(Clearwisdom.net) A hearing is scheduled on January 12, 2007, in the Singapore High Court regarding Falun Gong practitioner Dr. Wang Yuyi's appeal to summon Lee Kuan Yew and other officials to testify in the case involving Falun Gong practitioners. An argument was held between the two parties of the lawsuit on whether Lee was involved in the case. If the judge decides Lee and other official are involved, he will override the decision of the Subordinate Court and require Lee and other officials to testify in the trial scheduled on January 22.
On October 23, 2005, a few Falun Gong practitioners distributed fliers about quitting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on busy streets. Nine months later, during Chinese official Li Lanqing's visit in Singapore, six Falun Gong practitioners were suddenly charged for "assembly without permit." Falun Gong practitioners involved and several legal professionals in Singapore think it is a ridiculous charge. The manipulator behind the scene is most probably Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.
To clarify the truth, clear their names and overturn the charge, defendant Dr. Wang Yuyi requested the Court to summon Lee Kuan Yew to testify at the early stage of the trial. However, her request was turned down by the Subordinate Court. Wang thinks the Subordinate Court didn't even give consideration to her request. Her right as defendant was neglected. She appeals to the High Court. The following is an interview with Dr. Wang.
Reporter: Hello, Dr. Wang! Your request to summon Lee Kuan Yew and others has triggered a lot of concern and feedback in the past few months. Did you expect it when you made the request?
Wang: It is common for parties in the lawsuit to summon witnesses during trial. It is usually a simple process. The reason why my summon triggered special concern is probably because of the special identity of the people I summon. I noticed it during the trial on July 28. It was late afternoon and it was pretty dark in the courtroom. It wasn't the time everyone was most focused. However, when I said I would like to summon Lee Kuan Yew, it caused a stir in the court. Many turned around to look at me in surprise.
Some told me afterwards that it was great to summon Lee. Some thought I had challenged and humiliated them on purpose, as if treating him as an ordinary person is humiliation. It doesn't make sense. If someone thinks we should do such and such because of Lee's special status, it is equivalent of granting him special privilege. But it would take away my right as an ordinary defendant. It is unfair to us.
Reporter: Why do you want to summon these people as witnesses?
Wang: It is from of the point of view of a defendant. I know my fellow Falun Gong practitioners and I are innocent. Falun Gong practitioners wouldn't do anything illegal. I am determined to expose the conspiracy behind the scene and overturn the charge. But I need witnesses and evidence. The prosecutor didn't provide any witness for me to question. I have to think about summoning witnesses. We will be able to see how the order was passed down level by level through the dialog of these witnesses.
Reporter: Are you sure it is appropriate? Have you consulted any lawyer?
Wang: I haven't. I didn't have to show up at the court on July 28 because of my international trip. I learned that the court made a change during my trip. So, I hurried to show up at the court as soon as I came back. I didn't have time to consult a lawyer or event discuss about it much with other Falun Gong practitioners involved.
Eleven of us stood in a row and took turns to talk to the judge during the trial. I heard Ms. Ng Chye Huay request the policemen to be witnesses. I am inspired. I thought, "Right. A few policemen were at the scene on Oct. 23. They can be my witnesses." My second thought was they were simply carrying out an order. They won't be able to explain much. "I should summon their bosses too." But their bosses were not decision makers either. "I should summon their bosses' boss." When I traced it up, I naturally thought about the true decision maker, Lee Kuan Yew. When it was my turn to talk, I announced their names to the judge. I know it is doable legally.
Reporter: On your list, you did not include Singapore’s former and current Prime Ministers Lee Hsien Loong and Goh Chok Tong.
Wang: No. In recent years that Falun Gong was not fairly treated, and they bear responsibility since they are high level government officials. On the other hand, I did not see any report about their comment on Falun Gong in public. I don’t know their attitude towards Falun Gong and the relationship to this case. Those witnesses mentioned above were all involved in the case.
Reporter: Then, why did the judge at Subordinate Court refuse your summons request? What is her reason?
Wang: She said that those witnesses were not present on the spot and thus, don't relate to this case.
Reporter: How do you explain this from law?
Wang: From law, if one person is present on the spot, he relates to the criminal case; but if he is not present, it doesn’t mean he has nothing to do with the case. In other words, one person may have many relations to a case, and presence on the spot is only one of the relations.
Reporter: Why did the judge not know this? Why did she use this reason to refuse your summons request if she knows?
Wang: I think that she could not find any better reason. She asked me that day, "Was Lee Kuan Yew present on the spot on the day of the case?" I said, "No." I asked her, "If a witness relates to the case, must he present on the spot?" She answered, "Not necessarily." This indicates she knows clearly.
But in the meeting record she provided, the conversion was omitted. I put it forward in my appeal. The omission was intentional since the judge frequently used "Witness to be summoned was not present on the spot and does not relate to the case" as a reason in her ruling.
Reporter: In addition, do you have any other thoughts for the judge’s refusal?
Wang: The right to summon witness in a criminal case is a serious matter. The judge has the responsibility to safeguard my rights, and at least carefully consider my summons. She did not do that. I was disappointed. But her refusal reinforced my reasons for summoning Lee.
Reporter: It seems that you do not agree with Singapore’s handling of Falun Gong. Did you communicate with them to exchange ideas?
Wang: In recent years, we contacted with police a lot and the highest level we reached was vice director of the bureau to monitor Falun Gong. Many police, investigators and even some officers know the facts well. Many of them were transferred and it was said that they did not like to participate in the plan from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. But there are still many police and officials who carry out orders from high levels on this matter.
We could not reach higher level officials. For years, Falun Gong practitioners requested many times and wrote countless letters, but did not get any response. One reason that I summon Lee Kuan Yew is to have a chance to ask him face to face why he treats Falun Gong practitioners unfairly and what his real thoughts are.
Reporter: Thank you for the interview.
Wang: Thank you.
Category: News & Events
