Fresh Air, Lee Kuan Yew and Stan Sesser

Singapore's first Prime Minister and its current Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew and journalist Stan Sesser on this edition of Fresh Air. A very controversial figure, Lee Kuan Yew formed the People's Action Party and won the first Singapore general election in 1959. Since it was granted independence in 1965, Singapore has gone from British colony to Asian economic powerhouse. Yet, its government is often criticized for being too authoritarian and weak on civil liberties. Lee Kuan Yew will talk about his country's economic success, as well as the criticism about his government's treatment of its citizens. His new book is called From Third World to First. Sesser covers the Pacific Rim for The New Yorker. His articles have appeared in The New Yorker, The New Republic and Mother Jones. Sesser has written extensively about Singapore and Lee Kuan Yew. (Broadcast Date: October 24, 2000)