The tightly controlled city-state has been widely criticized for its Internal Security Act, which allows anyone deemed a threat to national security to be jailed without trial.

A citizens' group Dec10 issued a statement urging the government to abolish the act, calling it "violence committed against the people." The statement from the Open Singapore Center, or OSC, also urged authorities to "ratify all United Nations conventions on civic rights and liberties, labor conventions and conventions against torture."

The statement was signed by veteran opposition member of parliament, Joshua Jeyaretnam, who is also OSC's chairman.

Singapore Home Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Chew Peck Wan Dec 12 issued a statement saying the OSC's concerns were "not new issues" because Jeyaretnam had raised them in previous general elections.

"If he is serious about these matters, he should make them an issue at the next general elections. The people can then decide whether this is what they want," Chew said.

Singapore is required by law to hold its next general elections by mid-2002. There are three opposition lawmakers in the country's 93-member parliament, which has long been dominated by the ruling People's Action Party.

Critics of the government insist Singapore's political system heavily favors the PAP, since districts where the ruling party loses risk loss of benefits such as public housing renovation.

About 50 Singaporeans Dec 10 marked International Human Rights Day by holding a rare public protest against the Internal Security Act. Protests and demonstrations are uncommon in the wealthy city-state with a population of about four million.

Internal Security Act detentions are seldom heard of these days, but many people remain afraid that opposing the government could get them locked up.

The act and other strict government policies have been criticized as draconian, but officials say tight controls have helped Singapore become one of Asia's most stable and prosperous countries.