Singapore accused of stifling dissent

The human rights organiation Amnesty International has accused the Singapore government of systematically stifling political dissent by continuing to detain people without trial and torturing prisoners. Mass detentions in the early 1960s and "the continuing arrest of jurnalists, students and lawyers have resulted in the silencing of groups that have been forthright in criticizing the government's human rights record," an Amnesty report said. The 60-page report is based on the findings of representatives of the London-based organization who visited the island republic from Nov. 30 to Dec. 5, 1978.