United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mechanisms

United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mechanisms
To look into the human rights situation in Singapore, we need to first know the current issues. To do this, a monitoring mechanism is key. sgwatchDOG will be learning from the UN article above.

United Nations Convention against Corruption

UNODC-United Nations Convention against Corruption

Search engine aids rights workers

BBC NEWS | Technology | Search engine aids rights workers
Not sure if we need another search engine...

Human Rights Day, 10 December 2006

OHCHR Human Rights Day, 10 December 2006
Human Rights Day is with us again. Lets do our part in improving the situation for everyone in the world. sgwatchDOG commemorates this year's human rights day by writing a series of articles on human rights monitoring. Watch this space.

AIR: America's Investigative Reports . Guide to Investigative Journalism | PBS

AIR: America's Investigative Reports . Guide to Investigative Journalism | PBS

Guardian Unlimited | Comment is free | While poverty persists, there is no freedom

Guardian Unlimited | Comment is free | While poverty persists, there is no freedom

eGazette

Current Notices
The eGazette contains notices from all the various Ministries in Singapore. As such, one can often find gems of information in this "vault". Do note that the free access section only lists the latest notices for the last 7 days.

The way the police treat us verges on the criminal

Guardian Unlimited | Comment is free | The way the police treat us verges on the criminal

An article commenting about affairs in the UK, but the points mentioned apply in Singapore also.

----------------------------

Guilty until proven innocent now seems to be the watchword of a government that increasingly treats its law-abiding citizens with absolute contempt

Henry Porter
Sunday October 29, 2006
The Observer

A father and his eight-year-old son got off a train at Blackpool on a Friday evening two weeks ago to be confronted by a number of police officers moving passengers towards a scanner. There was a mildly threatening manner about them and it was clear that they expected everyone to pass through the scanner, which they said was being used to search for knives.

The man, whose name is Danny, quietly told the police that unless they had a very good reason, he would not be searched. One or two passengers hesitated, then joined him in refusing to go through the scanner. The police were clearly disgruntled, but couldn't do anything because Danny was right: they had to have reasonable grounds for suspecting he was carrying a knife in order to search him. 'I am not some rabid left winger or civil libertarian,' he wrote in an email to me. 'It just seems we are allowing a police state to be developed without an argument.' On the phone, he seemed to modify this by saying that the police behaviour had been oppressive.

Thank God there are still people like Danny who know the law and understand that part of its fragile essence is the respect for the rights of the innocent citizen when confronted with authority. The British Transport Police may insist that its Operation Shield, as this random trawl is known, is for the common good in that it fights knife crime, but think twice about the attitude it betrays and you realise that it is another small erosion in the esteem for the individual. Such behaviour makes everyone a suspect.

Tony Blair talks incessantly about respect, yet there are few who have done more to degrade authority's respect for the public. Nowhere is that better seen than in the behaviour of the police, which gradually becomes more coercive and imbued with the idea that we are all bad hats until we prove otherwise. We now live in a country where the idea of wrongful arrest has become a historic curiosity and where anyone can be arrested for the slightest offence and compelled to become part of the government's DNA database.

We live in a country where young boys - one was just seven - are taken aside and questioned for trying to knock conkers out of chestnut trees on public ground. Where a grandmother whose neighbour accused her of not returning a ball kicked into her garden was arrested, fingerprinted and required to give her DNA. The police went through every room in her house, even her daughter's drawers, before letting her go without charge or caution.

Where two sisters can be arrested after a peaceful protest about climate change, held in solitary confinement for 36 hours without being allowed to make a phone call, then told not to talk to each other as a condition of their bail. As this paper reported, their money, keys, computers, discs and phones were confiscated, their homes searched.

There is much more, all of it enabled by Blair's laws and encouraged by a vindictive and erroneous contention that defendants' rights must be reduced in the pursuit of more and quicker prosecutions. Our prisons are full, problem teenagers are, by default, exiled to a kind of outlawry and every citizen becomes the subject of an almost hysterical need by the authorities to check up on and chivvy them.

The government regards us not just as wedded to too many regrettable vices - smoking, speeding, drinking too much, eating unhealthy food and taking no exercise - but also as innately prone to law-breaking. Perhaps with good reason, since, according to the Liberal Democrat homes affairs spokesman, Nick Clegg, some 3,000 criminal offences have been created by Labour. The more crimes there are, the more criminals there will be.

Mass surveillance has begun on our motorways and in our town centres. Metropolitan drivers increasingly find themselves pressed into numberplate-recognition camera traps on the same principle that inspires Operation Shield. Everyone has something to hide unless they can prove otherwise, which is why the police also enthusiastically pursue samples for the DNA database. (Incidentally, by next year, the total number of profiles will rise to three million, one in five of which will belong to black people.)

The police are in their very own heaven and demand more and more powers of instant justice, a contradiction in terms if ever there was one. These will allow them to crush people's cars, issue more on-the-spot fines and ban 'undesirables' from any area they choose without having to go to court. Even parish councils are to become part of this culture of minatory bossiness. Instead of having to apply to central government to introduce new bylaws, they are to be given powers by Ruth Kelly, the Communities and Local Government Minister, to levy instant £100 fines for skateboarding, not cleaning up dog mess, busking and, no doubt, scrumping for apples and playing Pooh sticks. How will it end - with CCTV cameras watching small boys for inappropriate behaviour in the vicinity of horse chestnuts?

In his frantic terminality, Blair plans the sinister information-sharing index, otherwise known as the universal child register, and last week was musing that we should all have our DNA stored on the national base. Link this to his earlier remarks about identifying problem children who might grow up to be a menace to society by intervening before they were born and you begin to feel the chill of the technology-driven authoritarianism.

What runs through all this seems to be a rather surprising dislike of the British people. It was once possible to believe the government's unusual attention to law, order and behaviour was benevolent yet ill-conceived. Now it looks more like the result of late-onset sociopathy, influenced by a long period in power and the degenerate entanglement between Downing Street and the seething red-top newspapers.

The prevailing account of Britain in the current political establishment has become deeply pessimistic and, to my mind, wrong. Yes, we have problems with home-grown terrorism, loutishness, a swelling underclass, unintegrating minorities, but there is another story. Britain is also a success and it should occur to one of our political leaders to defy the orthodoxy of decline and compliment the nation on its adaptability and deep reserves of virtue and toleration.

Think of the charitable activity in this country, of the level of public debate that wells up in BBC programmes such as Any Questions, the deep interest in history, the eagerness of the audiences at arts festivals all over Britain, the humour and generosity of spirit, the commitment to local communities, to understanding each other's needs and of the array of passions and hobbies which absorb so many millions of people whose quiet, law-abiding fulfilment as Britons goes undescribed by the furious negativity of the moment. It is these people, with their stored-up virtue and unself-conscious decency, who the government seeks to turn into suspects and infantilise by its morbid intrusion.

It is not the government's business to encroach on our experience as individuals in a democracy, to threaten us with so much oppressive legislation and always to assume our guilt. But there is another reason and that is because we are soon going to have to have the debate about individual liberty in the context of rapid climate change. That will only work if the government treats us like adults and says: 'Look, this is potentially the greatest crisis civilisation has ever faced and we need your help.' The resulting contract must be between equals - the people and the state - and in a relationship where respect flows both ways.That, ultimately, is what this nagging and suspicious government threatens.

henry.porter@observer.co.uk

BBC NEWS | Technology | Free speech online 'under threat'

BBC NEWS | Technology | Free speech online 'under threat'

The Special Rapporteurs

BBC NEWS Programmes Documentary Archive The Special Rapporteurs
sgwatchDOG finds out more about the UN special rapporteurs. For example, these rapporteurs are not paid by the UN...

Digital @ AsiaOne

Digital @ AsiaOne

What it should have been

Well, this is a strange development of events...

"Sep 9, 2006
Activists held, ordered to leave

By Tania Tan

ANIMAL rights activists were detained and ordered to leave Singapore yesterday before they could stage their planned protest outside a KFC fast-food outlet in Victoria Street.

Police acted on Thursday after they were alerted to the plans of a duo from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) to parade naked outside the outlet wearing banners saying 'Naked Truth: KFC Tortures Chicks'.

Police tracked the cellphone signals of American Jason Baker, 34, and Canadian Ashley Fruno, 20, and found the pair at a coffee shop in Bencoolen Street at 3.30pm.

They were taken to a police station at about 7pm and allowed to leave three hours later, after being told to board the next available flight out of Singapore.

A third member, Filipina Sonia Astudillo, 26, who arrived here later on Thursday, was immediately detained and also told to leave.

Police confirmed that all three were told to leave, before they could repeat a stunt they had carried out in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur days earlier.

Peta activitists are protesting against KFC because, unlike McDonald's and Burger King, the fried chicken franchise has yet to sign on to 'welfare policies', and had ignored recommendations for animal welfare improvements, the US-based Peta claims.

A KFC spokesman: 'KFC is committed to good animal welfare practices and all KFC poultry suppliers meet or exceed animal welfare legislation and industry standards.'

Mr Baker said just before his flight to Hong Kong at 3pm yesterday: 'We are shocked at being deported.'

This is not the first time the group has protested here. Its most recent attempt was made in February, when a Peta member paraded along Orchard Road in a chicken suit and gas mask, protesting the poultry culling sparked by the avian flu threat.

'The police didn't bat an eyelid then,' said Mr Baker, who is also director of the Asia-Pacific arm of Peta.

'Perhaps they were using us to send a message to IMF protesters,' he added, referring to the annual International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings to be held here next week."

What it should have been

"In Saturday's report 'Activists held, ordered to leave', we said that the police had tracked the cellphone signals of the activists from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

This is wrong. The police had responded to calls from the public who witnessed the duo behaving suspiciously.

We are sorry for the error."

PTC approves fare increases

http://www.ptc.gov.sg/news16.pdf
sgwatchDOG reads the Public Transport Council's fare increase document with interest...

062404.pdf (application/pdf Object)

egazette
Interesting nuggets of information are always on show at the E-gazette website. Take the one above, for example. It mentions that,

"pursuant to paragraph 2.3 of the Code of Conduct for Ministers (Cmd No. 8 of 2005), the Prime Minister, having considered it to be in the national interest, has granted the
Minister Mentor, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, permission to be a special advisor to Citigroup Inc., with effect from 5th September 2006."

Joint Statement From World Bank And IMF On CSO Participation In The Annual Meetings In Singapore

Press Release
Well, the press release from the World Bank & IMF makes their stand crystal clear... they want all accredited civil society representatives to be allowed into Singapore...

MAS Consultation Papers

MAS :Financial Sector
sgwatchDOG just stumbled unto MAS's public consultation page. It seems that some papers were not cross-posted on the Feedback Unit's webpage. The latest MAS consultation paper involves an issue (ILP rules relaxation) that could impact consumers significantly...

feedback on the feedback unit

e-Consultation Paper
With a new Chairperson for the Feedback Unit, it seems that change is in the air...

Secondhand Dealers Licence/ Certificate Of Exemption

Secondhand Dealers Licence/ Certificate Of Exemption
useful info for consumers to consider the next time they wish to consider buying a 2nd hand product...the vendor needs to have a license granted by the Police.

Information On Repair Contractors Available For Minor Repair Works In HDB Flats

HDB InfoWEB : Press Release
Good to see that HDB is pro-active in protecting consumers who may be "cheated" by companies who overcharge or may not be qualified to conduct repair works...

IPTO - Registry of Pawnbrokers - FAQ

IPTO - Registry of Pawnbrokers - FAQ
Similar to below, but for consumers considering pawning items...

IPTO - Registry of Moneylenders - Notes To Borrowers When Obtaining Loans From Moneylenders

IPTO - Registry of Moneylenders - Notes To Borrowers When Obtaining Loans From Moneylenders
A useful FAQ on money lending.

A helping hand with your HDB housing needs

Refreshing to see that the Housing and Development Board has initiatives to help the poor and elderly.

'Singapore Rebel' saga ends after police issues 'stern warning'

Singapore Rebel

Daily newspaper Today sacks blogger “mr brown” after government criticism

RSF

Reporters sans frontières - Singapore

Reporters sans frontières - Singapore
Government steps up online censorship in run-up to elections

Reporters Without Borders has condemned rules gagging free expression online, in the same way as for traditional media, in the run-up to parliamentary elections in Singapore.

Singapore Information, Communications and Arts minister, Balaji Sadasivan, repeated on 3 April 2006, the strict rules in force since 2001 on Internet use in electoral periods. The Singapore government has already warned Internet users who are likely to discsuss politics online that they are at risk of legal action. No official date has been announced for the elections but they are due to be held in the next few months.

"Once again the Singapore authorities are showing their determination to prevent the holding of a genuinely democratic debate on the Internet,” the press freedom organisation said.

During a parliamentary debate on 3 April 2006, Balaji Sadasivan repeated and enlarged on the very restrictive measures applying to Internet use during election campaigns. Bloggers and website managers do not have the right to back a particular candidate’s programme.

Outside of elections periods, bloggers have to register with the Media Development Authority (MDA) if they want to openly and regularly defend a political line. But during election periods, the fact of being registered does not allow them to express opinons on political issues. Website managers are subjected to the same rules.

These restrictions will now also apply to new Internet technology. The minister specified that use during the campaign of podcasting and videocasting, two new devices for putting audio or video online, will be banned if they carry political content. During the last election campaign, in November 2001, the main opposition party, the Singapore Democratic Party, made use of podcasting.

Sinapan Samydorai, chairman of the freedom of expression organisation Think Centre, who has been forced to register his website, said that there has been no improvement since the last elections in 2001, during which official party websites were the only authorised source of political news and information.

Another Singaporean blogger, known under the pseudonym of Alex, highlighted the confusion that has been caused by the minister’s remarks about the exact limits of Internet-users rights to express themselves politically in his country. “The minister’s statements raise more new questions than it provides clarification”, he told Reporters Without Borders.

BBC NEWS | Technology | Singapore attacked over blog gag

BBC NEWS | Technology | Singapore attacked over blog gag

Singapore attacked over blog gag

The Singapore government has been condemned for gagging political discussion on the web in the run up to the country's parliamentary elections.

The government has extended censorship laws to ban podcasts and videocasts that carry political content.

Websites and blogs are already under strict control and must be registered with the government.

Media watchdog Reporters without Borders said the ban would prevent democratic debate on the net.

The ban was outlined by Communications and Arts minister, Balaji Sadasivan of the People's Action Party (PAP) in a parliamentary speech.

It is enforced under a 2001 law that seeks to prevent overt advertising by political parties.

New technology

The ban will come as a blow to PAP opponents, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP).

It has used both podcasts and videocasts in an attempt to get round traditional media censorship laws in their campaign.

The party said on their website that the latest announcement was aimed "squarely at the SDP's efforts to harness the new technology to advance its platform in the upcoming general elections".

For its part, Reporters without Borders said: "Once again the Singapore authorities are showing their determination to prevent the holding of a genuinely democratic debate on the internet."

No date has yet been announced for the election.

Outside of election periods, bloggers and website managers have to register with the Media Development Authority (MDA) if they want to write about party politics.

However during elections even registered users are prohibited from open political discussion.

The government said that anyone breaking the ban faces legal action.

The announcement is an extension of the Singapore government's strict censorship policy that applies to all media.

Recently the government relaxed some of its laws in an attempt to market the country as a hub for arts and culture.

The film, Brokeback Mountain, passed film censors this year, in spite of the country's stringent laws against homosexuality.

New UN rights council put forward

BBC NEWS | In Depth | New UN rights council put forward
moves to reform the human rights organisation within the UN...should be a good thing.