A Danish politician, Anders Samuelson visiting Singapore has been told that if he speaks at a meeting promoting democracy in Singapore he will be arrested. The same goes for seven other members of the EU parliament who are visiting Indonesia and Singapore this week.
Anders Samuelsen has complained about the restriction placed on him through a press release issued in Danish in Denmark. If this current statement by the politician will land him in trouble in Singapore remains to be seen.
“It is indeed a proof that the fight for democracy in Singapore is still going on, when you can prohibit someone to speak at a public meeting,” Samuelsen is quoted by the his party’s press release.
Samuelsen and the seven EU parliamentarians are all members of the liberal group in the EU parliament (ALDE). They are in Singapore to engage in a meeting with the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD).
“I am shocked. This is state control of the worst kind and ought to be a black spot on the democratic conscience of the government. I have along with the other participants objected to the foreign committee of the Singaporean parliament, but the decision stands. Also the EU ambassadors have had no succes in trying to influence the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore,” Samuelsen says.
Still Samuelsen and his colleagues have decided to stay in the meeting.
“We have decided to participate anyway, but we have been issued a clear message that we will be arrested if we say something. It is absurd, but then again it comes not as a surprise when you consider the government of Singapore,” he adds.
According to the press release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sinagpore on Tuesday issued a statement saying that Singaporean politics were for Singaporeans only to debate and that foreigners who involve themselves in domestic Singaporean affairs are not welcome in Singapore.
