These starkly varied assessments both describe Singapore's Speakers' Corner, a small, downtown park where people may address fellow citizens without first having to obtain a licence.

The cautious experiment in greater political freedom has its first anniversary today and Singapore activists were out in force last night to mark the occasion and press for a further relaxation of the rules.

A crowd of more than 100 gathered in the open space sandwiched between the central business district and Chinatown to hear more than a dozen speakers fire verbal broadsides against the ruling People's Action Party.

Joshua Jeyaretnam, the former head of the Workers' Party who was expelled from parliament after being declared a bankrupt, told the crowd: "All people value truth. Unfortunately, in Singapore the truth has got lost somewhere."

Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong introduced the corner after calls from civil society and opposition groups to relax the formidable array of rules on political participation. The city-state's Speakers' Corner is modelled on that in London's Hyde Park.

Melvin Tan, communications director for the Think Centre, a civil society advocacy group, said campaigners had mixed feelings. "Think Centre views the Speakers' Corner as both a milestone and millstone in the history of Singapore," he said. "Having a Speakers' Corner in any country is a step towards free speech and . . . it is something worth rejoicing indeed." But he said that as speaking hours ended at 7pm and space was limited, the venue was far from perfect.

Police figures show that after an initial burst of enthusiasm, Singaporeans' interest has fallen away. In its first month, almost 400 people came to the corner. But numbers are down to about 50 a month.

The activists said they were especially concerned about the ban on loud-hailers, which means speakers must shout to be heard above traffic and jack-hammers.

"This is a symbol of democracy," said Steve Chia, of the National Solidarity Party. "But after speaking here, you always end up with a sore throat."