There seems to be a very loose definition of dictatorship going on here.
`Dictator`
a ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained power by force.
Singapore isn't a single-party state. There are other political parties that take part in the elections. Singapore's government is made up of members from mostly one party because the people voted them in. Let me repeat the last part: the citizens of Singapore voted the party in on their own accord. That's not a dictatorship. No one pointed a gun at my head and told me to vote for the incumbent party.
And as for your point about political dissidents, while that is true and is an important part of the history, it doesn't really happen now. What normally happens is that someone says something stupid that borders on libel and defamation and he gets sued. Is is heavy handed? Probably. Were they breaking the law? Yes. Is this a sign of dictatorship? On it's own, no.
There is heavy censorship, there is the death penalty, I believe Singapore still sell land mines, homosexuality is against the law. There are many flaws about Singapore but to call the state a dictatorship is putting the wrong label on the country.
When you say `Dictatorship`, I think North Korea, Iran. There is no way in the world Singapore even comes close to being a North Korea or an Iran.
`Dictator`
a ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained power by force.
Singapore isn't a single-party state. There are other political parties that take part in the elections. Singapore's government is made up of members from mostly one party because the people voted them in. Let me repeat the last part: the citizens of Singapore voted the party in on their own accord. That's not a dictatorship. No one pointed a gun at my head and told me to vote for the incumbent party.
And as for your point about political dissidents, while that is true and is an important part of the history, it doesn't really happen now. What normally happens is that someone says something stupid that borders on libel and defamation and he gets sued. Is is heavy handed? Probably. Were they breaking the law? Yes. Is this a sign of dictatorship? On it's own, no.
There is heavy censorship, there is the death penalty, I believe Singapore still sell land mines, homosexuality is against the law. There are many flaws about Singapore but to call the state a dictatorship is putting the wrong label on the country.
When you say `Dictatorship`, I think North Korea, Iran. There is no way in the world Singapore even comes close to being a North Korea or an Iran.