Dear Konrad:

The Church generally does not reference specifically any form of government or economic system. It rather establishes the moral norms before God that are expected of any government, economic system, or authority.

The details of that are outlined in the Catechism but are far to extensive to quote here. I would recommend reading at least the following paragraphs. I have listed the paragraphs and the major header titles within those paragraphs:

• 1877-1948 (The Person and Society, Participation in Social Life, Social Justice)
• 2284-2317 (Respect for the Dignity of Persons, Safeguarding Peace)
• 2401-2463 (Universal Destination and the Private Ownership of Goods, Respect for Persons and their Goods, the Social Doctrine of the Church, Economic Activity and Social Justice, Justice and Solidarity among Nations, Love for the Poor)
• 2488-2499 (Respect for Truth, The Use of Social Communications Media)

Essentially, democracy and capitalism (moderated by social conscience and responsibility) give the most likelihood of meeting the moral requirements outlined by the Church.

Briefly, among the rights of man from God's point-of-view are (but not limited to this list):

1. religious freedom (from which all other freedoms flow)
2. political freedom
3. personal freedom
4. human and civil rights
5. right to personal property
6. justice in law
7. justice in employment (fair wages)
8. economic system that accounts for the poor
9. dignity of the human person in all ways
10. peace and security of the populace
11. freedom of press
12. truth in media

Governments and authorities are to see to it that these and other rights required by the moral order are secured and protected.

Catechism paragraph 2458 states:

The Church makes a judgment about economic and social matters when the fundamental rights of the person or the salvation of souls requires it. She is concerned with the temporal common good of men because they are ordered to the sovereign Good, their ultimate end.

To the specific items you mentioned happening in Singapore -- detaining people without charge is a violation of civil and human rights. It violates the virtue of Justice. The improper control of the media is also a violation of the moral order. The government has a moral obligation to not abuse the media. Catechism states (underlines are mine):

2493 Within modern society the communications media play a major role in information, cultural promotion, and formation. This role is increasing, as a result of technological progress, the extent and diversity of the news transmitted, and the influence exercised on public opinion.

2494 The information provided by the media is at the service of the common good. Society has a right to information based on truth, freedom, justice, and solidarity:

The proper exercise of this right demands that the content of the communication be true and - within the limits set by justice and charity - complete. Further, it should be communicated honestly and properly. This means that in the gathering and in the publication of news, the moral law and the legitimate rights and dignity of man should be upheld.

2495 "It is necessary that all members of society meet the demands of justice and charity in this domain. They should help, through the means of social communication, in the formation and diffusion of sound public opinion." Solidarity is a consequence of genuine and right communication and the free circulation of ideas that further knowledge and respect for others.

2498 "Civil authorities have particular responsibilities in this field because of the common good.... It is for the civil authority ... to defend and safeguard a true and just freedom of information." By promulgating laws and overseeing their application, public authorities should ensure that "public morality and social progress are not gravely endangered" through misuse of the media. Civil authorities should punish any violation of the rights of individuals to their reputation and privacy. They should give timely and reliable reports concerning the general good or respond to the well-founded concerns of the people. Nothing can justify recourse to disinformation for manipulating public opinion through the media. Interventions by public authority should avoid injuring the freedom of individuals or groups.

2499 Moral judgment must condemn the plague of totalitarian states which systematically falsify the truth, exercise political control of opinion through the media, manipulate defendants and witnesses at public trials, and imagine that they secure their tyranny by strangling and repressing everything they consider "thought crimes."

I hope this helps in your research.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

P.S. By the way, if you do not have access to the Catechism in book form, you can access it on the Internet at the Knights of Columbus Catechism Search Page. Entering the paragraph number in their search field will get you to the locations I mention above. You can also search by topic.