open Democracy News Analysis - A Loong and winding road, Tom Burgis - Comments

gopalnair on "A Loong and winding road"

gopalnair — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 21:57:27 +0000

Charles Tan writes that he is amazed knowing that Lee Hsien Loong got the worst democracy award. Had Mr. Tan known Singapore a little better, he would not be amazed at all. Lee has managed to muzzle the media and press, threatened the Internet, banned free speech and expression, jailed Singaporeans for exercising their fundamental rights, controlled the Judiciary, and what more do you want to hear? The repression list goes on. If ever there was an anti democrat, Lee is the one. As for comparing him to Bush, I would say Bush is a true democrat, in comparison to him. Yes, he has misled the American people about Iraq. But the fact remains that the American media is independent and Jay Leno has not been tortured and killed for making fun of him. Lee is a dictator. Bush is not, although he wishes to be, but still he is not. The prize of worst democrat by Lee was well earned.

Once more, regrettably, Singapore leads the world, in infamy.

Gopalan Nair

39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1

Fremont, CA 94538, USA

Tel: 510 657 6107

Fax: 510 657 6914

charles.tan on "A Loong and winding road"

charles.tan — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 09:03:39 +0000

It amazes me that Mr Lee was awarded the worst democrat award of the year 2006. He actually managed to outrank Bush whom I would have thought, to be a bigger human rights predator.

That said, I however, do agree that the winner is a authoritarian and that he has not lived up to his expectations of "opening up" which he has promised his fellow countryment before taking over leadership. The PAP has continued to file lawsuits against dissenting publications and critics; and jailed its Opposition who have fought tooth and nail in standing up for their political rights.

Nevertheless, I wonder if the website might consider changing their award title. After all, Mr Lee was never a democrat in the first place so to say that he is the worst democrat is really a misapplication and gross denunciation of the term, "democrat".

The writer mentioned that Singapore churned out millionaires at record rates. That is something unfortunately I don't find. Maybe he was being tongue in cheek?

Of course there are so many more dictators around the world that should have also made the final polls. Oh well, there's always next time...

A Loong and winding road, Tom Burgis

Thu, 21 Dec 2006 00:00:00 +0000

A year and seventy-two nominees later, openDemocracy readers vote for and against the world's primary Bad Democrat. Tom Burgis opens the envelope. Read the rest of this post...