Below is Ministry of Law's response to the Human Rights Watch's January 2012 country report for Singapore as carried by Yahoo!News.
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Mr Jeffrey Oon
Country Editor
Yahoo! Southeast Asia
27 January 2012
We refer to Human Rights Watch's (HRW) January 2012 country report for Singapore
(Report) and the comments of its deputy director Phil Robertson, as quoted on Yahoo!News
Singapore.
The Report dismisses Singapore's Submissions to the Human Rights Council at the
Universal Periodic Review (http://www.mfa.gov.sg/upr/), without dealing with the
Submissions. Readers are encouraged to read the Submissions and judge for themselves.
HRW also made false assertions. For example, contrary to assertions in its news article1 ,
capital punishment is not prohibited by international law. A large number of countries,
including many modern, developed countries (like the US) impose the punishment. In
Singapore, capital punishment has contributed to low rates of crime and drug use; and is
overwhelmingly supported by Singaporeans.
Statements in HRW's Report relating to detentions, freedom of speech and association, and
the civil rights, as reported in your article, are likewise inaccurate. Singapore's Constitution
guarantees the freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly. The Shadrake trial,
which your article mentions, was fully reported by local, international and alternative media.
Mr Shadrake was charged because he had alleged, among other things, that the Singapore
courts conspired with State agencies to suppress material evidence. Such a statement
would be considered to be in contempt of court in several countries.
HRW's casual approach towards research and analysis, has been criticised by none other
than its founder, Robert Bernstein, who has said that HRW "often relies on witnesses whose
stories cannot be verified and who may testify for political advantage".2
The Singapore government is committed to creating and defending an environment where
Singaporeans are secure, where their well-being is ensured, and where everyone can
realise his or her full potential. Every society strikes its own balance between the rights of
the individual and the society. National issues are openly debated in Parliament. Elections
to Parliament are free and fair, and contested fiercely. Singapore's stability, public
healthcare, education and security have made it one of the most livable cities in the world:
Singaporeans enjoy dignity, welfare and security - much more so than many cities and
countries which HRW seems to be happier with.
Ms Chong Wan Yieng
Press Secretary to Minister for Law
1 http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/01/23/singapore-stop-hiding-behind-old-excuses
2 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/opinion/20bernstein.html