Unanswered questions on democracy and accountability in Singapore.
A crowd of 50 Singaporeans and their supporters gave a rowsing 'welcome' to Brigadier-General Lee Hsien Loong on his arrival at a ABN-AMRO Bank dinner in Sydney on Monday 5 June 2000. The demonstration was organised under the auspices of the 'Singaporeans for Democracy'. The event was covered by several media groups including CNN and its cable affiliates.
Brigadier General Lee's modest motorcade was heckled by expatriate Singaporeans disgruntled by recent news of government mismanagement of CPF funds through the secretive Singapore Government Investment Corporation (SGIC).
The SGIC is headed by Brigadier General Lee Hsien Loong and his 77 year old father, 'Senior Minister' Lee Kuan Yew.Recent non-government reports have given rise to concern that the Sing$120billion national reserve, of which compulsory CPF superannuation payments comprise a large proportion of, have been depleted as a result of the failure of numerous pet-projects masterminded by the 77 year old Lee Kuan Yew, and the fall in the value of derivative investments during the recent Asian Financial Crisis. At the moment the SGIC is not accountable to parliament and even ignore public and opposition calls for transparency.
Also present were Burmese organisations concerned by the heavy involvement of Singaporean government investments in support of the oppressive military regime in Burma. Singapore is presently the largest foreign investor in Burma, ignoring the European Union and US led boycott of commercial links with the Burmese military regime. Recent articles in the South China Morning Post and other USA-based journals have linked the Singapore government to the laundering of money for illegal Burmese drug lords and businesses. Lo Hsing Han, a Burmese drug lord recognised by the US State department and his son openly base their extensive business HQ in Singapore.
