Reports say the Falun Gong human rights case in Singapore has been adjourned until next week, but experts say it lacks transparency and may be a conscience test to the country's legal system.
In a tearful plea on September 27 Mrs. Violet Netto, an associate of the defendants' lawyer Mr. Ravi, pleaded for an extension to the hearing date. Mr. Ravi was hospitalized last week and was unable to appear in court. Mrs. Netto pleaded the court "to have mercy" and explained that extra time is required to obtain a second opinion on his condition.
In an earlier hearing yesterday, the medical certificate provided by the defense was rejected on grounds that it lacked the "seriousness" of Mr. Ravi's condition. However, after reviewing a medical report provided by the prosecutors, the judge agreed to postpone the proceedings to October 2, when a pre-trial court hearing will be held.
Ms. Theresa Chu, a respected human rights lawyer from Taiwan who traveled to Singapore to monitor the trial, believes that the proceedings are lacking transparency and are heavily biased against Falun Gong. She reported seeing the judge privately consulting the prosecutor after the court hearing.
On Tuesday, September 26 the prosecutors claimed that one of the defendants, Mrs. Ng, is "more than capable" to defend herself without any council since she has recently attended a UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva.
Mrs. Ng reported having no legal experience or knowledge of the Singapore judicial system, calling the prosecutor's suggestion "absurd".
Singapore is the only country outside of China where Falun Gong practitioners have been summoned to court and accused of "insulting" the Chinese Communist regime.
Mrs. Ng and Mr. Tiong were displaying a banner at the Chinese embassy, calling for an end of the group's persecution in China, prior to the charges.
Ms. Chu claims that the Singapore Government is acting "above the law" to attack Falun Gong. She says that by charging Mrs. Ng and Mr. Tiong, the police are breaking the constitution under the pressure from the neighboring China where the Falun Gong spiritual movement has been persecuted since 1999.
"Under the Singapore law people have basic rights under article 9, 12 and 14 of the constitution," said Ms. Chu, referring to the articles on the basic liberty of a person, equality before the law and having the freedom of speech and assembly.
Ms. Chu claims that Falun Gong has been singled out, saying that all other religions in Singapore have the right to practice and do not face similar harassment. Such treatment, she says, is "discriminatory" and the Singapore Government is siding with the persecution sanctioned by the Chinese Communist regime.
Ms. Chu's concerns were echoed by the Falun Gong practitioners in Singapore.
"We hope the Singapore Government will look at the situation and not participate willingly in this persecution," said Mrs. Ng in an interview.
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