Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Activists in Singapore tried to stage a protest on Wednesday against an orchid naming ceremony for Burmese Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein.

Singaporean human rights activists Mr. Seelan Palay, Mr. Chia Tilik and film producer Mr. Ho Choon Hiong tried to protest the naming ceremony held at the Orchid Park in the city state. But they arrived late and missed the ceremony.

"When we arrived at the park, the ceremony had already concluded. I think they held the ceremony earlier than the scheduled time. But no one from the embassy came out and received our protest letter when we reached the Burmese embassy. So we had to leave our memorandum and flowers in front of the embassy," Mr. Chia Tilik told Mizzima.

The Singaporean human rights lawyer Mr. Chia Tilik said that they could not accept the naming of orchid, a hallmark of Singapore, in honour of the dictatorial military general. It should be named after a genuine leader of Burma like Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, he said.

The three activists brought a greeting card and eight orchids to the Orchid Park to be sent to the Burmese pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi through the Burmese PM.

The Singaporean Prime Minister Mr. Lee Hsien Long hosted a dinner for the visiting Burmese PM who arrived in Singapore on Tuesday after visiting Indonesia.

At the dinner, the Singapore PM said that the Burmese military regime should prove substantial process in politics and bilateral business activities such as the tourism industry.

Singapore maintains a relationship with Burma though the US and EU have imposed economic sanctions against Burma.

Singapore is the country where leaders of the military regime and generals rely on for healthcare services.