Singaporeans vote in general election

[alp227]

Source: BBC News

Singapore is going to the polls today in the most hotly contested general election in recent memory.

Politics in the tiny but hugely wealthy state have been dominated by the current ruling party since independence in 1965.

But a decision by opposition parties to co-ordinate more closely, and a huge rise in the use of social media, has created a greater sense of competition.

The issue dominating discussion is the economy.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13313695

[Kolesar]

1. The Lee-family government dissolved the opposition Singapore Democratic Party

A kangaroo court decided that their organizing rally was illegal and then fined them for every dollar in their bank account(s).

Singapore is run by despots. President Lee passed power to his son a few years ago. Singaporese people should demand better.

[nyy1998]

2. They actually are quite active on internet forums and feeding out criticism and our quite responsive

And if you've ever been, you'll find that it's a really well-run city. Yes it's a dictatorship, but a rather effective one and their human rights record is fairly competitive with just about any Western country. Yeah, they have the caning but they rarely use it and they mostly punish through pretty tough fines.

[DumpDavisHogg]

3. It's illegal to chew bubble gum there, for crying out loud (n/t)

[nyy1998]

4. lol, it didn't disprove my point but as a gum lover, i'm not going to defend that law nt

[Kolesar]

5. Human Rights Watch articles on the Singapore dictatorship

http://www.hrw.org/en/search/apachesolr_search/singapore

Search results

Singapore: Drop Charges Against Opposition Leader
is not a dead letter in Singapore." Chee, 48, is the secretary-general of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP). He was convicted four times, in each case for speaking in a public area ... is currently prohibited under the Singaporean constitution from serving in Parliament. Section 45 of Singapore ...

News - 02/08/2011


Singapore: Court to Hear Appeal by Critic of Judiciary
(New York) - On April 11, 2011, the Singapore Court of Appeal will hear the case of Alan Shadrake ... of his contempt of court conviction could have important implications for free expression in Singapore, Human Rights Watch said today. The Singapore High Court found Shadrake guilty on November 3, 2010 ...

News - 04/08/2011

Singapore: Drop Charges Against Author Who Raised Rights Concerns
(New York) - The Singapore government should exonerate a British author who was convicted for contempt of court for his criticism of Singapore's justice system, Human Rights Watch said today. On November 9, 2010, the Singapore high court will impose a criminal sentence against Alan Shadrake, a 76-year ...

News - 11/08/2010

Singapore: Hocus Pocus Hides Rights Abuses
(New York) - Singapore's stated goal of updating its political system in time for the 2011 ... . In Singapore, during 2010, the government restricted freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly ... ;quot;Behind the facade of a dynamic and open Singapore promoted by the government is a more sinister reality ...