"Fear, Faith and Freedom: Asia's Struggle for Democracy"

CHEE Soon Juan

Secretary-General

Singapore Democratic Party (SDP)

[Introduction]

Chee Soon Juan. Chee, 36, has a PhD in neuropsychology and was a lecturer of the National University of Singapore until he was sacked for joining the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) of which he is now its Secretary-General. When he disputed his dismissal, he was sued by his department head, who was also a PAP member of parliament, and other university officials for over $300,000. He sold his house to pay the amounts.

He is the author of several books including 'Dare To Change: An Alternative Vision for Singapore', 'Singapore-My Home Too', and 'To Be Free: Stories From Asia's Struggle Against Oppression'.

Chee was recently imprisoned on two occasions for exercising his right to freedom of speech guaranteed in the Singapore Constitution by conducting public talks without a permit. He was also charged for selling his pro-democracy book To Be Free which bookstores in Singapore are too fearful to sell.

Why is democracy important for China and indeed the whole of Asia? The short answer is that democracy means more transparency and more accountability, more transparency and more accountability means sustainable progress and greater economic, political, social stability not only for any country but for the whole region.

We all agree that the lack of transparency and accountability in Asia, especially in the Southeast Asia, has exacerbated, if not precipitated, the current crisis that is ravaging the region. You've seen how the situation in Indonesia continues to threaten stability in the region. But it was only recently that most people, both in the East and West, believed that Suharto was the only one who could lead Indonesia out of poverty. We were so intent on believing this that we failed to see the undercurrents that the authoritarian regime was creating. Few had anticipated that the lid would pop so suddenly and violently. What happens in Indonesia affects the whole of Asia and what affects Asia affects the rest of the world. Like it or not, we live in a world more integrated and more interrelated than we care to think.

Democracy may not solve all our problems, but it is significant to note that the most effective managers of the current economic crisis in Asia also have the most open governments, the Asian countries with the least amount of social upheaval are also the most democratic ones, and perhaps, most importantly, it is significant to note that no two democracies have ever gone to war with each other. So if you had to bet on a form of governance that would bring about long-term stability and progress to the region, would it not be on democracy?

But what does all this have to do with countries that are politically stable and economically viable, despite their governments' less democratic practices? Why should anyone want to change anything? To come to that conclusion one must first assume that an authoritarian government is going to carry on in its present state after its strongman dies. Are you seeing genuine overwhelming support for these governments or are you only seeing the manifestation of a society ridden with fear? What makes you so sure that there isn't a significant segment of the population waiting for the right time, under the right conditions to come forward to make themselves heard? How accurate are your calculations that after the strongman dies the center is going to hold? If you don't know the answers, would it not make more sense to gradually nudge the political system into one less dependent on one single individual and more on a democratic form of governance?

The international community, in particular, democracies of the Western world, has many interests in this region. It would certainly be myopic of these governments not to see the urgent need to push for the accelerated development of democracy and the respect for human rights in this part of

the world - not only because it's morally the right thing to do but also because it makes good economic sense.

But the fight for democracy must ultimately come from Asians ourselves. History teaches us that as the region continues to develop economically, more and more countries are beginning to join the ranks of the democratic league. However, our journeys towards democracy have been perilously long. And sometimes, we forget that political change does not come from just movements, trends, forces, and paradigms. They come from real people, making real sacrifices. In my book To Be Free, I've written about the struggles of leading democrats in Asia. They are Taiwan's Shih Ming-teh, Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi, Indonesia's Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Philippine's Aquino, South Korea's Kim Dae Jung and Singapore's Chia Thye Poh. I've tried to capture their pain, fears, humiliation, dark years in solitude, their broken bones and broken minds. Dissidents from China also stand defiantly and courageously against their oppressors, and their struggle is noy any less bitter, they need all the support they can get from the rest of the world.

Theirs are tragic stories. But theirs are also stories of inspiration where they've brought greater humanity to their own societies and to the world. In particular, these freedom fighters' struggle for democracy refutes the idea that 'Asian values' limit human rights. Rather, it shows that the fight against political oppression is universal. Their stories must be told and retold. As Asia rebuilds its economy, let us not forget the most fundamental of all fundamental values, and that is to nurture people before profits, environment before investment, and democracy before deals.