Chee to hold demonstrations

SINGAPORE (AP) --- An opposition party plans to hold daily rallies during next month's IMF and World Bank meetings despite Singapore's ban on demonstrations, the party chief said Wednesday.

Chee Soon Juan said his Singapore Democratic Party would aim to draw attention to the nation's poor and the government's tight controls.

Chee said the party had applied for a police permit but would hold the 'Empower Singaporeans' rally and march even if the application was denied.

"We're not very hopeful" of the permit being approved, Chee said. But we wanted to cover all our bases."

Under national law, permits are required for any outdoor gathering of more than four people, amounting to an effective ban on protests and demonstrations.

Singapore said last month that it would not allow outdoor demonstrations during the Sept. 11-20 International Monetary Fund-World Bank annual meetings but would set up an indoor venue for civil groups accredited by the World Bank. Police said they were prepared to arrest anyone who broke the law, be they Singaporeans or foreigners.

National television station Channel NewsAsia reported Tuesday evening that Singapore police were studying a World Bank suggestion to allow protests at alternate sites. The station quoted police as saying, however, that they could not waive the law against outdoor demonstrations.

Officials at the national police and the World Bank could not immediately be reached for comment.

Chee said the SDP demonstration, planned from Sept. 14-20 and including rallies at Parliament, the IMF meeting site and the presidential palace, would be peaceful but assertive.

"We are committed to what we are doing, to fighting for our country and our rights," he told The Associated Press. "It's important that ... We try to reclaim our democratic rights."

Chee, who is already fighting a defamation suit brought against him by Singapore's top leaders, was unconcerned about possible repercussions against him.

He said the SDP rally aimed to educate Singaporeans about their rights of free speech, association and peaceful assembly, as well as to highlight to the international community that Singapore has a large income disparity that is making the poor even poorer.

In a statement on Tuesday announcing the rally, Chee called it ironic that the World Bank meeting would be held in a country "whose authoritarian government does nothing to stop the poor from getting poorer".

The statement said Singapore's income gap is at a record high and lamented the plight of the homeless and the number of people who have been imprisoned because they cannot afford to pay their bills, while the ruling party officials continued to draw high salaries.

"Despite all these problems in Singapore, we have no voice," Chee said. "If the authorities let us go on with our rally, it will be a historic moment," he said.

Chee is currently fighting a defamation suit filed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his father, former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. The Lees filed the suit following Chee's refusal to apologize after alleging in an SDP newsletter that the ruling People's Action Party was linked to a scandal at the nation's largest charity.

Chee is barred from campaigning or standing in elections after being bankrupted in February for failing to pay 500,000 Singapore dollars (US$316,685; euro248,015) in libel damages in a different case to Lee Kuan Yew and former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.

He was jailed for eight days in March for contempt of court after criticizing the independence of the city-state's judges.

Ruling party leaders have successfully sued several journalists and opposition politicians, including Chee, for defamation over the years. They say they sue to protect their reputations.

But domestic and international critics, including the U.S. State Department and London-based human rights group Amnesty International, have accused Singapore's rulers of using defamation lawsuits to stifle opponents.

Singapore's authorities tightly restrict media and political speech, saying such controls have helped turn the city-state into one of Asia's economic powerhouses.

I like 1000-year-old temples

In case anyone is wondering, I haven't disappeared. I was away in Cambodia, more specifically Angkor and Battambang, which involved a 7-hour boat ride to get to...don't even ask.

Pictures later!

Save the other JBJ

My first play in a very, very long time...

It probably says something about Singapore's political situation that the play wasn't about some other "troublemaker". The arts is one of those areas with shifting OB markers, and I thought it was pretty tame.

Pam Oei was brilliant and Rodney Oliveiro, decent effort. Go catch it if you can - it's on till Sunday. But wait a sec, I think it's sold out.

I am Singaporean...

Ok, this is in response to Mr Brown's call to post a video of about 2 to 3 minutes of yourself saying what you think makes you Singaporean. It's already a phenomenon on the Web, for you less happening people. :P

However, I am only less less happening than you so I will write my piece instead. Plus I am dem lazy, la. What to do?

I am Singaporean by me

I am Singaporean.

I was conceived in a HDB flat, born in a government-run hospital built especially for that purpose, grew up in a kampung with real attap houses, a private condominium and a three-storey house.

The government took away the kampung land to build more HDB flats.

I am the only person I know who has lived in EVERY form of housing Singapore has.

I wore a blue pinafore for 10 years, in primary school and secondary school.

I liked the blue pinafore.

I like uniforms.

I wanted to go to study theatre, but theatre cannot make money what, so my dad refused to pay.

I've been in girls' schools all my life - except for a brief year in Primary Six when the school sold out and became co-ed, and six months in JC, which I hated.

So I quit JC.

I quit JC and went to Perth, quit Perth and went to Sydney, quit Sydney and went to Singapore, quit Singapore and went to Hong Kong, quit Hong Kong and went back to Sydney, quit Sydney and came back to Singapore, then quit Singapore to go to Shanghai, and I quit Shanghai to come back.

I'll keep quitting.

I take the bus and the MRT everywhere. Sometimes the taxi. But I'll try to avoid peak-hour and midnight charges.

I don't believe in ERP.

I think there are too many inconsiderate drivers on the road.

They are the same people who don't keep to their lanes when walking at East Coast Park.

I am almost 30. I have never been to the ROM.

I would go for a 80-cent kopi-c from Leong Huat Eating House instead of a $6 Hazelnut skimmed latte from Starbucks any day.

My favourite dish in the entire world is bak chor mee, with lots of chilli. Don't care got bak kwa or not, I also eat.

I also like vegetarian beehoon, with lots of chilli.

Now that we're in the Seventh Lunar Month, I walk around telling invisible things to "siam".

But I don't like the getai.

I like the karaoke.

But karaokes can be expensive, with all the peanuts I don't eat and the wet tissue I don't use.

Everything is expensive. I think I make decent money for doing what I do but, like, everything still so expensive.

I think nurses and policemen should be paid more.

Soldiers also.

I believe in NS and if girls had to do NS, I would want to do combat.

But I don't believe in war. So if Singapore got war, I don't know if I'd stay and fight.

But I'd defend Singapore. In my own way.

My name is Jean Chua.

And I am Singaporean.

Playing house

So what have I been doing the past week? Looking at apartments, mostly, and sifting the classified ads for things I can afford. It's quite an interesting - but exhausting and humbling - experience.

I'm tired.

She's in fashion...

I normally really don't care much about fashion. I like simple, sensible stuff but I think this is sorta fun.

If you could only shop at one store, what would it be?
Regardless of budget? Harvey Nichols.

You wouldn't be caught dead wearing something from which store?
Hmmm...Hang Ten?

You're given a thousand dollars and can only spend it on ONE thing. What would it be?
A good leather bag.

You're given the opportunity to have a famous designer revamp your entire wardrobe. Who would you choose?
Zac Posen

Do you have a friend you'd gladly switch wardrobes with? Who is it? Why? Why not?
mmmmm not really...we have our own styles.

Name one store you want to win a $5000 shopping spree at.
Harvey Nichols lor.

Is there an actress/singer/famous person whose wardrobe you admire immensely? Who is it?
I really like what Mischa Barton is doing, though I don't like her at all. Weird, rite?

Name one article of clothing you'd do anything (or nearly anything) to own?
Hmm nothing, really. Does a bag count? I really really really really really wanted to Mulberry Roxanne bag.

Ever saved up several months' worth of allowance (or paychecks) for one thing? What was it?
No la. The only thing I have saved up (several months' worth of salary) for was my Master's education. I took a year off work and paid for it myself, something I am immensely proud of.

Ever had a friend comment on a fashion faux pas of yours? What was it?
Nope...