> Michael Fay, was caned for vandalism.
>
> The city-state is keen to attract more conferences and other big events to
> boost tourism. The World Bank/IMF meeting is an opportunity for it to show
> off its modern infrastructure.
>
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4619444.stm
>
----------------------------------------
> 2. Associated Press - January 17, 2006
>
> Singapore said it will use severe punishments such as caning on protesters
> who commit violent acts during the annual International Monetary Fund and
> World Bank meetings in the city-state this year.
>
> Security will be tight for the September meetings, and authorities have been
> upgrading their ability to deal with public disturbances, Home Affairs
> Minister Wong Kan Seng said in a written statement issued Tuesday, Jan 17.
>
> "The police would not hesitate to investigate and prosecute any breach of
> our laws," said Wong, who is also deputy prime minister. "This is especially
> so for any person or groups committing violent crimes such as vandalism,
> arson and causing hurt, which would attract severe punishment, including
> caning and imprisonment."
>
> Wong was responding to a lawmaker's question in Parliament on Monday about
> how Singapore - whose government craves order and sharply limits public
> protest - planned to handle potential street chaos that often accompanies
> international economic summits.
>
> On Sept 19-20, 2006, Singapore will host 16,000 delegates and visitors for
> the meetings that are held outside Washington every three years.
>
> Activists have often converged on international economic forum venues to
> protest globalization, saying it benefits rich nations at the expense of
> poor ones. Public protests are extremely rare in Singapore, where outdoor
> gatherings of more than four people require a police permit.
>
> Caning is a routine punishment for vandals, sex offenders and some other
> criminals, who are strapped to a wooden frame and lashed across the bare
> buttocks with a long rattan stick.
>
> The practice drew Washington's ire and world attention in 1994, when US teen
> Michael Fay was caned for vandalism.
>
> Wong said Singapore would respect the custom of the IMF and the World Bank
> to engage accredited civic groups at meetings.
>
> Members of such groups must abide by Singapore's laws on demonstrations, he
> said.
>
> "Police officers will be deployed at such locations to respond swiftly to
> deal with violent protesters and restore law and order," Wong said.
>
> Police have "also conducted study trips to various conferences around the
> world to learn from the organizers and the police forces on dealing with
> such protests," he said.
>
> http://www.singapore-window.org/sw06/060117a1.htm
>
------------------------------------------------
> 3. Financial Times - January 17, 2006
>
> Singapore acceded to the request by the IMF and World Bank allowing
> demonstrations to gain the right to host what is expected to be the biggest
> meeting in the city-state=92s history.
>
> But Wong Kan Seng, the home affairs minister and deputy prime minister, said
> Singapore reserved the right to vet further the accredited group to
> determine =93the potential impact on law and order as well as the
> suitability of the proposed [rally] location=94 before a police permit would
> be issued. Violent protesters would face the threat of caning and
> imprisonment, as prescribed under Singapore law, he said.
>
> http://news.ft.com/cms/s/8b40203e-87b8-11da-8762-0000779e2340.html