Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today is the 40th day since my arrival in Singapore on May 26, 2008. I expected to remain in Singapore only until June 3rd, 2008 i.e. for only 9 days for a short holiday and to witness the Lee Kuan Yew vs Dr. Chee Soon Juan defamation case.
On May 29, 2008 I wrote a blog criticizing the judge in the case of Lee Kuan Yew vs Dr. Chee Soon Juan Juan which was heard from May 26, 2008 to May 28, 2008. My article critical of Judge Belinda Ang appeared in this blog.
On May 31, 2008 5 plain clothes policemen and women from Cantonment Police Station arrested me from my hotel, the Broadway Hotel at Serangoon Road at 9 pm.
The Singapore government in this case is being being deliberately malicious and small minded in wanting to hurt me unnecessarily by refusing to proceed with this case in an expeditious manner. It has now been already been 40 days since my arrival in Singapore and I still have not had a trial yet. The Singapore government very well knows that this sort of delay is especially hurting to a foreigner who is waiting here while his affairs in his home country are being neglected. This sort of delay causes untold misery to a foreigner, which itself amounts to severe punishment.
The Singapore government is being deliberately malicious in refusing to proceed with this case in an expeditious manner and is intentionally causing me severe harm by dragging this case on unnecessarily.
This Singapore government is aware that I have my personal business to attend to in the USA and I have to go on with my life, which happens to be in the USA. Not in Singapore. While here, I have no proper accommodation, no right to work or no means of survival. Yet knowing this, this heartless and unjust Singapore government deliberately drags their feet with this case instead of giving a a trial immediately or alternately dropping all charges and letting me go home.
Let me make this very clear. When I attended the 3 day case before Judge Belinda Ang, there was no doubt in my mind at all that she was clearly biased as biased can be, and completely and utterly unfair towards Dr. Chee Soo Juan. In court she was not presiding as a judge at all, but was being merely a spokesman or spokeswoman for Lee Kuan Yew and his son to ensure that they get to say whatever they want and at the same time to ensure that Dr. Chee was not given any effective means to put his case forward. It was not a trial, but a charade, a sham, an opera and a make believe of the most disgusting sort.
The Singapore government in their effort to use the law courts as a means to remain in power can do whatever they want. But they cannot try to make me say things which are not true. They cannot and will not succeed in making me lie. No matter what, they cannot compel me to say that what happened in the Singapore High Court was indeed a fair trial. It was not.
The police had seized my personal notebook containing my Email password and either themselves or through their agents sent Emails to this judge Ang and are now trying to blame it on me. I have not sent any emails to this judge Ang. I did post 2 blog posts about the matter. Sending emails by seizing my personal particulars to a judge and then trying to blame it on me shows the depths of desperation and dishonesty to which this pathetic government will go to prove their point. By lies and dishonesty.
Look here, Singapore government. There was no need for me to send any Emails to Judge Ang. I had made my position that this judge was biased and unjust very clearly in my blog. If she wanted to, she could read it. I couldn't care less. But there was no need for me to send her any Emails. I had already made my point that she was biased and unjust. Sending her any emails was totally unnecessary. So Singapore government, this is my message to you. Stop being infantile and stupid. Grow up. This is not how a first world country should behave.
I wish to make it clear that I am not going to permit this silly government intolerant of dissent to intentionally punish me by making me remain in Singapore unnecessarily. You may try such strong arm tactics with others but you will not try that with me. My having to remain in Singapore for an extended period is causing me very severe harm. The bad reputation that Singapore has throughout the world as a country which abuses the law for it's political ends is getting progressively worse by these false charges against me. In fact it is hitting rock bottom.
Therefore as from Monday, July 7th 2008, 9am, I will be holding a one man protest in front of Singapore Parliament demanding that I be given a trial immediately or I be allowed to go home. This Belinda Ang business has gone on long enough and I am not prepared to wait any longer. I intend to do this every day until I get a trial date or I am allowed to go home.
Also as from the said date, Monday July 7th, 2008 from 3 pm in the afternoon, I intend to hold a one man protest outside Takashimaya Shopping Center, Orchard Road for the same purpose. I am unable to continue financially being forced to remain in Singapore during this time. I will therefore willingly accept your financial donations to keep me alive in Singapore while I am being kept against my will.
I invite all bloggers, writers, concerned citizens, foreigners, people who cherish freedom, journalists, cameramen, citizens, video cameramen and everyone else to please come forward and give me your support during this difficult time.
Please also give as much publicity and coverage to this case as possible. The world must keep aware of the injustice that this Singapore government is meting out to free speech and expression.
I am going to force this government to give me a trial without any further delay. Give me a trial now or else drop your false charges and let me go home.
Shame on you.
Gopalan Nair
in Singapore
held against my will
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32 comments:
what they did to u is discusting.
I hope u get your freedom soon and get away to US soon.
- From a Quiter
Hi Gopalan, did you receive the emails I sent you regarding your case making Front page (Top-right corner) news in THE AUSTRALIAN.
I hope The Singapore Police has not intercepted my files and the attachments of the news articles.
... The Fourth of July celebration is short of an American.
You are really a clown maybe even on the fringe of lunacy! First, you challenged the government to arrest you. Now, you are begging to be repatriated. WTF! you are obviously small change compared to the likes of Chia Thye Poh, Nelson Mandela and other rock solid political personalities.
But do carry on with this tirade because Singaporeans being the bored wimps they are, are enjoying your one man show. And I just thought the Takashimaya site is a brainwave. Singaporeans being avid shoppers, you definitely will get some attention.
Yeah, I will be there to watch your stupid act and if you outshine yourself, I will drop a dime into your hat.
Oh by the way, are you done with the sailing yet? Hope you returned the boat to the owner in one piece. Did you enjoy our warm weather, blue skies and the sea? Hope when you are kicked out of this island, you will have fond memories of us.
Laughing my ass off!
Dear Mr. Nair
I am deeply touched and grateful towards your courage and efforts in speaking up relentlessly with regards to the oppressive situation in Singapore all these years and to help educate Singaporeans against the local propaganda network. I am also truly sorry and ashame at the ways the Singapore government had resorted to in penalising you unfairly and unjustly. I will make arrangements to show up at either in front of the Parliament Building or at Takashimaya to show you my moral support. I will also make some donations to you (though not a lot) on Monday when I see you. It must be a very trying and difficult period for you to be going through alone here in Singapore. I pray that you will be vindicated soon. Press on!
Hey Nair,
For a lawyer you are stupid. I have been reading your blog, sorry your rant for months and your vitriolic and some say unjustified tirade against Mr Yew. We understand you left Singapore, the country you were born and is now American Citizen. Instead of moving on, you keep on harping on your past life in Singapore, looking back and slandering Mr Yew and the government.
You say:
"The Singapore government very well knows that this sort of delay is especially hurting to a foreigner who is waiting here while his affairs in his home country are being neglected. This sort of delay causes untold misery to a foreigner, which itself amounts to severe punishment."
Surely you want us to believe that you arrived In Singapore for a "holiday"??!!!!! Even the most dimwitted person knows that you arrived to stir up trouble. Now you cannot blame the government if they charge you and a lawyer like you should know that there are time tables for trials. We feel that the American government should take a hard look at your citizenship for they would not like a naturalised citizen running a tirade against a friendly country.
In case you think that I am a Singapore government plant, I assure you that I live in Europe
and am not a Singaporean in extraction. I wrote comments in the past against your rant and the result is that not only you did not publish my comments, but removed this type of comment postings and started to check
the e-mail address of the sender.
What a response from a human right activist!
Let us see whether you publish this comment. As for the trial, you should know the time should grind on. Some one said to me once: 'the worst thing is not abuse,but getting ignored'.
I suggest tht after this dust is setlled , you should move on in life.
Norman
oooh, better see how many American's are going to support your cause
Very soon you will become a over stayer and illegal migrate, you will be caned for all breaking all these regulations, just like those bangalashi or china workers.
Apparently you're even in the news media: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/358429/1/.html
And of course what the article says is totally different to what we read on your blog. But the SPH-based company is probably being biased towards its own government again.
Aiyah how many time must we keep repeating this is their country and their power.
The rule as they like!
No one would dare to question!
You question you are arrested!
This is Stinkapore!
The Gameplan is very very obvious!
Why do you thing there is such a great Fear Factory in Stinkapore!
We are not Singaporeans but Unthinking Morons!!!
TALENTED SINGAOREANS -NAH!
HA!HA!HA!
Our sympathies go our to you!
But this is how it is here!
Fearful Lot; Very Very Insecure Bunch
Whatever you can say or do - right even will be construed as salah lah!
More and more people have definitely opened their eyes quietly BUT surely to see the truth after this case - fear not MR NAIR!
such is the state of STINKAPORE rulers!!BEWARE!!
That is why we need more Chees, GNairs, Ravis, Oppositions etc etc around!
Otherwise we will all be in jail/Detention Centres with this kind of Justices?????????
Big Time NKF swindlers TT Durai and Richard Yong who even skipped town with wife gets jail sentence "shaved off" due to "good behaviour" and mind you and they are criminals! Cheaters of public funds!
What kind of justice is this?????
The Rulers want Singapore to be a soulles and miserable place because thats exactly what he/they are himself/themselves!
No Justice at all!!
Mr. Nair, we will stand by you!!! Damn dirty government we have here in Singapore.
Hey damn PAP why so quiet- where is your justice??
To quote Mr Ngiam do not forget,"Singapore is larger than PAP"
You need to be caned like Micheal Fay and put on the next flight back to your foster father country. Mr Black.
Wish you good luck...Darkie....
Firstly, why do you want to return here when you know you might get into trouble with our gahmen?
Secondly, since you have already relinquished your Singapore citizenship and is now an American citizen, couldn't you seek help from the American embassy to help you return to USA?
Funny situation that you are in.
After years of ranting and taking up American Citizenship, you are at the mercy of Mr Yew now! Your clever talking has done you no good. As far as the rest of the world no one knows about Nair. You are not Gandhi. A 10 year old would not be as stupid as you are. Did you try American Embassy?
Why did they not doing anything for you?!!!! Left you to beg their friend Mr Yew? Nair, the world situation has changed. even in Britain, one can be held for 42 days or longer. The Patriot act in America for example. Why not apologise to Mr Yew now?
Norman
Can you drop your trousers, we need to cane you..........
Wow this is better than a jail term. Keeping you in Singapore indefinitely without trial. Guess this is the best way to punish you. Haven't you already learn? You don't get involved in a foreign country's politics and think you can get things done your way.
The only way to deal with rogues is to treat them like the rogues they are.
Parliament house and Orchard road? I am almost contemplating taking a day off work tomorrow to see how you will continue to pit yourself against the government. You know you are at the losing end, Gopalan.
A question from me; If the United States consider you as one of them, why are they not taking any actions to defend or protect you?
Obviously, you are caught in between. A person rejected by 1 country and unwelcomed in another.
Held against your will? You choose this route, Gopalan! No one forced you!!! When you have the chance to leave Sigapore, leave and don't come back. And for your own sake, shut down this blog and focus on your lawyer career. Singaporeans certainly do not need to see viewpoints from deserters like you.
hey mr nair
me and a few of my friends came to takashimaya at 5 hoping to see you still there but you were no where to be found. i guess we were late. but dont give up. the singapore government will sooner or later just give up.
Actually i find it rather amusing, perhaps disheartening that you'd still return to Singapore to speak out against the PAP, when you could have enjoyed the rest of your life in Sunny San Francisco.
Let me lecture you on a few things:
1. You, & I, we both know Singapore has problems with freedom of speech, democracy, independence of judiciary. However you've taken it 10 steps too far by putting up an amazingly silly act, begging Singapore Authorities to arrest you and using degoratory terms in your opinions on Justice Belinda Ang. While i may agree with you that her judgement was not entirely hers, it was one thing to start ranting out like a mad dog and calling for your own arrest. Would a poor, starving looter who steals food from a store in a riot for the sake of his family's survival tempt the oncoming police to arrest him? This is absolutely silly, Gopalan, and if you think you're actually helping Dr Chee, i'd say you're doing your part to help drag him down.
2. I think, this is true to wherever you go and get arrested in, even in Australia, Canada or New Zealand, that if that particular country wants to detain you further, without the right to leave, they can do so. There's very little you can do when you are under arrest for a supposed crime you have committed. So please, stop whining.
3. You're not seriously telling everyone that you came to Singapore for a 9 day holiday, and by coincidence Dr Chee and his Sister were being tried so you decided to speak up. So why, Gopalan, have you returned? You could have simply left your commentary for the exciting US Election Season up ahead, after all, the United States is your country and you have an obligation to speak up about rights & wrongs there. But instead you decide to speak up in a country where you're no longer a citizen, have no rights as a citizen of this country yet you wish to persist and get yourself in further trouble. Please, move on from this and don't come back.
Mr. Norman, please get your facts straight. The last name for Lee Kuan Yew is "LEE", not "YEW". In Singapore, last name comes before given name. Stop referring to the guy as "Mr. Yew".
Having read through comments left on this blog, I have noticed that many people who do not support what Mr. Nair has done pointed out that he asked for it. They said that he challeged the govt. to arrest him, thus, got what he deserved. I wish to point that that Mr. Nair DID NOT challenge the Singapore govt. to arrest him. Please read his blog entry carefully. He merely challeged LKY to make good on Lee's promise, which is to "sue bloggers who defame me, if they made their identities known". Everyone has the right to sue someone else. Whether or not s/he has the basis to do so, and thus wins the case, is a totally different matter. As in this case, LKY is fully entitled to sue Mr. Nair, if Lee feels that his "good name/reputation" has been tarnished by Mr. Nair's comments (which I don't think is the case, as Mr. Nair merely expressed what he thought of Judge Belinda Ang). Yes, Mr. Nair may have expected what's coming to him, and chose to still go ahead and say his piece. However, that does not give Lee the right to send in his crownies to have Mr. Nair arrested. This is evidently an abuse of power. Am I justified as a killer if I gave you the excuse that my victim "deserved it, as he challeged me to plunge a knife right through his heart"? I don't think so!
Also, to those who thought that Mr. Nair has no business ruminating on his "misery life in Singapore" since he is now a US citizen, I respectfully disagree with such argument. Yes, Mr. Nair chose to give up his Singaporean citizenship because he could not agree with how the govt runs Singapore. That does not mean he also gave up his rights to comment/show concern to the current affairs of the island. Yes, it may not be apprioriate for him to interfere politically, but I don't think that's what he's trying to do here. All he is trying to do merely is to point out the injustice he sees in the current systems. There's nothing wrong with that, either. Let me draw an analogy here illustrate my point: say, for example, a building is on fire. Mr. Nair managed to escape. Let's say if there are still 100 people trapped inside the building, unable to escape (maybe they are crippled or handicapped in some way, making it impossible for them to exit the burning building), and Mr. Nair turned around and instructed the trapped victims to cover their noses and mouths with dampened cloth, to prevent inhaling the smoke, would you tell him he has no business to do that, since he has already exited the building that is on fire? Would you tell him to keep his opinions to himself and not interfere? I don't think so. On the contrary, if he had quietly ran away from the burning building without trying to help, you would turn around and call him a selfish coward, as he didn't offer a helping hand. A little double-standard here, don't you think?
As for those who said Mr. Nair is an unwelcome person in the United States, let me point out that USA DID NOT interfere with the Michael Faye case, until after sentence was passed, and even then, all the US president did was to plee for leniency. I believe those same people would say "USA has no right to interfere with Singapore's business" if the US govt. try to interfere at this time.
Don't give up Gopalan. The world is watching.
Singaporeans are so stupid...or hopefully just brainwashed. I don't know why you immigrated to the US...but instead of calling you a deserter...I prefer to call you a smart deserter. The odds of you making an impact as an American is far greater than as a Singaporean...from past records, either you are already imprisoned under the ISA as a communist, or you are already a bankrupcy. Too bad smart people like you are leaving Singapore and leaving only the dumb ones behind...hmm or I should say the unenlighten ones?
It has now been already been 40 days since my arrival in Singapore and I still have not had a trial yet.
This is Singapore, take a number and queue up please......
The Singapore government very well knows that this sort of delay is especially hurting to a foreigner who is waiting here while his affairs in his home country are being neglected. This sort of delay causes untold misery to a foreigner, which itself amounts to severe punishment.
You mean you only knew it now? If only you had realized this before you come over you wouldn’t have gotten yourself into all these trouble.
I wish to make it clear that I am not going to permit this silly government intolerant of dissent to intentionally punish me by making me remain in Singapore unnecessarily.
Ok, let's make it clear to us then, show us what can you do and what are you going to do?
You may try such strong arm tactics with others but you will not try that with me.
Well, so what if we do?
My having to remain in Singapore for an extended period is causing me very severe harm.
Poor thing, that’s tough. What a hard way to learn a lesson
Therefore as from Monday, July 7th 2008, 9am, I will be holding a one man protest in front of Singapore Parliament demanding that I be given a trial immediately or I be allowed to go home.
Today is the 11th, and we haven't seen you done anything.........
This Belinda Ang business has gone on long enough and I am not prepared to wait any longer. I intend to do this every day until I get a trial date or I am allowed to go home.
Everyday? Hahaha, don’t be too arrogant, just start with one and show us what dog and pony show you’re capable of.
Also as from the said date, Monday July 7th, 2008 from 3 pm in the afternoon, I intend to hold a one man protest outside Takashimaya Shopping Center, Orchard Road for the same purpose.
Sure, again today is already the 11th, and we haven’t even seen your shadow.
I am unable to continue financially being forced to remain in Singapore during this time. I will therefore willingly accept your financial donations to keep me alive in Singapore while I am being kept against my will.
You are a lawyer and you got no money?
I invite all bloggers, writers, concerned citizens, foreigners, people who cherish freedom, journalists, cameramen, citizens, video cameramen and everyone else to please come forward and give me your support during this difficult time.
Show up at Takashimaya and I’ll give you a donation of $1.00
Please also give as much publicity and coverage to this case as possible.
Sure, I told all my friends about you and they were laughing their heads off!
The world must keep aware of the injustice that this Singapore government is meting out to free speech and expression.
I am going to force this government to give me a trial without any further delay. Give me a trial now or else drop your false charges and let me go home.
Sure, show us how you are going to force. And yes, please demand for a immediate trial ask them to start this weekend.
Anyway, I doubt that will happen. So I eagerly await your “My 80th day in Singapore” and “My Christmas in Singapore” blog entries.
Dear Nair,
I am not a pro singapore government supporter. What I am saying is purely out of my own context and thinking. Instead of looking what are some of the negative issues of what the government of singapore do,why not think of some of the excellent things that they did.If you are really concern (before or after) with the progress or for the better of the country, singapore,think of how you can make singapore a better place to live or work in,provide constructive feedback and assistance,do our part in whatever little things that we can do,be it small or big.stop being an obstacle.contribute as much as possible to the nation,be it in us or singapore.maybe you can explain to me or us what improvements or for the better of the country by insulting civil servants etc.
you are very very lame
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