allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Brilliant Outing, But Not Without Controversy (Page 1 of 4)

The week long annual conference of the International Bar Association considered the most prestigious event on the international legal calendar, took place last week in Singapore. FUNKE ABOYADE who was there, highlights some aspects of the conference

With record breaking attendance of about 4,000 lawyers from over 120 countries, last week's 2007 conference of the International Bar Association was an outstanding success. Singapore, rich in diversity, culture and history and the convention city of choice in Asia, provided the perfect setting. Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, venue of the conference, is one of the largest in the Asia-Pacific region with capacity sitting of 12,000. It was a win-win situation for the IBA, which prides itself as the global voice of the legal profession. The Association led by its President, Mr. Fernando Pombo, promised a week of learning and fun for delegates and they delivered.

Former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, now Minister Mentor, gave the keynote address, for which he received a well deserved standing ovation.

The choice of Singapore as conference host was however not without controversy and prior to the conference opposition groups in Singapore and some human rights bodies had protested its venue, citing human rights violations and arbitrary detentions under Singapore's Internal Security Act. They also had a grouse with the ruling party's, People's Action Party, use of defamatory law suits against news media (mostly foreign, as the local media is strictly controlled) and opposition members to whip them into line. As huge sums in costs and damages are routinely awarded by Singapore's courts in such cases, the defendants often end up being declared bankrupt and therefore barred from participating in future elections. Political activity and certain freedoms are also severely curtailed.

This is most likely what led to Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders ranking Singapore and Zimbabwe together on press freedoms and censorship, a charge which Lee dismissed during a question and answer session with delegates immediately after his speech.

'I don't measure myself by the yardsticks of Amnesty International, Freedomhouse or Reporters Without Borders. I measure myself by the governance of my people.' Lee retorted, pointing out that his government had succeeded against all odds in establishing a system whereby there was peace and stability, no easy feat in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious society like Singapore.

Lee was unapologetic. 'There's good health, good housing, good jobs, good education, good hospitals'

He pointed out there were no restrictions on internet access but that 'we do not allow certain subjects to become bones of contention. When we banned Salmon Rushdie's Satanic Verses in 1989 people thought we were draconian, but we saw no need to be involved in the Muslim/free speech controversy'.

'Why' he wondered 'should a cartoon in Denmark become our issue?'

Lee acknowledged that with the increasing challenges of globalisation, it was becoming more difficult to avoid these situations. 'I'm not saying we should retreat if threatened or faced with destruction (by extremists and terrorists), but live and let live; it's practical and responsible to do so.'

Governments, he declared, must be prepared 'to take unusual steps and procedures' for the good of the people.

This last, a piece of advice that the Yar'Adua government might want to heed in the worsening crisis currently engulfing the House of Representatives.

The opening ceremony was covered in detail in last week's THISDAY LAW (How Rule of law, Anti-Corruption Transformed Singapore - Lee Kuan Yew).

Rule of Law Commands Conference Attention

Perhaps mindful of the criticisms which attended its conference choice of Singapore, and in furtherance of its commitment in any event to the rule of law, the conference for the first time ever devoted an unprecedented one day to a rule of law symposium, building on the success of the one held at last year's conference in Chicago.

The IBA is committed to strengthening the rule of law worldwide and in 'helping our members formulate concrete plans for action in their respective countries'.

At its Council meeting at the 2005 annual conference in Prague, the Association had passed a resolution deploring the increasing erosion of the rule of law globally. Listing an independent and impartial Judiciary, the presumption of innocence, the right to fair hearing, a strong and independent legal profession, equality of all before the law, amongst others, it averred that the rule of law was the bedrock of any civilised society, adherence to which liberated and protected the individual. It also urged members to speak out in support of the rule of law in their respective communities.

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