Fwd: [ASEANcats] Human Rights Watch -- Media Advisory Singapore: Appeals Court Upholds Ruling Against Government Critic
anityasarva 00
From: Phil Robertson <rea...@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 27 May 2011 09:10:23 +0700
Subject: [ASEANcats] Human Rights Watch -- Media Advisory Singapore:
Appeals Court Upholds Ruling Against Government Critic
To: Phil Robertson <Rob...@hrw.org>
**** Media Advisory ****
* *
*Singapore: Appeals Court Upholds Ruling Against Government Critic*
(New York, May 27, 2011) – The Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold the
author Alan Shadrake’s contempt of court sentence for “scandalizing the
judiciary” is a major setback for free expression in Singapore, Human Rights
Watch said today. The charges should be dropped, Human Rights Watch said.
On May 27, 2011, the appeals court upheld British national Shadrake’s
original sentence of six weeks in prison and a S$20,000 (US$16,000) fine. He
had been charged for the allegation in his 2010 book, *Once a Jolly Hangman:
Singapore Justice in the Dock*, that mandatory death penalty decisions were
not always equitably applied in Singapore. He contended that the justice
system was subject to political and economic factors, including pressure
from the ruling People’s Action Party. At Shadrake’s appeal on April 11, the
prosecutor contended that he had “transgressed the limits of free speech and
fair criticism and maligned the entire judiciary.”
“The prosecution of Alan Shadrake for doing nothing more than calling for
legal reform is a devastating blow to free speech in Singapore,” said Phil
Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “More broadly, until
the government releases its iron grip on basic freedoms, the Singaporean
people will remain all the poorer.”
*For more Human Rights Watch reporting on Shadrake’s arrest, detention,
trial, and appeal, please visit:*
-
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/07/28/singapore-legal-charges-threat-freedom-expression
-
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/04/08/singapore-court-hear-appeal-critic-judiciary
-
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/11/08/singapore-drop-charges-against-author-who-raised-rights-concerns
* *
*For more information, please contact:
*In Bangkok, Phil Robertson (English, Thai): +66-85-060-8406 (mobile); or
rob...@hrw.org
In London, Brad Adams (English): +44-7908-728-333 (mobile); or
ada...@hrw.org<../../../../../semogak/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/12KVA125/ada...@hrw.org>
*
*In Washington, DC, Sophie Richardson (English, Mandarin): +1-202-612-4341;
or +1-917-721-7473 (mobile); or ric...@hrw.org
In New York, Mickey Spiegel (English): +1-212-216-1229; or spi...@hrw.org
--
Phil Robertson
Mobile phone: +66-85-060-8406
skype: philrobertsonjr
email: Rea...@gmail.com
"And I learn not to forget to walk the road in my rhythm
Put my faith in the hands of time
Everything comes for a reason
And life is something sublime..."
-- Anggun
--
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