As noted, the Singaporean opposition leader Dr. Chee Soon Juan is appearing before court this week to fight preposterously trumped up charges of having participated in a protest without a permit – only the latest in a series of ruinous lawsuits and legal actions aimed at depriving him and his political party of their constitutionally guaranteed rights to free speech. I am assisting Dr. Chee with his international legal defense, along with many others. Below is his dramatic, landmark speech presented in court today before District Judge Chia Wee Kiat. Your Honour, My associates and I have been charged under the Miscellaneous Offences Act (MOA) for participating in an assembly as well as a procession on 15 March 2008. We had assembled outside Parliament House to mark World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) which is celebrated by an organisation called the Consumers International. We are citizens of Singapore and as citizens, we are guaranteed of our fundamental freedoms under Article 14 of our Constitution which states that: a. every citizen of Singapore has the right to freedom of speech and expression; b. all citizens of Singapore have the right to assemble peaceably and without arms; and c. all citizens of Singapore have the right to form associations. This Constitution was written and promulgated when we wrestled our country back from the British colonial government. It wasn’t just a flight of fancy on the part of the framers of the constitution when it was written. Every word was scrutinised and considered before its inclusion in the document.