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Taken from stomp, one of the best read so far from this local gossip website:

SINGAPORE (AFP) - - Despite its impressive economic development, Singapore fails to meet international standards for political and human rights and there are concerns about the independence of its judiciary, an association of lawyers said. The International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute identified a number of areas in which Singapore fell far short of international norms, said the association's executive director Mark Ellis. "In particular, democratic debate and media comment are extremely restricted and government officials have initiated numerous successful defamation suits against both political and media critics," he said in a statement released late Tuesday in London. The rights institute also issued 18 recommendations, which it said Singapore's government should implement urgently. The group has published a 72-page report on the issue, several months after the IBA held its annual convention in Singapore. The association represents 30,000 lawyers globally. "Singapore cannot continue to claim that civil and political rights must take a back seat to economic rights, as its economic development is now of the highest order," the report said, calling human rights universal and indivisible. The IBA's rights institute "strongly encourages Singapore to engage with the international community in a more constructive manner, and to take steps to implement international standards of human rights throughout Singapore." It called for Singapore to take its place as a regional leader on human rights, democracy and rule of law, as well as in business and economic development. Singapore holds the rotating chair of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, whose new charter calls for establishment of a regional human rights body. The IBA report said the cases of opposition politicians J.B. Jeyaretnam and Chee Soon Juan illustrate concerns over the use of defamation laws to stifle political opposition and expression. J.B. Jeyaretnam, 82, a lawyer, was disbarred when declared bankrupt in 2001 after failing to pay libel damages to members of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), including a former prime minister. Bankrupts are not allowed to run for political office, but last year he cleared his bankruptcy, and has since announced his involvement with a new political party. Chee, secretary general of the Singapore Democratic Party, was declared bankrupt after failing to pay libel damages to Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew and another former prime minister over remarks made in 2001. Chee and his party are awaiting a judge's decision on damages against them in a separate defamation case, filed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his father, Lee Kuan Yew. "It certainly appears that Dr Chee has been made a target by the Singapore government, and that their criticism of him has gone far beyond a reasonable standard," the IBA wrote. It said the Singapore judiciary had a good international reputation when adjudicating commercial cases that did not involve the interests of PAP members or their associates. "However, in cases involving PAP litigants or PAP interests, there are concerns about an actual or apparent lack of impartiality and/or independence," it said. The report expressed concern about "limitations on free assembly" in the city-state, and said the Law Society was not fulfilling its mandate to speak out on law reform issues. Law Society president Michael Hwang told AFP his group could not yet comment because it had only just received the IBA report. Government spokesmen were also not immediately able to react. At the IBA convention last October, Lee Kuan Yew responded to allegations that his country ranked low in matters of press freedom, saying Singaporeans were free to read whatever they wanted. He also said Singapore was built on the rule of law and did not tolerate corruption. This meant defamation action may be taken against those who impute dishonesty to government officials, in order to clear any doubts, he said.

July 9, 2008 S'pore should free courts from govt influence: lawyers group SINGAPORE should free its courts from any government influence and elevate human rights standards to international levels, the world's largest legal association said. The International Bar Association's (IBA) human rights arm expressed concern over the limitations of freedom of expression and the independence of Singapore courts in a 72-page report released late in London on Tuesday. 'In particular, democratic debate and media comment are extremely restricted and government officials have initiated numerous successful defamation suits against both political and media critics,' said the association's executive director Mr Mark Ellis. The global legal association noted that while the city-state had a good reputation when adjudicating commercial cases that did not involve members of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), when it came to matters regarding PAP litigants 'there are concerns about an actual or apparent lack of impartiality'. The London-based body of more than 30,000 member lawyers globally also said that while Singapore fared well in commercial and economic rankings, it fared poorly in press freedom rankings, which it said was a concern given that a free press can generate important dialogue on issues. 'Singapore cannot continue to claim that civil and political rights must take a back seat to economic rights, as its economic development is now of the highest order,' the report said. 'The International Bar Association Human Rights Institute strongly encourages Singapore to engage with the international community in a more constructive manner, and to take steps to implement international standards of human rights,' it said. The Singapore government did not immediately comment. Defamation suits Singapore, where the IBA held its annual conference last year, is among the most developed nations in Asia, with the second highest GDP per capita after Japan. However, media and human rights groups such as Amnesty International have criticised the government for restricting freedom of expression and using defamation lawsuits to financially cripple political opponents. In a list of 18 recommendations, the IBA urged the Singapore government to ratify the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ease restrictions on the media and ensure that its courts are free from government influence. IBA executive director said in a statement Singapore should be a leader in human-rights, and its advancement would be complementary to the city-state's future prosperity. The IBA also noted that some publications, including The Economist and the Financial Times, have paid out-of-court settlements to avoid defamation lawsuits. The government says these lawsuits are needed to protect its reputation. The legal body suggested the government set limits on defamation payouts in cases initiated by government officials. At the convention last October, Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said the city-state's citizens were free to read whatever they wanted. He said Singapore was built on the rule of law and did not tolerate corruption, in contrast to the surrounding region, where 'money politics' was a way of life. That meant defamation action may be taken against those who impute dishonesty among government officials, in order to clear any doubts, he said. -- REUTERS, AFP. http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/...ory_256122.html the IBA will face another defamation suit from MIW... [/color] Let's see if there is any freedom of expression here.... be civil though

171507.2 in reply to 171507.1 http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,...,159831,00.html? Singtel wins exclusive rights for Champions League, Uefa Cup matches from 2009 to 2012 VIEWERS SAY: Pay more? We feel played out By Zubaidah Nazeer March 22, 2008 ? [/url] FOOTBALL fans who want to catch the Champions League and Uefa Cup matches from the later half of next year will have to sign up for SingTel's mio TV and its Internet and mobile services. [/url] Football fans will still be able to catch Champions League matches on ESPNStarSports via StarHub for the 2008/2009 season. --File picture Both Uefa and SingTel released statements yesterday, announcing that SingTel has been awarded the exclusive rights to screen these European club tournaments in Singapore from next year till 2012. In addition to broadcasting the matches on its pay-TV service, SingTel will also screen them through its online portal and in clips over its mobile service. Football fans interviewed by The New Paper said the move seems to put consumers on the losing end. Civil servant Azman Jamil, 48, said: 'I feel like I've been played out. For any soccer fan like me, we consider tournaments like the English Premier League (EPL) and Champions League to be big, so we watch them all. 'So now, you're telling me that I should either pay more to another service provider or not watch it? How is this fair?' Another football fan, 59-year-old NMudin, agreed. He said: 'What they do is not in the best interest of soccer fans. 'Over the years, we have had to pay more for sports channels. Now, even after having paid more, we still can't watch some big-name matches.' Some fans, like Mr Ron Tan, 29, said they are resigned to just watching EPL next time. Mr Tan, a facilities executive, said: 'EPL is a bigger tournament with more matches. 'At most, I'll just go to a pub or the home of a friend who has SingTel's mio TV if I really want to watch a UefaCup or Champions League match next time.' Mr Allen Lew, SingTel's CEO, said mio TV is 'an integral part of the services that SingTel provides, and what drives pay-TV take-up is the quality of content'. Uefa, on a news release posted on its website, welcomed its new Singapore partner. It said: 'The commitment they have made to acquire the media rights is evidence of the tremendous popularity of the Uefa Champions League and the Uefa Cup in Singapore. 'Uefa also thanks ESPN StarSports and StarHub for their excellent contribution to broadcasting the Uefa Champions League and Uefa Cup respectively.' ESPN StarSports has been the sole broadcaster of Champions League matches in Singapore via StarHub cable channels. In reply to our queries, a spokesman for ESPN StarSports said: 'While it has been our best intention to continue showcasing the tournament, we are disappointed that after May 2009, we shall not be able to do so in Singapore.' ESPN StarSports said that it will still be showing the current and following seasons of Champions League matches which run from September to May. STILL SHOWING FA CUP It said its sports offerings remain 'robust and strong', with the English FA Cup and other big-name sports events in the tennis, rugby and cricket arenas. StarHub's spokesman said it did not bid for the broadcast rights to Champions League and Uefa Cup as it had previously been made available via ESPN and StarSports channels. The competition between StarHub and SingTel for the cable subscribers-pie has been fierce. And football, being one of the major reasons that viewers subscribe to pay-TV, is a lucrative market. Just last month, StarHub had announced that it won the bid to screen all the 31 live matches in the upcoming Uefa Euro 2008 Championships this June. After the World Cup, the European Championships is the most-watched football tournament in the world. SingTel missed out on the chance to broadcast live EPL matches, when StarHub outbid both SingTel and ESPN StarSports in late 2006 for the rights to broadcast EPL matches here. StarHub paid an estimated $250 million for this, or four times the previous price. It then raised subscription cost for its sports channels to $25, up from $15. ******************************************************************************** ** so i want to watch EPL i subscribe to Starhub, next time wan to watch Championship league, i have to subscribe to MIO TV KNN...

if there are no discussion how to move forward many people like myself want to know more about them so that we can learn to respect them as members of our society more in short, i disagree that any "handicap" in our little red dot is useless not every school drop out is another lost cause ... look at bill gates .... seriously, if we cannot stage protest, can even discuss in public than how to move forward have anyway here drive a car with only two gears ..... NEUTRAL & REVERSE http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SIN...-08-03-10-48-38