Opposition critic and veteran human rights defender J B Jeyaretnam, who participated in the Dublin Platform for Human Rights Defenders in January 2002, has faced a series of civil defamation suits over a period of several years launched by members or leaders of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP). These have resulted in his bankruptcy. He has now appealed for a discharge from bankruptcy. If he is successful, he will be eligible to contest the next election and thus once again enter the official political arena. 
