Peaceful demonstration and peaceful protest is the only way ahead for democracy in Singapore.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

You already know the facts. You live in Singapore under the absolute rule of Lee family, Lee Kuan Yew, the father, Minister Mentor and his son. Almost all Members of Parliament, all 82 of them, being government appointees are neither independent beings nor representative of anyone. They are a mere rubber stamp to approve anything Lee and his son desire. They wait each day to jump as high and as often as Lee or his son demands.

Then there are 2 miserable opposition Members of Parliament. They are almost government Members of Parliament; going by what they have said or done so far. Lee Kuan Yew is pleased with them. They quietly go along with their lives earning their salaries; making sure Lee Kuan Yew is not displeased. They themselves have admitted, if not in so many words, that there is nothing they can really do to dislodge the Lee government; they are helpless; acording to them, it will take at least 40 years before any change will come about. No use counting on them.

Singapore is supposed to be a Parliamentary Constitutional democracy. But in reality it is not. After taking your money as taxpayers, Lee and his son run the place according to their plan. You have not part to play in it. All you can do is pay up and keep your mouth shut.

I wrote Constitutional law for Singapore protestors. on Sunday March 16, 2008 here. I had set out why protesting is not an illegal activity there. In Singapore there is no other way you can achieve representative government other than through peaceful protest. Here's why.

I am sure every right thinking citizen of Singapore is angry because Lee Kuan Yew, his son and entire family members and friends pay themselves salaries unprecedented for any country now or ever in history. Each of them pay themselves $3.7 million a year, about 6 times the salary of the President of the United States and the salaries of all the presidents and prime ministers of the European Union put together! There are various names for this sort of activity. One of them is theft. Another is corruption. But yet, there is nothing the people of Singapore can do to stop this thievery. No point complaining to your Members of Parliament because they are all shivering in their pants. They are terrified of Lee Kuan Yew and what he will do if enraged.

You can try telling it to the 2 miserable opposition members. Yes, they gave fine speeches condemning it in Parliament. But Lee Kuan Yew did not even have time to listen. For them, these opposition members are nothing more than an irritation. After their speeches they went promptly home. And they will undoubtedly come again at the next Parliamentary sitting for another round of speeches which Lee Kuan Yew and son will again promptly ignore.

To put it in a nutshell, the elected opposition have been neutered a long time ago.

The same with other glaring grievances. The government will not pay any retirement to anyone until they die or they reach 85 years, whichever comes sooner. A rule totally unacceptable, and not only that; ridiculous! Foreigners can come anytime and take any jobs they want in Singapore even if Singaporeans are ready and willing for it! These injustices not just affect some; they affect all Singaporeans. Yet Singaporeans live as slaves at the mercy of the Lee family.

In these circumstances, the answer cannot be clearer. Parliament cannot help anyone. It belongs to the Lee family. The only way you can get justice is to take it. And this can only be by protests. No other way can work in Singapore.

As you know, only 5 years ago, it would have been impossible for you to get just 2 people to to protest about anything. They were all terrified. But look at it now. There were no less than 50 people at the March 15, 2008 Parliament House Protest.

And this protest has been a resounding success. With the Internet and Utube and other modern devises, millions in Singapore and the world have watched the police beat, bully and drag unarmed peaceful protesters doing nothing more than peacefully exercising their right to assembly. They harmed no one. They were a danger to none. Yet we watched the disgraceful spectacle of the police beating and hurting and twisting the fingers of the woman Chee Siok Chin and bundling her off in a police car. Good Heavens, one could have thought she just murdered 10 people! But no; all she did to suffer this police brutality was to peacefully stand among others holding a placard asking the government to stop further consumer goods price hikes!

I am not sure if Lee Kuan Yew and his Son have finally learnt the basic law of physics, which is, an action causes a counter action. Those who protested included Dr. Chee, Siok Chin his sister, Mr Yap Keng Ho. These 3 have over the years been courageously fighting for the cause of freedom. The government thinking they can be subdued through punishment, in their usual shameful manner, had used false criminal and civil charges, sued and bankrupted them; thinking that this means they have seen the last of them. But you see, not everyone is as cowardly as Lee Kuan Yew would want them to be. Instead of subduing and silencing them, they have instead woken up 3 sleeping giants. They are determined to fight and what is worse for the government; they intend to persuade a lot more people to join their fight.

It is easy for them to persuade others to join the fight, simply because, as anyone can see, justice is on their side.

These protests will cause increasing embarrassment to this government. The world can see this government denying its citizens their constitutional rights. At the same time, in Singapore, you will face more attrition in its educated population. Ever more educated people are resigning from the police force, as they are not prepared to do the dirty work that these policemen were asked to do. Lawyers are leaving the profession, because there is no rule of law. Civil servants are leaving. Many are emigrating to Australia. The Lee regime does not realize that such brutality against peaceful citizens tends to have the opposite effect. It is simply counter productive.

At the next protest, I expect not 50 but 500. I urge you the reader to join Dr. Chee to bring about justice to you and to your country. It is your money, your country. Surely you do not want Lee Kuan Yew to do anything he wants with it.

Salamat Jalan (Goodbye in Malay)

Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
Fax: 510 657 6914
Email: gopalnair@us-immigrationlaw.com

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