Filmmakers in Singapore in trouble...

I lived in Singapore for 3 1/2 years, so I know lots of stories about how Singapore goes after opposition politicians. They use a simple technique - just sue them for libel, win a huge judgement, and force them into bankruptcy. They've done this many times, and unfortunately, it works.

Now, they are going after filmmaker Martyn See for making a movie about an opposition politician. "Singapore Rebel" is a 26-minute film about Chee Soon Juan - a politican who faces bankruptcy after being ordered to pay $303,000 to former Prime Ministers Goh Chok Tong and Lee Kuan Yew, for defaming them in a 2001 electoral campaign.

See faces two years in prison, even though the film was never shown!

I love Singapore, but I hope the country can move towards real democracy.