Robert Amsterdam continues to attack Singapore government on Huffington Post
November 12th, 2009 | 
Author: From our Correspondent
Canadian lawyer Robert Amsterdam has continued his tirade against the Singapore government for its “repression” on the U.S.A’s number one internet newspaper Huffington Post!
Mr Amsterdam made headlines last week with the release of a White Paper condemning the Singapore government for its “repression”.
The White Paper – “The Repression of political freedoms in Singapore: The Case of opposition leader Dr Chee Soon Juan” documents the repression of political freedoms in Singapore and outlines how the Government of Singapore, under the leadership of the People’s Action Party (PAP), has monopolized the state’s apparatus to its own benefit. The result has been the denial of basic democratic rights and freedoms.
The press release by Amsterdam & Peroff was given extensive publicity by major news organisations like MSN, AOL, National Examiner and Reuters as well as global investment and trade organisations like Forbes, Breitbart, EuroInvestor and Bizjournals.
Writing on his blog at Huffington Post, Mr Amsterdam implored Mr Obama to meet opposition leader Dr Chee Soon Juan during his visit to Singapore to attend the APEC summit this week “to leaven the president’s praise of Singapore’s autocracy with an acknowledgment that destroying political opposition should not be acceptable in any culture.”
Huffington Post is the most read internet daily in U.S.A with an alexa traffic ranking of 44 in the United States and 157 in Canada.
The Singapore government has issued a 25-page report on its official website rebutting Mr Amsterdam’s claims.
Straits Times journalist Jeremy Au Yong attempted to cast aspersions on the character and credibility of Mr Amsterdam by linking him to the British Secret Service in an article published today.
Unfortunately, both the Singapore government’s website and the Straits Times have limited reach compared to Huffington Post which was widely read by the Americans, Canadians and Europeans.
Despite its detailed explanation to demonize Dr Chee and to defend its repressive laws, foreigners with little knowledge of Singapore are likely to be influenced by Mr Amsterdam’s damaging assessment of the Singapore government’s “human rights records”.
After all, other developed countries in Asia such as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan seldom got themselves embroiled in such controversies and Singapore seems to bear the brunt of criticisms from international NGOs and human rights groups.
The Singapore government should proceed to take legal action against Mr Amsterdam and Huffington Post to defend its reputation. Failure to do so will imply that there is some element of truth in the allegations.
It is pointless to rebuke Mr Amsterdam only in the local press because his target audience is the international community, especially the Americans and Canadians.
The Singapore is fast losing the war of public perception against Dr Chee who has remained a thorn in their flesh.
While Dr Chee is almost certain to be kept out of Singapore parliament for a long time, he retains a considerable influence among human rights groups overseas as evidenced by the number of interviews he had granted to U.S radio stations in this week alone.
The APEC summit is supposed to showcase Singapore as a modern, cosmopolitan and vibrant democracy to the world. It is a shame that the agenda has now been hijacked by Mr Amsterdam, Dr Chee and other NGOs like Amnesty International which recently sent a letter to Canadian Prime Minister urgeing him to uphold Canada’s reputation as a human rights supporter while attending the APEC summit by addressing ongoing human rights concerns in the island nation.
There is a Chinese saying which goes “There is no smoke without fire.” The Singapore government should take the battle straight to their critics by suing them in the courts of their countries rather than waiting passively for them to continue launching their attacks on Singapore whose international image has now been tarnished beyond repair.
Related articles:
>> Singapore govt rebukes white paper’s claims on repression in Singapore
>> Singapore’s ruling party embarrassed by white paper on its repression
>> White paper condemns repression of political freedoms in Singapore
Posted in Editorial
Heh, nicely crafted challenge. I don’t think the MIW’s going to take the bait, though.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
True, there’s always smoke when we light a fire. So who is crafting the fire?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Robert Amsterdam,
keep up the good work ! Kangaroos like Singapore clowns should not be tolerated because just like communist, these kangaroos will spread their oppressive autocratic model onto the world with their nonsensical miraculous story. There is no silver bullet to their success, only propaganda and control of populace and media.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
“Straits Times journalist Jeremy Au Yong attempted to cast aspersions on the character and credibility of Mr Amsterdam by linking him to the British Secret Service in an article published today.”
Jeremy Au Yong is using character assassination just like any pap lackey will give to opp party members. Why didn’t he character assassinate old fart and his family members ? What ? Jeremy is paid to say good words on kangaroo, and to fart the opp party or anyone against the Leegime…. Why didn’t Jeremy write about old fart’s and Nathan as Japanese language translator lackey ?
Haha… Kangaroo! Kangaroo! And more Kangaroos ! Singapore kangaroos give Australia Kangaroo a bad name.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Take a look at this Crime Watch video and decide for yourself
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51KluW5vYk0
Watch the methods the publicly declared to use on peaceful demonstrations.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
UD
How can the MIW respond outside of Singapore? They don’t control the courts there. They dare not even mention about the website YeowCheowTong.com which purveys a load of dirty linen on the MIW’s and their family members. But yet not one word of rebuttal from LKY or any of the MIW’s.
LKY eats his own words all the time. It happened on many occassions and it is happening now. Following what he had said publicly his government should have taken the admin of YeowCheowTong.com to task and sue them if the contents in the site were disparaging. But there has been no rebuttal or challenge and even a denial that the website exists (as one minister puts it) which tells us that there is an element of truth in most of the comments that were published.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Nice try in baiting them. I don’t believe they’ll bite though.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Yes our govt must sue them for interferring with our domestic affair.
Our govt has full evidence so sue them now – Let the whole world know that our govt is correct and they are all wrong.
If our govt dont sue than they are right.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
To “Jim on Thu, 12th Nov 2009 5:23 pm”,
Should be
http://www.yeocheowtong.com/
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
It’s Thursday already. And Airforce 1 is still parked on the tarmac somewhere on US soil.
What does that mean?
Darkness 2009
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Correction
Ya I know. Its understood. I left out the http thing becos its superflous
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
## correction on Thu, 12th Nov 2009 6:11 pm
To “Jim on Thu, 12th Nov 2009 5:23 pm”,
Should be
http://www.yeocheowtong.com/
—————-
A MUST Read for ALL Singaporeans, including MIW Ministers, Party Members and supporters.
You will come away a more informed person :
http://www.yeocheowtong.com/
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Aiyoh!
“Do you approve of Dr Chee Soon Juan using the international media to attack the Singapore government?”
IT SHOULD BE
“Do you approve of Dr Chee Soon Juan using the international media to attack the PAP?”
Remember Singapore Govt != PAP???
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
pls, don’t ask govt to waste our taxpayer’s money by suing.
even if they win the case, what does it proves?
they will just make a laughing stock of singapore.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Singapore Kangaroo has no balls when they are outside this territory, When they are in Singapore, their balls were added with tremendous weigh that can put many alternative parties bankrupt.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Sorry for typo error
http://www.johnharding.com
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
In my humble view, those who have travelled and lived around the world may know that singapore’s Dr Chee is so mild and tamed compared to virtually any opposition leader in the world.
My point is Dr Chee may incorrectly be perceived , due to whatever reasons, as a bad person when in fact, if you scrutinise what he has done and the punishments that had fallen on him, you may actually sympathise with this patriot.
Whatever it is, he is a very gentleman Opposition leader with one of the best ability to challenge the incumbent, all of them.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I think the suing them bit was a joke
THOUGH you never know…..
We did lock out the FEER over an article so maybe they’ll start blocking the Huffpo etc
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Can our government sue this guy, Robert Amsterdam, in the international court?
If can, what are they waiting for.
Hey we had done a great job against Malaysia, we will surely knock this guy, RA, down.
Go, go, go PAP, don’t let them malign you, go and teach him a good lesson.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The govt issued a rebuttal which mentioned that Chiam See Tong had successfully sued and claimed damages against two ministers for defamation.
Anyone can kindly provide the details?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
the FORCE hits back.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Re: “The APEC summit is supposed to showcase Singapore as a modern, cosmopolitan and vibrant democracy to the world.
Good.
The APEC Summit now has the potential to showcase THE TRUTH about Singapore instead; it is definitely a more well rounded picture when Singapore is showcased as tinpot Third World dictatorship hiding behind a facade of modernity.
Re: “It is a shame that the agenda has now been hijacked by Mr Amsterdam, Dr Chee and other NGOs like Amnesty International…”
No, it is NOT!
It is far more of a shame that it has taken this long for such a damning indictment of Singapore.
Re: “The Singapore government should take the battle straight to their critics by suing them in the courts of their countries…”
Warning:
The courts in “those countries” are not Singapore’s Kangaroo courts; they are level playing fields for both defendants and prosecutors.
Do Singaporeans still remember the humiliation that Lee Kuan Yew experienced when he tried – unsuccessfully – to sue Canada’s Globe and Mail; it’s a level playing field out there.
Be careful what you wish for or quit the false bravado.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Kang Ah Loo: “Whatever it is, he is a very gentleman Opposition leader with one of the best ability to challenge the incumbent, all of them”.
Couldn’t agree more with you Mr Kang. Dr Chee is truly a remarkable person who dares to challenge the establishment. Each day, my admiration for this patriot continues to grow as he toils. Thank you Dr Chee for your total devotion, sacrifice and perseverance.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@ oic on Fri, 13th Nov 2009 6:16 am
Yes, only venomous RATTLE SNAKES restrained inside a cage in circus show stock of animals unable to bite circus show customers continue to rattle and rail against this patriot Dr. Chee. He kept us awake all these dark years of sleepiness nights.
We are watching the circus. Thanks Dr. Chee.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
no idea what some ppl are up to.
look at the world!
the people outside singapore can see the clear side of the PAP dogs.
i just dun understand why some singaporeans cannot.
please lah, open eye bigger wider.
otherwise, go migrate and look back.
like the saying goes “Lookers-on See More than the Players”
当局者迷，旁观者清.
vote for the change.
vote oppo.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
There are also alot of ppl outside willing to swop their government with PAP anytime.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@janetnt
Sure there are.
The grass is always greener across the fence for someone at any one point in time.
What matters is whether our PAP govt’s policies are working out well for its citizens.
On that count for many readers here the answer is likely no.
Your comment is characteristic of the type of fearmongering our MSM engages in, where perceived negatives of our regional neighbours are highlighted while shading any successes they may have enjoyed.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
My comment is trying to remind people to keep a balance view. When someone become over zealous with either view, the outcome is always everyone suffer. If the government fail by 10 mark, we say that they failed by 10mark. if they fail by 20 we say 20. If they pass we praise them. Exaggerating and sensationalizing our feedback will only bring about the adverse effect.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
“My comment is trying to remind people to keep a balance view. When someone become over zealous with either view, the outcome is always everyone suffer. ”
ShittyTimes and MIW have balance view, no wonder no one suffers. So am I exaggerating and sensationalizing the feedback ?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@ janetnt on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 11:51 am
But seriously, Janetnt. Your regular prescriptions of profundity in absurdities beat description except this post.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
quss13
Your comment regarding FEER evoked some memories.
I am sure you have heard of Ho Kwon Ping, the CEO of the Banyan Tree Group. Well, in his youthful days he was a correspondent with FEER and he wrote many critical papers regarding the negative aspects of PAP rule in Singapore in that publications quite regularly.
He was incarcerated in our detention centre for a brief period arising out of this (the ISA was used against him for endangering the security of our sovereignty), and was only released upon the goodwill put in by his father, the patriach of the Wah Chang Group. After this brief spell, his anti-PAP stand underwent a corrective phase and he emerged a corporate guy after shedding his political bearings. In 1984 LKY had much difficulty in finding qualified candidates who would toe his line to stand for the elections for that year, and Ho was roped in as a potential candidate who was supposed to stand in Jalan Kayu Constituency. However, the candidacy of Ho was withdrawn (even before it became official) upon his mother’s objection to his involvement. Heng Chiang Meng, a friend of mine, was then pulled in at the eleventh hour to replace him. With barely only 2 or 3 weeks to election time for him to work the Jalan Kayu ground, it was a miracle that Heng won the elections by the hair’s breath given the odds that were against him. That’s why I told him “You are Heng Ah !”
Like or Dislike:
0 
0