Singapore stops opposition protest

[Judi Lynn]

Singapore stops opposition protest

Sep 16, 2006 — By Fayen Wong

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore police stopped an opposition politician from leading a protest march past the venue for the annual IMF-World Bank meetings on Saturday, again highlighting the city-state's restrictions on freedom of speech.

Singapore, which had hoped to show off its economic success by hosting the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings this month, has instead attracted surprisingly strong criticism from the two bodies and from NGOs when it blacklisted accredited activists.

With some 16,000 delegates in town for the meetings, including central bankers and finance ministers from around the world, Singapore's curbs on its critics have come under scrutiny.

Opposition politician Chee Soon Juan, secretary-general of the tiny Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and six other activists wearing white tee-shirts with slogans such as "Freedom Now" held a rally at "Speaker's Corner."
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http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2451856

On edit, adding photo:



Singapore's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, and friend.

[Dogmudgeon]

1. Visit Singapore. You'll Love Our Friendly Fascism.

Only kidding. Not. Yes we are. Lah.

--p!

[DavidDvorkin]

2. Just don't chew gum or spit on the street or curse

Or criticize the government.

[AndyTiedye]

3. Do They Still Arrest Men for Having Long Hair?

[Joe Bacon]

4. Are they still into Caneing kids, too?

Bet that plays well with "Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child" Dobson!