Below are two articles that reported on the Asian Democracy forum organised by the Open Singapore Centre, 5th August 2000. What would have like to have known about the forum. Read the articles below and make up your own mind.
Hong Kong Legislator Calls For More Liberty in Singapore
Martin Lee Says Patience, Tenacity Will Pay Off By Richard Borsuk staff reporter, 8th August 2000
SINGAPORE- Hong Kong democracy activist Martin Lee, in remarks not reported in the English-language Singapore media, has criticized the city-state's political system at a seminar here that he said he hopes will 'ignite' the 'flame of democracy' in Singapore.
Mr.Lee, a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council and chairman of the Democratic Party, was a speaker at a forum Saturday organized by the Open Singapore Center, a group led by opposition Singapore politicians J.B.Jeyaretnam and Chee Soon Juan. Other speakers at the forum on political 'openness' in Asia, attended by 90 people, were a member of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party and the vice-chairman of Malaysia's opposition Democratic Action Party.
The outspoken Mr.Lee said that when he was invited to speak, 'I never thought this (seminar) could be organized in Singapore,'' adding that he was 'sure we couldn't have this kind of discussion in Beijing.' But he said that Singapore, like Hong Kong, isn't democratic and that all societies should promote democracy.
'What's this nonsense about different Asian values when it comes to basic human rights?' he said. Mr.Lee also said that if people in Singapore and Hong Kong hold on to principles and 'don't give up, one day we'll be like South Korea, we'll be like Taiwan' in having full democracy.
In Hong Kong, he asserted, the election law is 'very unfair' but the way elections are carried out is fair. In Singapore, it seems to be 'the other way around', the activist said, 'so few people who don't belong to the PAP will get in' Parliament. (Since independence in 1965, the People's Action Party of Singapore patriarch and former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew has won nearly all seats at stake in parliamentary elections.)
In Singapore, 'things are getting better' in political expression, Martin Lee said, citing his presence at the seminar and that he's 'not been arrested, yet.' He also said 'I wish and pray that after Lee Kuan Yew there will be democracy' in Singapore.
Authorities in Singapore vigorously defend the country's parliamentary system of government and election rules. The press secretary of Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, asked Monday about Martin Lee's remarks in Singapore, said the former Prime Minister had no comment.
Singapore's Sunday Times carried an article with a headline saying Martin Lee appeared at a forum here Saturday, but only quoted his remark about being surprised the function could take place.
At the end of a question-and-answer session at Saturday's seminar, Martin Lee called the function a 'very important beginning' for promoting democracy in Singapore.
The Hong Kong political activist said he was happy to 'see so many Singaporeans' attend and that it looked 'as if the flame of democracy has been ignited tonight. Let it spread like wildfire.'
Martin Lee at forum - Asian guests speak at forum on political openness and accountability
By CHUA LEE HOONG, 6th April 2000
WELL-KNOWN politicians from different parts of Asia gathered in Singapore yesterday to debate the importance of political openness and accountability.
The occasion: the inaugural public forum of the Open Singapore Centre (OSC), the body set up by local opposition politicians with the avowed aim of pushing for more information transparency.
The VIP guests: Mr Martin Lee from Hongkong, Mr Lim Guan Eng from Malaysia and Mr Wilson Tien from Taiwan.
Each spoke on the theme, ""Political openness and democratic accountability: Nicety or necessity?'', focusing on their experiences in their own countries.
Held at Le Meridien Hotel in Orchard Road last night, the forum attracted about 100 people who paid either $7 in advance, or $10 at the door to attend.
Local opposition MPs Low Thia Khiang and Chiam See Tong were conspicuous by their absence.
Mr Lee is well-known in Hongkong as a leading opposition politician and a vocal critic of Beijing. His Democratic Party has 13 seats in the 60-member Legislative Council.
He was in the international limelight three months ago, when he was invited by American President Bill Clinton to help persuade congressmen to vote for permanent normal trading relations for China.
He prefaced his speech with the remarks: ""I never thought this forum could be organised in Singapore.''
The speaker from Malaysia, Mr Lim, is the son of the Democratic Action Party chairman Lim Kit Siang.
He came out of jail last August, after serving a year for printing and distributing a pamphlet criticising the Malaysian government for not pressing statutory rape charges against former Malacca Chief Minister Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik.
Mr Tien is an aide to recently-elected President Chen Shui-bian. He heads the international-affairs department in Mr Chen's Democratic Progressive Party.
Set up a year ago, the OSC is registered as a partnership between Workers' Party chief J.B. Jeyaretnam and Dr Chee Soon Juan of the Singapore Democratic Party.
The fourth speaker at last night's forum was Dr Chee, who is also the director of the OSC. Mr Jeyaretnam, a non-constituency MP, chaired the forum.
