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04/10/2008
Hundreds pay final respects to Singapore opposition leader
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SINGAPORE (AFP) — Hundreds of people paid their last respects Saturday at the funeral of Singapore opposition leader J.B. Jeyaretnam, who faced jail and libel suits in a long fight for greater political freedoms in the affluent city-state.
People from different age groups, social backgrounds and races packed the steepled, English Gothic Saint Andrew's Cathedral in the business district for an Anglican church service.
The remains of Jeyaretnam, who died of heart failure Tuesday aged 82, were to be cremated later Saturday.
Dubbed the grand old man of the opposition, Jeyaretnam was one of the rare few to speak out against the People's Action Party (PAP), which has ruled Singapore since 1959.
He made political history in 1981 when he became the first opposition politician elected to parliament, espousing causes such as human rights and greater political freedoms in the strict city-state.
Jeyaretnam faced jail and defamation lawsuits filed by PAP members. He was declared bankrupt in 2001 after failing to pay libel damages which prevented him from running for political office.
He cleared the bankruptcy status last year and formed the Reform Party in a bid to return to politics.
In a eulogy, Jeyaretam's eldest son Kenneth compared his father to a raging bull who, despite the blows he received, remained "undefeated and unbowed".
Another son, Philip, a prominent lawyer, said his father's principle of "giving voice to the silent" led him to enter politics.
Despite his defeats, his father was the "epitome of grace", he said, recalling that taxi drivers would refuse payment off Jeyaretnam out of respect.
"I am here because I respect him a lot. He taught us the meaning of courage," a 35-year-old businessman said.
Human rights watchdog Amnesty International, in an "open letter" to the family, praised Jeyaretnam as an "unflinching campaigner for the rule of law and for the whole spectrum of human rights -- regardless of the personal costs he paid".
Malaysian opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim told AFP Jeyaretnam had "consistently been the voice for democracy" and lauded his passion for freedom and human rights.
"His small but audible voice had attracted a lot of international support," Anwar said.
Singapore's leaders have said the defamation suits against political opponents are necessary to protect their reputation and tough laws on public assembly are needed to maintain law and order.
They have defended their public record, citing surveys ranking Singapore highly for its low crime rate, the ease of doing business, top quality schools and hospitals and an intolerance of corruption.
Singapore is among Asia's wealthiest and safest states but critics have urged the government to loosen up on some political and social controls.
20:38 Posted by soci | Permalink | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0) | Email this
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Since the PAP came into power, it has toughened its state machinery to subjugate the population and prevent the emergence of any radical opposition, progressive groups or labour movement in Singapore society.
Read more at : http://asocialistmalaysia.blogspot.com/
Posted by: CWI Malaysia | 05/10/2008
his funeral is just over, but I am afraid I need to say something negative; part of my discussion
http://sinazen.com/opposition
has this passage
...a group that claims to fight for democracy should first show that it knows how to organize itself democratically, and a group that criticizes the government need to explain what alternative policies and programmes it would implement if it were the government. This is necessary not just as a demonstration of competence, but also allows the other side to have the chance to criticize it in return. While asking for a level playing field is right, that the organs of the state should not be used by the party in control of it to advance party objectives, the other aspect of level playing field is there too, that one side actually has a job to do while the other side only has to talk...
while this was part of a discussion on Chee Soon Juan, I feel it is also applicable to JBJ
despite its recent successes, the Workers' Party still has the same problems - it seems to think that, as long as it survives in parliament, it is successfully "opposing"
the government bears much responsibility - by making meaningful political activities too difficult, it left room for just meaningless activities, but opposition guys bear responsibility too
Posted by: yuen | 05/10/2008
First of all I'm not Singaporean(thank God for that) and my heart just sank when I read New York times report on Mr Jeyaretnam.
A great man has been lost to Singaporeans.
My deep sympathy to the family of Mr Jeyaretnam. All His will not be forgotten.
Posted by: Renaldi | 16/02/2009