SINGAPORE – In the latest development in the defamation suit brought by MM Lee Ka Yu and his son against Singapore Dissent Party (SDP) Secretary-General Chee Soon Dumb, the plaintiffs have successfully obtained a court injunction to constrain Chee and his lawyer, Mute Ravi, from speaking.
Said the lawyer representing the Lees, Defend d’Sin, “We have filed a motion requesting that the judge bar the defendant and his lawyer from speaking. This is because we have strong reason to believe that any speech that emerges from the larynges of Chee and his lawyer would constitute an offence under the Sedition Act, which defines a seditious tendency as a tendency to, inter alia, ‘bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the Government’ and ‘bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the administration of justice in Singapore’.”
The judge presiding over the case, Justice Buryda Wrong, agreed. “From my past observations of Chee and Ravi, it is true that they have a predilection for making remarks that derogate the Government and Judiciary of Singapore. As such, I have taken the necessary step of enjoining them from speaking throughout the duration of the trial. This is to ensure that my courtroom would not be defiled by any seditious speech.
“Chee and Ravi will also not be allowed to present any form of written communication, as the written word is equally susceptible to being a vehicle for seditious ideas. They would however be allowed to use hand gestures to argue their case, as there is less scope for conveying seditious remarks through hand gestures.”
When interviewed, Ravi was visibly distraught. “This is a complete mockery of justice. What happened to freedom of speech? What happened to the right to a fair trial? How am I supposed to defend Chee if I’m not allowed to speak or submit documents? This is an outrage!”
Justice Wrong, however, was unmoved. “There is no absolute right to free speech or a fair trial. With rights come responsibilities, and Chee and Ravi have shown themselves to be clearly irresponsible people who have repeatedly attacked the Government and the administration of justice in Singapore. They are thus undeserving of any rights.
“In any case, whether they can speak or not makes no difference, since I have already received – sorry, made – my decision regarding the case.”
Chee was unavailable for comment as he had embarked on a thirty-day “speech fast” to protest the recent decision. Serious News understands that Chee will be standing in front of the High Court with a gag in his mouth every day to highlight his plight, starting tomorrow. Interested readers are advised to go early in the morning to watch before the exhibit is removed by the police.
LOL…good one!
Comment by Selene Cheng — May 23, 2008 @ 7:40 pm