So Singapore ...

Now why is it that Singaporean firms who go overseas (particularly GLCs) tend to fail? Could it be because they are so used to getting their own way (like the PAP) that they don't know how to play by the rules of others? Even when the others are guests that represent a sort of institutionalization of international law?

It would be hilarious if only the totalitarian portion weren't true.

First, here is what the locals (you and me) read:


Sep 9, 2006
Singapore stands by decision to bar some activists
By Tracy Sua & Tanya Fong

SINGAPORE authorities yesterday stood by their decision to deny entry to foreign activists deemed 'undesirable' for the upcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank meetings.

So far, some 20 individuals will be barred from entering Singapore if they turn up at any of the border checkpoints, The Straits Times understands. Among them is anti-globalisation activist Walden Bello, the executive director of the Focus on the Global South. He has been a regular at protests held during World Trade Organisation meetings, such as the 1999 conference in Seattle which was eventually known as the 'Battle in Seattle' because of the violence that took place there.

Mr Bello was also jailed in 1978 for taking over a Philippine consulate in San Francisco.
Police would not provide details of individuals barred from Singapore but said that 'every country reserves the right to determine whether a foreigner would be eligible for entry into the country''.

'Under the current security environment, we will be cautious on who we allow into our borders, especially when a high-profile event like the IMF and World Bank meetings are held here.''
The spokesman added that the meetings will attract the attention of many, 'not least those who may want to use the ready platform and presence of the international media to stage events that will pose a security threat to Singapore and compromise the level of security arrangements we have put in place'.

The police were responding to protests from the IMF and World Bank, over Singapore's decision not to allow representatives of some accredited civil society organisations from attending the meetings.

In a joint statement, the IMF and World Bank said: 'In the interest of good governance, transparency and accountability, we urge the Government of Singapore to allow all properly accredited civil society representatives to attend our meetings.''

They added: 'We have consistently opposed any restrictions on full participation and peaceful expression of views. 'Open dialogue and civil society are also important for the effective operation of our institutions.''

So far, a record number of nearly 500 civil society organisations from more than 45 countries have been accredited to attend the meetings starting next week. At about the same time, more than 700 international activists had intended to gather in Batam, because of Singapore's ban on outdoor demonstrations. But this too seems in doubt now, as the Indonesian police were reported as saying they would not allow it to go ahead.

An Indonesian Foreign Ministry official yesterday brushed aside suggestions by some non-governmental organisations that the Indonesian decision to stop the Batam gathering was taken after diplomatic pressure from Singapore.


Now, this (below) is what the response was to (bearing in mind that our beloved 66.6% PM in the same breath called the MSM reliable while they varioulsy scrambled to cover his 'mee siam my hum' comment into stuff like laksa my hum [CNA - awared winner for best reporting in Asia?], mee siam my hiam [ST - another award winner in Asia Pac for good reporting?]etc):


http://www.ft.com/cms/s/d29328d2-3f32-11db-a37c-0000779e2340.html



IMF and World Bank rebuke Singapore

By John Burton in Singapore and Shawn Donnan in Jakarta

Published: September 8 2006 13:16 Last updated: September 9 2006 02:07

The International Monetary Fund and World Bank on Friday issued an unprecedented rebuke to Singapore over a ban on accredited activists invited to attend the annual meetings of the two financial institutions next week.

The IMF/World Bank suggested that Singapore had violated the terms of its agreement to host the event by blocking the entry of 19 civil society representatives, who allegedly posed a security threat.

"Singapore had promised to faciliate the entry of accredited representatives under the memorandum of understanding with us," a World Bank official said. The IMF/World Bank was only informed this week of Singapore's plans.

The crackdown is part of tough security measures that Singapore will implement during the September 11-20 meetings. The government will also ban all outdoor demonstrations and has warned it will shoot at violent protesters, citing the threat of terrorist attacks.

The incident represents a setback to the IMF/World Bank, which has sought to improve relations with non-governmental organisations that have accused them of conducting policies that have ignored the plight of the world's poor. A record 500 NGO representatives are accredited to attend this year's meeting.

"This is a major blow to the credibility of the IMF/World Bank. It's terribly embarrassing since the World Bank had adopted good goverance as the theme of this year's meeting," said Antonio Tricarrio with Campagna per la Riforma della Banca Mondiale, who was one of those banned.
Mr Tricarrio said he was "astounded" at Singapore's decision since his group was a widely-respected organisation that had never been associated with violent activities.

Some NGOs alleged that the IMF/World Bank, which holds its annual meetings outside Washington every three years, had selected Singapore as the venue for this year's meeting because of its authoritarian reputation. Previous IMF/World Bank meetings have been marred by violent protests.

Among those banned by Singapore were representatives from the UK-based World Development Movement, Thailand's Focus on the Global South, the Freedom from Debt Coalition in the Philippines and the Forum on Indonesian Development (Infid).

The IMF/World Bank said these "individuals have been cleared to attend the annual meetings by their respective governments and we have accredited them according to our standard procedure."

"We strongly urge the Singapore government to act swiftly and reverse their decision on entry and access to the meetings for these representatives," the IMF/World Bank said in a joint statement.

The Singapore police force said this week that it had compiled a list of potential "troublemakers" who would be denied entry to the city-state. “Every country reserves the right to determine whether a foreigner would be eligible for entry into the country,” said the Singapore police on Friday.

Some NGOs had planned to hold rallies on the neighbouring Indonesian island of Batam because of the security measures in Singapore. But they were told this week by the local police that the protest would be banned because foreign groups were involved in violation of the law.

The chief of Indonesia’s national police, Sutanto, told reporters that NGOs would not be allowed to hold protests on Batam, although authorities would let them meet. “Seminars are welcome,” he said. “But there should be no political agenda, let alone rallies, because this could make foreigners think Indonesia is not safe for investment.”

Additional reporting by Alan Beattie in London and Taufan Hidayat in Jakarta

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2006