Opposition group nominates ex-detainee for Nobel Prize

This article is more than 12 months old

Oct 04, 2015 12:03 pm

A group of opposition figures have nominated former detainee Chia Thye Poh for the Nobel Peace Prize, saying his fight for political rights had inspired today's activists.

Dr Chia, 74, a Barisan Socialis MP in the 1960s, was detained for 23 years and lived under restrictions for another nine before being released in 1998.

Singaporeans First Party secretary-general Tan Jee Say said yesterday that this made him the world's longest-serving political prisoner.

Former Singapore Democratic Party member James Gomez wrote the nomination letter with filmmaker Martyn See.

Dr Chia, said to be living in Europe, is one 273 nominees for the prize. The winner will be chosen next week.