Why "Democracy Now"? ---making film for foreign audience?

They protested.They walked.They shouted.They were actors.
Director and camera man---
Timothy Cooper, Executive Director of Worldrights

2... He said: 'I'm not that sophisticated to be able to analyse politics in Singapore.'

Mr Cooper denied being linked with any human rights group and claimed he was working on a political novel.

Mr Gandhi denied any knowledge of Mr Cooper or of his filming their march...

Although he claimed to have chanced upon the group near the Istana, he was spotted near them at Hong Lim Park....

2.
a liar or invited camera man or both?

3..

WHO IS THIS MAN AT SDP PROTEST?
He claims he's 'curious' photo buff, but he's really...
JUST who is this man who was seen filming Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) members outside the Istana yesterday?
By Crystal Chan
18 September 2007

JUST who is this man who was seen filming Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) members outside the Istana yesterday?

He was dressed in a long-sleeved white shirt, black jeans, and carried two camera bags.

On being approached by The New Paper, he introduced himself as an American named Timothy Cooper and claimed he was a photography enthusiast.

He said: 'I've been travelling around South-east Asia and I came to Singapore to take photos. Singapore is physically gorgeous. There's nice scenery and people here are kind and generous.'

The SDP group included Ms Chee Siok Chin - SDP chief Chee Soon Juan's sister - and party chairman Gandhi Ambalam.

They and others wore T-shirts with the words 'Democracy Now'.

They had gathered at Speakers' Corner at Hong Lim Park, then walked to Parliament and the Istana.

Mr Gandhi passed a letter, addressed to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, to an official outside the Istana.

Said Mr Cooper: 'I was taking pictures of the President's palace when I saw this group.

'I was curious about them so I started filming them.

'Protests are a way of life in Washington. Groups gather to protest for all sorts of things, from farmers' rights to the Iraq war.'

During our conversation, he touched on themes such as free speech, democracy and the right toprotest.

DENIES GETTING INVOLVED

When told that the Government here has a policy against foreigners getting involved in local politics, Mr Cooper claimed he was not doing that.

He said: 'I'm not that sophisticated to be able to analyse politics in Singapore.'

Mr Cooper denied being linked with any human rights group and claimed he was working on a political novel.

Mr Gandhi denied any knowledge of Mr Cooper or of his filming their march.

He said: 'We posted details of today's march on our website. Anyone could have found out about our event.'

The website invited the public to see the group off at Hong Lim Park and join them for a candlelight vigil at Queenstown Remand Prison.

The New Paper later discovered a few things that did not tally with Mr Cooper's words.

Although he claimed to have chanced upon the group near the Istana, he was spotted near them at Hong Lim Park.

Checks also showed that he is the executive director of Worldrights, a four-year-old US-based non-profit human rights organisation.

A picture on the organisation's website showed that he was the same man interviewed by The New Paper.

Worldrights' website states that Mr Cooper has appeared before many international human rights bodies, including the UN Commission on Human Rights.

When The New Paper tried to call him on his handphone, he did not answer, but a voice mail response identified him as the Worldrights executive director.

So, was it coincidence that a human rights activist happened to be present at the SDP protest? Or was the protest stage-managed for the benefit of a foreign audience?

From the Istana, the SDP members walked to Queenstown Remand Prison, where Mr Chee is serving a three-week jail term. Mr Cooper was no longer with them.

Dr Chee was jailed on 4 Sep after failing to pay an $8,000 fine for leaving Singapore while bankrupt.

The SDP members, with Dr Chee's wife and three children, held a candlelight vigil outside.

When asked if they had a permit for their march, Mr Gandhi said: 'Why do I need a permit when I'm just walking from one place to another?'

However, the police said the group had ignored their advice not to break the law.

Mr Gandhi said the demonstration was to mark the first anniversary of the SDP'sattempt to protest during the IMF-World Bank meeting here last year.

---The New Paper 17.09.2007.

I cant be bothered to read the whole thread.. coz, it is like cut paste 1...
But the demostration photo does look pathetic... How come SDP got the face to circulate this type of photo ,hah??

As usual the idiot lion cannot distinguish criticism of the Government from nationalism.

Setup a organisation - call Worldrights, human rights organisation. Find a few idiots in Singapore Fly here to take some picture of them .... post it on the web - ask for donation to help human rights !!! that how these people earn the money to pay their own salaries !!!

of course it it non-profit - all the money - pay to salaries and fly around the world to take some idiot pictures !!!

And your point is?

Human rights exist the day we were born and it is not determind by the Gods nor the goverments.
This rights is not a privilage nor benifits or rewards.
It is the being of ourselve and of all living things.
We all are free people the day we step feet on to the soil.

That right is only taken away the moment u submit.

lionnoisy aka gotnews, detwint, base10 etc does it again.

Originally posted by Fingolfin_Noldor:

As usual the idiot lion cannot distinguish criticism of the Government from nationalism.

To him, fascism is equivalent to patriotism.

And if I am in Taiwan and I participate in a march against Chinese aggression, video it and spread the message, am I influencing the politics of China and Taiwan? And if so, what the heck is wrong with someone taking up a cause in a foreign land for something he believes in?

Bullcrap.

Originally posted by boka:

And your point is?

Human rights exist the day we were born and it is not determind by the Gods nor the goverments.
This rights is not a privilage nor benifits or rewards.
It is the being of ourselve and of all living things.
We all are free people the day we step feet on to the soil.

That right is only taken away the moment u submit.

I think singaporeans have all the right to change whatever they want, collectively.

They have absolute freedom.

But how a person thinks is another matter altogether.

Its right in front of you.

Thus, one can also say, from this perspective, that current state is what singaporeans want.

Which of these statement is true.

1. Timothy Cooper was seen at Hong Lim Park, the starting point of the SDP walk.
2. Timothy Cooper chance upon the SDP walk, at the Istana.

Originally posted by boka:

And your point is?

Human rights exist the day we were born and it is not determind by the Gods nor the goverments.
This rights is not a privilage nor benifits or rewards.
It is the being of ourselve and of all living things.
We all are free people the day we step feet on to the soil.

That right is only taken away the moment u submit.

What is human rights?
What is a right?
What is your right?
What is another's right?
What when your right conflict with my right?
Whose right should prevail?
What are all your rights?
Who should agree to those rights?
Would you agree to all the rights of others?
What about the rights of your parents to impose/restrict on you?
How do you reconcile the rights of your community to impose cultural/religious restriction on you?
Does your child has the right to freedom of expression/speech?
Would you give them that right?
Who gives you the right, any right?

Do you know what a right is?
You are clamouring for something abstract. What, you know not of. Just shout and make noise.
Be specific.

Google human rights, and see for your self how vast that subject is.
Ordinarily you can have some rights, but not all.
Which are the ones you want?

Originally posted by mancha:

Which of these statement is true.

1. Timothy Cooper was seen at Hong Lim Park, the starting point of the SDP walk.
2. Timothy Cooper chance upon the SDP walk, at the Istana.

there is nothing wrong of taking video of the protest, it is a minor issue, the important thing is why cant a citizen have the right to walk from one place to another, that better keep Ambalan or Chee under house arrest, since they are not allow to walk in group of 5, that means they cant have friends walk with them if they go dinner or shopping

Remember NTUC protested in large numbers against American interference in Spore’s domestic affair, anybody got caught? Lim Boon Heng has to answer

Cooper lied that he was not human rights activities and claimed
: 'I'm not that sophisticated to be able to analyse politics in Singapore.'

His cover up worried me.What is his agenda ?

Originally posted by LazerLordz:

And if I am in Taiwan and I participate in a march against Chinese aggression, video it and spread the message, am I influencing the politics of China and Taiwan? And if so, what the heck is wrong with someone taking up a cause in a foreign land for something he believes in?

Bullcrap.

You do as you wish. Don't come crying for consular assistance from Singapore if you end up in jail in a foreign land though.

Originally posted by oxford mushroom:

You do as you wish. Don't come crying for consular assistance from Singapore if you end up in jail in a foreign land though.

Wow, you still have not learnt the meaning of rhetoric have you..

Originally posted by oxford mushroom:

You do as you wish. Don't come crying for consular assistance from Singapore if you end up in jail in a foreign land though.

Why the frak does anyone need to come crying for assistance in the first place? You mean Singapore has even an ounce of influence in foreign judicial systems? Why, how many suits did the Government win abroad?

Originally posted by LazerLordz:

Wow, you still have not learnt the meaning of rhetoric have you..

As you have not learnt to respect the law

Originally posted by Fingolfin_Noldor:

Why the frak does anyone need to come crying for assistance in the first place? You mean Singapore has even an ounce of influence in foreign judicial systems? Why, how many suits did the Government win abroad?

The losers who rant in Sgforums are cowards at heart who would run to PAPa at the first sign of trouble....that's why

The losers who rant in Sgforums are cowards at heart who would run to PAPa at the first sign of trouble....that's why

Why do you think that some of us here would run to the PAP ruling clique?

Originally posted by oxford mushroom:

The losers who rant in Sgforums are cowards at heart who would run to PAPa at the first sign of trouble....that's why

What more can we expect to see from another condescending generally sweeping statement flashed out from a brainless Singapore Mushroom transplanted to Oxford ?

It is only too obvious by now that the losers are those who prefer to stand afar from the locals, and will only associate themselves with the pedigree crowd by sheer name dropping.

The first one to run to the MIW will be those who have transplanted themselves out of Singapore, and insuring a passage home by siding with the MIW in nit-picking the locals - especially those who dare to stay and push for the political space that is jealously guarded by the MIW.

How much has the PAP assisted Singaporeans besides propagating the need for more self-help and self-reliance ?

While the MIW help themselves to MILLION Dollar wages, they will debate to death any proposal to maintain the status quo for CPF lump sum payout; and will refuse to entertain any scheme that will allow for a better increase then the niggardly 1% increase to the CPF account of the Aged.

Can the PAP and the MIW be depended on to look after Singaporeans ?

It is easy to look down at the bottom of the well and make snide remarks at the efforts of others in clarifying the water in the well; get your feet wet instead of standing afar and hoping to drink the water when you find your overseas water dried up.

You should not blindly follow PAP propaganda oxford mushroom, try to come up with original arguments or ideas of your own.

I see that you have been influenced by PAP propaganda in the mainstream media.

This is very bad.

Cooper lied that he was not human rights activities and claimed
: 'I'm not that sophisticated to be able to analyse politics in Singapore.'

His cover up worried me.What is his agenda ?

taking a pictures what can be hidden agenda? go back to american and sold to WAL-MART? or take a pictures of istana and sell to terrorist?
the only reason he if he ever lied is he is scare by the "grey" area of politcal freedom and singapore laws with regards to human rights.
common sense, after reading so much about tang liang hong, jaye, chee, and many more, he would be dead scare if he say, he is from human rights group.

dont forgot during the IMF meeting, the activistist are bar or arrested even before they started their protest!!!

common sense, after reading so much about tang liang hong, jaye, chee, and many more, he would be dead scare if he say, he is from human rights group.

So sad.

Why PAP regime?