Rachel's posts with tag: singapore
One of my favourite bloggers, Gopalan Nair, was arrested on Saturday night (no idea of the exact time) for making his opinions about the Lee vs. Chee case known on his blog. For those who do not know, Mr. Nair was formerly a Singaporean and a member of the Worker's Party in the late 80's to the early 90's. He has since relinguished his Singaporean citizenship and is now an American citizen.
Other than exercising freedom of speech and opinions, Mr. Nair put himself up as a political bait, challenging Lee Kuan Yew (and company) to take actions against him. That was in response to the threat mentioned by Lee during the 'trial'. Apparently the bait worked. What does this show us?
1. There is no freedom of speech and opinions here in Singapore.
2. Lee cares about his reputation and uses legal methods to pursue anyone who seeks to stain his name whether or not the 'allegations' or 'lies' are true (thanks to the MSM, many people believe in anything PAP).
What else can we deduce from this? Seriously, this is a scary place. Scary because our mouths have been taped and our right to opinions have been robbed of us right from our very birth as Singaporeans (with especial regards to socio-political issues). Scary because many people are willing to follow and believe what they have been told. This arrest of Mr. Nair, in my opinion, is simply yet another effort to further enhance the presence of the fear among Singaporeans to have their opinions known loud and clear.
No wonder many are giving up their Singaporean citizenship.
To PM Lee: You cannot blame local talents for leaving this island. It has become somewhat unbearable to live, gagged and bound. Many more will leave soon if they manage to save up enough. I sympathise with the those who are consciously suffering but yet have no credentials and financial resources to move abroad. Maybe indeed they can vote your government out in the next election but fear exists in most of their hearts because of the way you have clipped your oppositions' wings and resources, making them bankrupts and mere watch dogs in the Parliament. It doesn't help much with the mass media controlled under your government. Looking at the success of local 'propaganda', you and the members in your government must have been admirers and followers of Joseph Goebbels perhaps? Hey however guess what, this nation of slumbering sheep is slowly awakening.
I look forward with hope and glee to the results of future elections to come.
Oh and may I apologise somewhat unapologetically for attempting to exercise my right to speech and opinions here.
Read also:
Will you be back tomorrow?
Gopalan Nair arrested!
Singapore Dissident arrested by Singapore police
Is this a challenge or what?
FamiLEE on serial Political Suicide after Political Masturbation
Did Gopalan Nair threaten Belinda Ang?
(A very good question indeed.)
Singapore courts grant arrest warrant without bail for insulting a judge
Then he should tell his daddy the same about the increasing number of people giving up their citizenship every year. He should also say the same thing to his daddy about his elder son who is studying in the States and had indicated that he might not come back. "What to do, it has happened." Comeon dude, take your job more seriously. You are the PM for fuck's sake. Mr. Lee, you do not get paid such a whooping sum of money for saying "What to do, it has happened."! Import.flv (1.7 MB)
News reports in Singapore can be so amusing... Or maybe it is just me. I was checking out The Straits Times Online, getting myself updated about the latest 'news' about the escape of Mas Selamat Kastari, the limping only when running terrorist, and I find myself being highly amused by what I was reading. Here are some excerpt from the article I just finished amusing myself with plus my opinions. All excerpts are from the article, Two Separate Probes into Terrorist's Escape and Police Believe: He Acted Alone; He is Still in Singapore, both dated 3rd of March.
"Mr Wong said security at Whitley Road Detention Centre, which is under the charge of the Internal Security Department, has been stepped up, and the 'physical breach' in the centre's compound plugged. He declined to give details, saying: 'You will know that later on.'"
Later on huh, Mr. Wong. The thing is, will we ever know? Sure it has been revealed that there was a 'physical breach', but what sort of an information could that be? Do you mean that the bricks moved by themselves or the window (which I doubt will be bigger than my 17 inch monitor) enlarged itself by Mas Selamat's commands? So we have no information because the Home Affairs department chose to keep things partially confidential. That is the problem you see Mr. Wong. When you choose to tease our minds like that and discourage us from speculating, you are actually tickling our creative juices and all the strangest and wildest speculations start coming out. My advise is that if there is nothing to tell, don't say anything at all but if there is really something to tell, tell all or at least most. My guess is there is nothing much to tell and the repetitive 'physical breach' was just something to occupy our curious and wondering minds with. Comeon, we are not fools. Your non-commital way of saying things do pisses some of us off, if not all.
"POLICE believe terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari acted alone when he escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre last Wednesday." Police. Now on what basis do they come to this belief? Or is this being repeated time and again in various reports to aid us sub consciously to believe that he acted alone and none of the members in our security forces rendered him assistance for probable self gain? Now check out the next sentence. "Without help, he would have found it hard to get out of Singapore, especially with the security dragnet in place since his breakout."
Now let us change this to "Without help, he would have found it hard to get out of a heavily guarded detention centre." Enough said?
"Police Assistant Commissioner Wong Hong Kuan said yesterday: 'We believe he was unaided, and therefore he does not have access to money, vehicles, or modes of transport."
Okay, they believe but how sure can they be? I mean, I am sure that he is not that daft to escape knowing that he has nothing or nobody at all to count on outside the toilet walls and fences of the detention centre. Right, so this is what they believe... quite typical really.
"As the search for Mas Selamat entered Day Five, the police gave more details to help the public identify him. AC Wong, the director of operations, clarified that the fugitive's limp in his left leg is evident only when he walks briskly or runs. Otherwise, he appears to have a normal gait." That is all. Do we deserve more information? We do. I wonder how much they observe him going about daily in the detention centre. If they had been more observant, they could have given us the information right from the very beginning instead of now, after reviewing the videos of him going about, walking normally around the place. Perhaps the lack of observation have partly aided in his escape. Who knows?  Actually if you really notice, he has a very common face. If we are to depend on the descriptions given to us by the police, then I guess that when we see someone who looks like the one in the picture(s) released, then maybe we should try to give the fella a chase to see if he limps when he runs. Idea? IDEA!
"'But I believe our reputation continues to remain high compared to many other countries and we will do everything possible to ensure that this does not happen again,' he added."
Very optimistic. I am sure some of our neighbours will forgive us if a limping terrorist who escaped from a heavily guarded detention centre via the toilet if he gave them a BOMBastic issue to think about. However I like the optimism really. Some of my foreign friends (here and abroad) have been asking if this could well be a joke. They still couldn't believe it. Actually neither can I. Somewhat too ridiculous maybe.
"He felt that life should go on, and how Singaporeans respond now is a test of their resilience. 'Let us not be cowed by this,' he said."
Yes life goes on. Pay your taxes regularly but keep your eyes wide open for the man in the poster.
I do want to see him caught and I do want to be informed about what happened exactly. However I have a feeling that we may not know at all, even though he might eventually be 'caught'. This is probably all a wayang show for you and I. However that is merely speculation as my creative juices tend to go wild when teased as I have a (skeptical) brain that never stops thinking of possibilities.
The police and government are telling us nothing really even though they think they are by occupying us with interesting phrases, vague descriptions and non-commital statements and such.
On the 27th of February, at about 4.05pm, a lapse in security over at the Whitley Detention Centre caused the escape of the head of JI operations here in Singapore. Now I am trying so hard to picture his escape really. Mas Selamat Kastari walks with a limp managed to escape from the toilet of a detention centre that has the tightest security measures here.
How is this truly possible? Why wasn't he handcuffed and why weren't there enough security about the whole place to prevent such a fuck up? Why were the public being informed only four hours after his great escape and not immediately?
Our dear old Minister of Home Affairs Mr. Wong Kan Seng's statement(s) have rendered much confusion about the whole thing really. First he claimed that Mas Selamat Kastari was a security threat being the head of Jemaah Islamiyaa and then in the same statement he assured that he posed no imminent danger to the public. Sure I will nod at his statement had he said that immediately after the escape but he did so after four hours (or more, I can't remember). There were many things that could have happened within the four hours and now he is still at large. Indeed, a limping escapee from preventive detention could do us no harm so how is it possible enough that he could have gotten away from the detention centre in the very first place? If you tell me that the escapee is a fully abled fella I would have been more forgiving but I am terribly disappointed with the security forces here. Doesn't our government always boasts about our fantastic level of security here? Now they should really bow their heads in shame because this lapse is not a trivial matter.
On an alternative note here, could he been sent packing away to Guantanamo Bay for a not so fantastic vacation and that the public hoo haa about his great escape is just a smoke screen for the general public? Afterall a 'mistake' is always better than sending someone to one of the world's most cold blooded detention camp.
There are many possiblities for this really and he might already have left the island to seek refuge in the Indonesian islands.
Now we are no fools for WKS or the government's assuring words (or are we?). What matters most is that our Home Affairs Minister has too many explanations to do, with regards to this particular incident as well as many other issues beforehand. Should we, the taxpayers who contribute to his fat pay check, continue to sit back in our homes waiting for actions to be done or should we call for the minister to resign? All of us makes mistakes but mistakes do come with consequences. Or maybe it is such a case for all of us common folks, not the high and mighty elites in the government, i.e., the PAP.
Whatever it is, now we know that our home team is not that formidable and invincible afterall (yes, gukhas included).
And... wait wait! Shouldn't we actually be informed about what sort of "... independent investigation" that is going underway and who is/ are leading it? I mean... the brief and vague mention about the so called independent investigation just seems like... nothing! Who, what, where and how?! Ok so yes, because of the status of the escapee, some information should be kept secret but at least give us some information rather than say "An independent investigation is going underway and we should not speculate on what and how it happened." It is all too sketchy, sounds like WKS was trying to cover his old arse to make a Great Escape from public doubts and questions that have been ongoing anyway.
Urgh this really SHOULDN'T have happened in the first place! I mean... he has been placed under preventive detention as Singapore's number one security threat!
Resign, Mr. Wong. It is probably time to say goodbye to a fat pay check and start taking public transport like a good ol' commoner. I am sure your pension will be as fat as what you are getting now anyway.
Yes I do feel sorry for him being in this situation now but he has the whole country to answer to. I watched his statement in the video posted on Youtube and I feel sorry for him. However if he cannot do his job well then it is time for a change of leadership. Furthermore part of my very hard earned salary is contributing to his existence in the Office and his former policies and statements regarding other issues have caused me to wonder if he should step down and I am sure I am not the only one who really feels so.
Grr...
Update, 2nd March: Committee of Inquiry to find out how JI militant escaped
" Mr Wong also said that Mas Selamat will not be of immediate danger if he is on his own and is unable to access any materials that can cause any harm. However, he cautioned that this might not be the case in the long-term."
Let's hope that we get more information soon.
www.repeal377A.com
TWO EASY STEPS TO SUPPORT THE REPEAL OF SINGAPORE PENAL CODE SECTION 377A, which allows for the prosecution of any male who engages in consensual sex, in private or otherwise, with another male:
1) DOWNLOAD, PRINT, SIGN and DROP OFF (at designated locations) the Parliamentary Petition by 14 Oct 2007 (Sun); and
2) Sign the ONLINE Open Letter to the Singapore Prime Minister by 19 Oct 2007 (Fri).
NOTE: The Parliamentary Petition is not the same as the Open Letter. PLEASE SIGN BOTH.
Your immediate ACTION is greatly appreciated.
www.repeal377A.com
Video Music Credits:
With Every Heartbeat (Kleerup Mix) by Robyn Import.flv (3.3 MB)
The protests and violence in Burma recently has shown not only the well known ruthlessness of the Burmese government but has also exposed governments of several countries in terms of political and economical hypocrisy. Besides that, it has also proven how blind and brainwashed some people can be and that is terrible a fact to even digest.
On the homefront in Singapore where I am now, none of the applications for a peaceful protest supporting the Burmese protestors have been approved and the Burmese over at Peninsula Plaza have been told by the police to stop wearing the pro democracy t-shirts. Responding to the situation in Burma as the ASEAN chair, the Singaporean government provided nothing but all talk. So did the Prime Minister's letter to the junta. At the same time we hear rumours from sources citing that the family members of Gen. Than Shwe are here in Singapore. Typically the general population of Singaporeans are not in the least bit concerned. They go about their lives as if Burma is in another galaxy and such violence will never be seen in Singapore. They don't care, they don't feel and that is their choice but when a particular member of the opposition political party comes up with a petition, they suddenly come alive with opinions and attacks. That is something I find totally disturbing and bizarre.
On September 30, Dr. Chee Soon Juan and some of the party members from SDP held vigil outside the Burmese embassy with two letters of protest for the public to sign. The two letters, one addressed to the ambassador Mr. U Win Myint and the other, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The first letter to the Burmese ambassador urged the SPDC to cease all brutal actions against the protestors, release the political prisoners (Aung San Suu Kyi included), hand the political power over to the rightfully elected party of the 1990 election (NLP) and to ender into dialogue with the NLP as well as the minority ethnic groups in Burma to diffuse the explosive situation in Burma and to establish democracy. The second letter was a request for the government to declare whether it has sold amunitions in any form to the junta as well as a demand to know if the GLCs are doing business in Burma. I see nothing wrong with the two letters at all and I agree with both. There have been criticisms regarding these two letters and some are saying that Dr. Chee is explioting the situation in Burma to bring attention to his party. I find most of the criticisms totally empty of validitation. There is absolutely no proof that this petition's sole reason was to bring any form of attention to SDP and Dr. Chee. As if he hasn't had enough attention already as the media are always eager to suck up to the government by painting a bad picture of him. I guess many Singaporeans have been brainwashed to think that anything done by Dr. Chee and his party is bad and not worth supporting hence they criticise merely for the sake of doing so. They have lost their ability to think any longer and just follow what the big PAPpy says.
I wonder how many of those who stood up to criticise the petition have read the letters at all. I also wonder how many of those who criticised want blood money in our National Treasury.
Comeon people, smell the stench of the PAPpy's closet. Many skeletons are lurking in there and they are not as clean as their party uniform suggests. Use your brains and think for yourselves, don't let the government and their media do the thinking. DEMAND for your rights to know the facts that should have been transparent right from the start. We should know who and what are really governing our country. It is our very right as citizens.
Links:
Straits Times won't publish Dr. Chee's reply to M M Aung
http://www.singaporedemocrat.org/articleburmaprotest12.html
(Personal note: I see nothing wrong with the reply. Read and decide for yourselves.)
Myanmar should reject Dr. Chee's cause (M M Aung's letter to the Straits Times)
http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_163871.html
Chee Soon Juan's 'Exploitation' of the Burma Situation?
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/10/06/chee-soon-juans-exploitation-of-the-burma-situation/
A Protest and Petition in Singapore
http://chemgen.wordpress.com/2007/10/02/a-protest-and-petition-in-singapore/
You can read the letters here: http://www.singaporedemocrat.org/articleburmaprotest2.html
Posted by theonlinecitizen on October 2nd, 2007
Andrew Teo, a student at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, had applied for a permit to hold an outdoor protest about the situation in Burma. (Reported here by TOC earlier.) His application has been rejected by the Singapore police. The following is an extract from a TODAY newspaper report on why the police rejected his application: “Many Singaporeans probably care, but “some things are seen to be taboo”, said Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy student Andrew Teo, one of two people whose applications to stage outdoor protests were rejected by the police. He said the police explained to him that he could be in trouble if someone threw a stone at the riot police or burned a flag at a rally. And if the protest was held in front of the Myanmar embassy and someone threw objects at it, then the embassy could demand that police take action against him.”
____________________________________________________________
My view: It is't about the worry that people might throw stones, it is about Singapore's economical and political friendship with the junta. We are the country's second major investor as well as a major supplier of crucial material and equipment to the junta. The government has also been allowing members of the junta and their families the privilege of turning this place into their safe haven of food, shopping as well as medical treatment. The cold silence from the government is not due to anything but the fact that Singapore seeks to gain from her ties with Burma's junta. Due to this fact, the political leaders are willing to swallow their compassion for the sake of material gains for this country. It is seriously appalling to even think of. For a fact, the PAP was built upon the foundation of a non belief in democracy and human rights. Our so called founding father Mr. Lee Kuan Yew (and I refuse to use the term Minister Mentor) has always been telling the world that human rights and democracy are ideals invented by the West and both bear no relevance to our so called Asian values. However even while knowing this, I cannot believe that the government is so cold that it is willing to ignore the bloodshed for gold. Is this what Lee called, Asian values? If it is so, then I denounce myself as an Asian. However it is not it. It is not about values at all and has never at all been. This is all about power and money, and to cover this fact up, many excuses have been invented. I have never felt so mad before and I am disappointed that our dear Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Yeo, has been so lame in his efforts with regards pertaining to the issue. What I could see from his statement on the behalf of ASEAN as the ASEAN Chair, was that apart from words and more words, nothing more will be done.
ASEAN, chaired by Singapore. What a total shame and laughingstock.
Our government has brought shame upon us on the behalf of us and I am totally disgusted. The total lack of compassion coming from our politicians really makes me wonder if the majority of the population really have a brain or have they simply been brainwashed to elect the same people to lead the country during our Elections. I am never a supporter of PAP or the way they try to brainwash us through the public education system and their campaigns and now I am even more appalled at the fact that they are still the ruling party.
Since the government is such, must the people be the same? My answer is no. Henceforth may I call for people who care to join in the global protest and petition on Burma to put pressure on the government of both Singapore and China to do something about this.
I am not sure I like the idea that we have blood money in our National Treasury. Do you?
Some links:
"International Bloggers' Day for Burma"http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/10/02/free-burma-give-your-support-to-this-event/
Petition to the UN
http://new.petitiononline.com/9848/petition.html
Statement from ASEAN Chair on Burma Issue
http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2007/09/statement-by-asean-chair-on-burma-issue.html
PM Lee's letter to Myanmar's top general
http://singaporepatriot.blogspot.com/2007/10/pm-lees-letter-to-myanmars-top-general.html
(ALL WORDS AND WORDS AND WORDS ONLY!)
Singapore, a Friend Indeed to Burma
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/09/30/1191090945019.html
Daring Protest in Singapore
http://statestimes.wordpress.com/2007/10/01/daring-protest-in-singapore/
As Burmese Troops Open Fire at Monks, China and Russia Block Global Sanctions
http://www.guardian.co.uk/burma/story/0,,2177868,00.html
No political films please, we're Singaporeans
http://singaporerebel.blogspot.com/
Democracy Now - Headlines for October 1 2007
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/10/01/1351254
*If you are on Facebook, there are many more links you can get from the activist groups on there*
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