What will happen to the Singapore one party state when Lee is gone?

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Peoples Republic of China, is a one party state by law. The Communist Chinese Constitution does not provide for a multi party system. In that country, every 5 years, the Communist Party sits in deliberation, and decides political appointments; who will be Prime Minster and Law Minister. Without the benefit of any elections, those who have been selected take up their positions, and the country seamlessly moves on, without changes in political systems or the one party state.

Singapore's constitution on the other hand does make it a one party state. It's Constitution provides for multi party elections and for change of government; contemplating even coalition governments and other democratic models of government.

But Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's strongman, behaves as if it is a one party state. He unashamedly assumes Singapore will continue as a one party state with his Peoples Action Party forever forming the government. With the help of his state controlled media, this is the message he puts out clearly every day; with his talk of training future leaders and introducing young blood such as Mr. K Shanmugam as Minister for Law, in the ever optimistic assumption that Mr. K Shanmugam and such like will be there much longer.

It would be wise for K Shanmugam to be perhaps a little less confident. The Singapore model is not the Communist Chinese model. There is no guarantee that Mr. K Shanmugam will be Minister for Law much longer. He may very well end up as the Indian pancake seller along Serangoon Road Little India, as I had mentioned in my last post.

The problem for K Shanmugam and others who profit by the patronage and kindness of one man, Lee Kuan Yew is this. Lee is not going to be around for much longer. He will be dead not too long away. He is 85 years old. No one lives for ever. And when he dies, there is a strong possibility that the entire one party state that he has put into place will unravel. And when that unravels, Mr. K Shanmugam may well be discarded like the others associated with this one party government.

Shanmugam and others may be wise to look at the ground for a reality check. His very profession of law is shrinking. There is great revulsion among Singaporeans to the practice of law. And it is because of government interference in the profession and the judges.

The Civil Service is shrinking. Despite high salaries, government servants prefer not to be associated with this one party government.

The ground is angry. People can hardly survive while this man and his patron and benefactor Lee Kuan Yew pay themselves millions. A deep seated hatred runs throughout Singaporeans against thier government. Were it not for the fear by which the people are kept at bay, by now the masses would have been at the throats of Lee Kuan Yew.

This government is giving jobs to foreigners instead of Singaporeans because they want wages to be kept low to compete with third World countries, despite the fact that cost of living in Singapore has already surpassed third world costs by a mile. Unable to make ends meet, Singaporeans are driven to suicide.

And finally the most important fact of all; this entire one party government is kept in place because of one 85 year old man; Lee Kuan Yew. The moment he dies, only God knows what happens next. Legally to demand the continued rule by the PAP is not supported by the Constitution.

There is a great possibility of disruption and confusion. Lee Kuan Yew's son is not up to it. And with that his entire ministers and politicians who are hated by the vast majority of Singaporeans would also find their positions untenable.

Recently you have seen the police brutality at the "Tak Boleh Tahan anti consumer price hike" protest before Parliament House with an unprecedented 50 people, on March 15, 2008, demanding a moratorium on price hikes. These peaceful protesters have threatened to escalate their lawful protests and Singaporeans will soon see en mass protest throughout Singapore for an end to this dictatorship and one party rule. The writing has long been on the wall.

So this is what I can tell Shanmugam. So far so good. He could pray that Le Kuan Yew lives another hundred years. But alas, Lee cannot. So if Shanmugam tosses about his bed at night, we can understand why.

Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
Fax: 510 657 6914
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com
Blog: http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/

Your letters are welcome. Please Email your letters to nair.gopalan@yahoo.com

And if you like what I write, please tell your friends. You will be helping democracy by distributing this widely. This blog not only gives information, it dispels

Mr. K Shanmugam, new Minister for Law. What a miserable life.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Straits Times, the Singapore state controlled newspaper in a story dated March 30, 2008 "Loss to law profession, but gain for Singapore" is all praise for Mr. K Shanmugam, Lee Kuan Yew's Member of Parliament on his promotion as Minister for Law. Is this really, all glory for this man, or is it in truth, misery?

Just look at him. He is an Indian lawyer selected many years ago by Lee Kuan Yew to join his party and become a Member of Parliament. Knowing Singapore as a one party state under Lee Kuan Yew, you know how this works.

His main qualification from the beginning is complete loyalty to one man, Lee Kuan Yew. Meaning exactly that. A complete and utter subservience to him. And the willingness to carry out his any command, just as a dog will faithfully carry out his master's orders. His principle ambition being all along to catch Mr. Lee Kuan Yew's eye which he succeeded. Never mind what sort of a tyrant he may be.

Well he succeeded in his ambition to serve his master. He was chosen by Lee, lucky for him; or is it really? And all these years he does Lee’s bidding. Saying anything he wants said. Doing anything he wants done.

All because it is highly profitable.

And during all these years as Member of Parliament, no Singaporeans has any respect for him. None at all. Indeed they don’t even care who or what he is. He merely goes about doing his job. His job includes sitting at resident committee meetings and the monthly meet the people sessions, which he does mechanically. He always contests elections in Group Representation Constituencies because there is a doubt whether he will win a single seat constituency, because he is an Indian in a majority Chinese country.

But he always wins elections because his master, Lee Kuan Yew sees to it. Any opposition contender is defamed derided sued and sent to jail if they challenge him. With Lee Kuan Yew's blessing and protection, this man survives as a Member of Parliament and now as a Minister.

If the next moment, Lee withdraws his support, Mr. K Shannmugam will no longer be Member of Parliament, let alone Minister. He will be selling "thosai", the Indian pancake along Serangoon Road next to Norris Road. He won’t be wearing fancy suits anymore but instead the Indian lungi, and chewing betel nut! He is not master of his destiny, Lee Kuan Yew is.

Within Singapore, in reality he represents no one. No one is bothered about him, or even knows anything about him. In fact no body cares two hoots, whether he is dead or alive.

The state controlled newspaper the Straits Times will of course put out the standard propaganda that he is brilliant, that he is smart and that he is none other than superman. But just like everything else the state controlled paper will say; the people just ignore it.

This man may go abroad, meet foreign governments and politicians. But foreign politicians are not like him. They, being true politicians, truly representative of their people, look upon this man as nothing more than Lee Kuan Yew's page boy. They have no respect for him. They know he is not truly a politician. He is a mere employee selected by Lee Kuan Yew to play the part of a politician. Like me, they also know that the moment Lee tires of him, he will very probably, end up selling the Indian pancake at the aforementioned location at Serangoon Road.

If this man's life is a happy one; or a shameful disgraceful and miserable one, I leave it to you to decide.

Let’s look at someone else. Let’s look at Dr. Chee Soon Juan of the Singapore Democratic Party. Dr. Chee is not a Member of Parliament. In fact he is a bankrupt. He was bankrupted by Lee Kuan Yew because he crossed his path. He is not rich as Mr. K Shanmugam. He is defamed and demonized in Singapore’s state controlled paper by Lee Kuan Kew. Lee calls him a liar, a cheat and a rascal.

But despite all that Lee says, the situation is quite the opposite. The people respect him. The people know him as a true leader. He is not beholden to anyone. He speaks his mind; unlike Shanmugam who says what he is told to say. A great number of Singaporeans read what he has to say. They listen to his speeches and they are interested in his actions. Not only in Singapore, but throughout the world, Dr. Chee is respected. In reality, Dr. Chee stands as a giant, next to this man Shanmugam; no better than Lee’s poodle.

The European Parliament has honored Dr. Chee. He has won many world leadership awards. World leaders respect him as a force for freedom and democracy. He is unable to travel because Lee refuses to let him. He is in effect a prisoner within Singapore. But world leaders are constantly monitoring his circumstances. They care for him. They worry about him. They know him. They respect him. They continue to lodge protests against Singapore for denying his human rights. Dr. Chee is seen as a true leader, a true fighter for democracy and human rights. He is not a Minister in Lee Kuan Yew's cabinet but he remains a giant before this Mr. Shanmugam.

World leaders on the other hand have never heard of Mr. Shanmugam. Had it not been for the state controlled newspaper the Straits Times, Singaporeans would not have known him either!

Mr. Shanmugam lives his life at the mercy and pleasure of Lee Kuan Yew, the authoritarian ruler of Singapore because it is profitable. Dr. Chee lives as a free man with a conviction and a purpose in life.

Despite all the worldly pleasures, it can only be said that Mr. K Shanmugam lives a miserable life. He is not a free man. He is on Lee Kuan Yew's short leash. Dr. Chee Soon Juan on the other hand, is a giant, lives as a free and happy man; a man respected not only by Singaporeans but by politicians and people all over the world.

Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
Fax: 510 657 6914
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com
Blog: http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/

Your letters are welcome. Please Email your letters to nair.gopalan@yahoo.com

And if you like what I write, please tell your friends. You will be helping democracy by distributing this widely. This blog not only gives information, it dispels government propaganda put out by this dictatorial regime.

Even if I had wished every day that someone murdered Lee Kuan Yew, his Prime Minister son and their entire family! Yet, I am not guilty.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Listen to this. Even I had wished every day, that someone would please drop a ten ton Weapon of Mass Destruction over the house of Lee Kuan Yew in No. 1 Oxley Road, Singapore and killed them all instantly; Lee Kuan Yew and all, dictators all of them; turning them into roast flesh; still I am not guilty under the law! Indeed I will rejoice and pop a bottle of Dom Perignon 1959 and party all night!

This fact may be shocking to you but true nevertheless.

I am saying this in relation to the ongoing suspense over the disappearance of Mr. Mas Selamat Kasatri, the hero who escaped from Lee's prison Whitely Detention Center.

The Lee Administration keeps up the drum beat day after day, telling us that Mr. Kastari, the escaped prisoner is guilty of all sorts of heinous crimes, like wanting to fly an aeroplane filled with explosives and crash it into Changi Airport, Singapore; and therefore Lee has a right to detain him in Whitley Detention Center Singapore without trial for an indefinite period. Does Lee think the entire Singapore population are imbeciles without any brains who can be told any cock and bull story and lock up anyone he pleases?

Well, will he lock me up because I have always wished to see him and his entire family as dead meat?

My dear Mr. Lee, stop trying to fool Singaporeans. They are not as stupid as you think. Just as I am innocent of any crime even though I pray every day that someone would fly that very plane with explosives and crash it over your head; similarly Mr. Kastari is not guilty of any crime under the law for wishing someone would crash a plane into Changi Airport, Singapore.

Correct me if I am wrong but here comes the law. The law of attempt. A man is guilty of the crime of attempt when a plan is conceived to commit a crime and preparations has gone ahead to a point where the principal crime itself is imminent.

A man wants to kill his wife. No crime yet. He dreams about it. No crime yet. He buys a gun. No crime yet. He drives some distance towards his wife's work place. No crime yet. If he proceeds, after this point; somewhere along the line the crime of attempt will be committed. Perhaps at the point where he has sighted his wife in his gun barrel. At this point, I am sure the crime of attempted murder has been committed. But not before then.

Take the case of Mr. Kastari. Lee says Mr. Kastari has to be detained because he wanted to blow up Changi with a light aircraft. Well where is the evidence. Did he purchase a Cessna 152, 2 seater light aircraft and modified it so the right wing can carry TNT instead of blue high octane aircraft fuel? Was the aircraft flown from Darwin Australia to Tanjong Pinang airstrip for this purpose, and waiting? Did Mr. Kastari personally go to Darwin to oversee the modifications? Did he fly the aircraft back. Did Mr. Kastari only learn to take off and fly straight and level without bothering to know how to land? What ratings has he obtained? Visual Flight Rules, Instrument Rating, Multi Engine, Boeing 757 type rating, what?

Was the date fixed for the bombing of Changi ? Who were his advisers and collaborators, Tom Whiteman, Blue Blackman and Ahmad Ahmad Ahmad? Were the movements of all these people also monitored?

Were pictures taken of the plane, his fight ratings, his flight log book, of the modified right wing, of Mr. Kastari and his accomplices; were videos taken of their movements? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Just a whole load of hogwash. All just a detective story. We might as well go to Lido Theater and watch Indiana Jones!

I suspect the Singapore government has nothing on him. Nothing at all, except the ability to tell us ad nausum that Mr. Kastari was up to all type of mischief, deserving to be incarcerated for an indefinite period without trial. This sort of logic is what one can expect in places like Rwanda, not Singapore. Nothing doing Mr. Lee. You have no right to detain Mr. Kastari, an innocent man.

Second the whole idea of detention without trial is unacceptable. Anathema. Unjust. A travesty of justice. Lee cannot be allowed to detain anyone without trial. The Constitution specifically requires that every man be given due process of law; meaning if there is prima facie evidence of guilt he must be charged within 48 hours before a judge, be be informed of the charges, provided competent legal counsel; the burden of proof being on the prosecution of proof beyond reasonable doubt; the case be proceeded in a speedy manner and if convicted imprisoned; if acquitted released. This is the law.

Telling us a whole load of hogwash and fantasy that Mr. Kastari wanted to do this and that, arresting him and detaining him without any trial is not first world at all. It is worse than Rwanda!

If anyone is to be detained now in Whitley Detention Center Singapore, it should be Wong Kan Keng and the entire Lee family. They should be locked up and the keys thrown away. As for me, I would prefer that someone flew a plane from Selatar Airport runway 030, flying north into the wind, then over the water, flight level three thousand feet, then turned it south over the island straight over Oxley Rise No. One and crashed it there, just when Lee Kuan Yew was having dinner at 6 pm eating his Char Kwey Teow! Wouldn't that be nice!

But even after my saying all this, I cannot be arrested. Not in any country where there is rule of law, like in California, USA.

And neither should Mr. Mas Salamat Kastari, the hero of Whitley.

Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
Fax: 510 657 6914
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com
Blog: http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/

Your letters are welcome. Please Email your letters to nair.gopalan@yahoo.com

And if you like what I write, please tell your friends. You will be helping democracy by distributing this widely. This blog not only gives information, it dispels government propaganda put out by this dictatorial regime.

The great divide. The Lee Kuan Yew Administration and the people of Singapore

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Lee government of Singapore and the people of Singapore cannot be further apart from where they are now. And with time, something has got to give. Either the people would show their unhappiness in more robust ways than they do now, or this government has to accept reality and democracy. Whatever it is, the present status quo cannot last.

Lee Administration by their everyday actions have made it clear that they are not concerned about what the people think. If not, which politicians anywhere in the world, in their sane minds, would think of paying themselves salaries of $3.7 million per year each, which happens to be the salary of the Prime Minister of Singapore and his father Lee Kuan Yew, each! Despite knowing full well that every Singaporean is fuming mad about this shameless theft of Singapore's assets, they do it anyway, regardless of the people's wishes!

Then you have the poor. About a third of the population are earning less than $2,000.00 per month. Yet the HDB house rent has gone up to several hundred dollars a month; deliberately increasing food prices and denying any responsibility by blaming foreign countries for it; deliberately refusing to pay the old people their CPF retirement payments as required by law; totally neglecting the old and the unskilled Singaporean; deliberately lowering their wages by bringing peasants from Bangladesh and India who will work for $400.00 per month. These Indian peasants and others can live in their countries for $100.00 per month, therefore the $400.00 they get in Singapore is a windfall; whereas for the Singaporean, this is not a living wage at all.

As a result of the government's total neglect of the realities in Singapore, the poor are driven to suicide, living in void decks because they cannot afford to pay rent. On the other hand, these impoverished peasants from India and other places live rough; 25 to a HDB room; since their only concern is to send their entire salaries to their impoverished relatives in India and other parts of the Third World. Unlike them, the Singaporean has rent to pay, electricity bills, transport costs and children to send to school, all of which costs a lot of money. They cannot live on $400.00 per month. They cannot compete with cheap labor Indians. Not being able to survive, they are driven to suicide.

This government is not not only misguided, they are downright determined not to budge from their ridiculous philosophy, which is this. Their philosophy, which also happens to be a cunning way for them to deny any basic assistance to their needy citizens, is this. They say, conveniently for them in the circumstances; that any welfare payments to the poor will result in their becoming lazy and unproductive. Therefore no help will be given to those unable to support themselves.

The people know that this excuse, not to give any assistance to the poor, is not genuine. They see it as a deliberate attempt to ignore their plight. We have seen the world over where caring governments who provide a lending hand to the needy, does not necessarily create a dependant population.

Instead the people appreciate and are grateful to their governments, learning new skills and improving themselves and turning out in no time to be valuable proud upstanding members of their societies. Whereas, in Singapore, as the government is determined not to help anyone, the poor starve or are forced to wait at tables in HDB food courts, or reliant upon their children if they can.

This breeds bitterness and hatred in the hearts of the aged poor against this government; which in the end, will only cause further instability, lack of productivity and the eventual fall of this uncaring government. The French Revolution comes to mind. King Louis just like the Lees failed to understand his subjects.

This government fails to understand that it serves no purpose to tell an old uneducated Chinese woman of 58 to go out and learn new skills. She cannot. She is illiterate. It is too late for her. If the government does not help, she cannot be saved. She too is a human being. A Singapore citizen. The Prime Minister pays himself $3.7 million. Giving her a reasonable sum every month will not change anything. It will not result in the decline and fall of Singapore. He can pay a small portion of the $3.7 million. It will not hurt him even a bit. There is no compassion or even wisdom on the part of this government. None at all.

In the end, the government is helping the illiterate peasant from India. Instead they should be helping the old Singaporean woman.

And all these grievance cause a divide which cannot be resolved. The government and the people are at odds. The situation is untenable.

Who are the rich? They form a very small number. Just as in the military junta of Burma, they are all connected to the government. These are the Ministers, the judges, the presidents of large government linked companies, the top civil servants, the editors of the state controlled newspapers, the commissioners of the police and such like. The poor is the rest of society, made up of the ordinary civil servants, the ordinary policemen, the ordinary office worker and the ordinary factory hand. The former are paid millions. The latter are paid $2,000.00 or less a month.

And these Singapore poor are kept at bay, from attacking the rich, through fear. Fear of loss of jobs, fear of retribution, fear of libel suits, fear of benefit loss, an all embracing fear like a blanket which lies over this entire island.

But now you see cracks in this standoff. On March 15, 2008 at 2 pm, the Tak Boleh Tahan protest was successfully held by 50 determined people in front of the heartless Parliament House, which is responsible for their misery. It was a protest against rising food prices. These proud admirable courageous men women and children stood hand in hand, peacefully crying for justice while Lee's police came to arrest them. Undaunted, defiant, encouraged with truth on their side, one by one they went, dragged to waiting police vans in front of countless aghast outraged Singaporean passers by, without resistance, to be arrested and put on trial.

There is no doubt about it. These 50 are going to be 500 next. The tolerance level of the poor is has already reached. There is no doubt about it. The government of Singapore is no longer representative. It has begun to rule by force. Not by law. The time has come for action. And with action, there can only be one outcome. And you know what that is.

Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
Fax: 510 657 6914
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com
Blog: http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/

Your letters are welcome. Please EMail your letters to nair.gopalan@yahoo.com

And if you like what I write, please tell your friends. This blog not only gives information, it dispels government propaganda put out by this dictatorial regime.

Singapore's disgraceful judges.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

You have read the bad news. The Singapore legal profession is shrinking. Students are not choosing a career in law. And lawyers are leaving the profession.

One major reason for this is the unpleasantness in appearing in Lee's courts.

One cannot help but feel extremely uncomfortable the moment one walks into a Singapore court room. For one, the judge seems so unhappy, so angry or so stern, hard to say which; almost as if he is suffering from a severe bout of indigestion or because someone had just insulted his mother!

No smile on his face at all, does not even look at the lawyer or his client, going about his work with unnecessary solemnity and seriousness. No good mornings, no pleasantries; not even a passing smile. It is as if, the judge was not human at all; like as if he was some God, who finds it demeaning even to look you in the eye!

As if this arrogance due to fear or for whatever reason was not enough; you are required in addition; to further rub salt in your wounds; to address them "Lords" or "Your Honor", in the British courtroom lingo.

Every lawyer knows that these so called judges are not judges in the true sense of the word at all, but merely agents of Lee Kuan Yew, placed there to do his bidding. This makes addressing them with these terms of respect unbearable.

Their job routinely includes tailoring false charges and false judgments and awards to impoverish bankrupt and imprison Lee's political opponents shamelessly; in total disregard for the law which they are sworn to uphold. They do this for money and job security. There is a word for it and it is corruption.

With the Singapore judges and the courts, having lost all credibility and respect; any young man with any prospects in life and looking forward to a respectable career would stay a mile away from the Singapore legal profession. Thus the shrinking Singapore Bar.

For an example of the dirty work these judges routinely do, a good example is a recent case before Judge Belinda Ang. Not too long ago, Lee Kuan Yew, as it is his normal practice of using the law to silence his dissenters; sued Dr. Chee Soon Juan, Secretary General of the Singapore Democratic Party with his favorite cause of action, defamation of character; since Chee was beginning to be a threat and had to be silenced. So the order was promptly given out to this woman to punish Chee by finding him guilty and bankrupting him.

She did her dirty work with great efficiency. Without even getting off her chair in chambers and not even permitting Dr. Chee to say a word in his defense, with lightning speed of no more than 30 minutes or so, she not only delivered judgment of one half million dollars against him, but also took the opportunity of calling him names, thinking that this will please her master Lee even more!

I have heard many lawyers tell me during my time in Singapore that they never appear in Lee's courts preferring rather to do commercial paper. At the time, I did not understand why but I do now. They find it distasteful appearing in courts for which they have no respect at all!

Most Singapore judges are young and inexperienced in life, having been specially chosen for their obedience, submission and willingness to act dishonorably; not their independence, wisdom, maturity or experience.

It is quire different in California where I have been practicing for more than 11 years, since leaving Singapore. Here it a joy to practice law.

For one thing, the judges here are judges in the real sense. They are not beholden to anyone but the law. Regardless of who you are, when stepping into any courtroom, you know you have an equal chance as your opponent in the matter. If justice is on your side, you will win. Unlike in Singapore where you win just because your name is Lee Kuan Yew. Here one respects the courts and their judges, unlike in Singapore where there is only derision, ridicule and contempt for the law and its judges, Belinda Ang being a prime example.

With a population of about 27 million, California has more than 200,000 lawyers and law continues to be a very popular career choice among the young, with ever increasing numbers wanting to pass the Bar Exams. In Singapore, with total population of about 4.5 million, it has only 3,400 lawyers, the same number as in 1997, 10 years ago! And what is worse this serious lawyer shortage in Singapore is worsening, with increasing numbers leaving the profession. This inability to attract the young to enter the law comes as no surprise; since the profession and its judges have lost all modicum of respect. It is seen as an instrument of tyranny and oppression; Lee's tool to silence and destroy political dissenters.

The Singapore legal system destroys the spirit of Singaporeans and instead of doing any good, it alienates and intimidates them into submission, instilling hate and defiance into them. Anyone who spends any time in a Singapore courtroom will see what I am talking about. Firstly, the judge treats the accused with total disrespect, not even looking at him, as if he was nothing more than dirt. The police show no respect whatsoever to the accused. If he pleads guilty, he is promptly handcuffed and sent off to prison without a word.

There are no words of advice from the judge. No words of encouragement. No kindness at all. No attempt to treat him as a fellow citizen, even a human being; no attempt is made at all to speak to him, to improve him; so he can be a better citizen than he now is.

California courtrooms are different. In California the defendant is treated at as a human being. Quite often the judge himself greets the defendant with the usual "Good Morning Mr. Smith". The defendant is seated next to his counsel. The lawyers say what they want. Then the judge speaks to the Defendant like a father who would speak to his son. He has advise for the man or woman who had gone astray. You see a genuine attempt by the judge to help the Defendant better his ways, with the hope that he will never see this defendant in court again. After the court session, you respect the judge for his sincerity and his wisdom and the Defendant himself begins to realize that committing crimes is not the best thing to be doing.

This is the good feeling that I have in courts in California USA everyday that I appear before these courts. I respect these judges because they are worthy of respect. They are real judges. They are honorable men of integrity. And the judges in their turn show me the courtesy that I deserve as an officer of the court, and especially as a human being.

At the end of the day, in California courts, you feel wanted. You feel respected. And you realize that we are all in it together and we improve and advance and become better citizens. This is something that Singapore judges are unable to understand, since after all, they are only interested in their work of pleasing their master Lee Kuan Yew and bending the law as and when called upon.

In these circumstances, should we be surprised why Singaporeans do not want to be lawyers!

Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
Fax: 510 657 6914
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com

Your letters are welcome. Please EMail your letters to nair.gopalan@yahoo.com

And if you like what I write, please tell your friends. This blog not only gives information, it dispels government propaganda put out by this dictatorial regime.

Chinese, Malay and Indian Singaporeans are losing their country fast

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the article "Make it a point to master English" appearing in the state controlled Singapore newspaper The Straits Times on March 23, 2008, the Singapore strongman Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, when speaking at a Chinese Fujian clan association advises new Chinese immigrants from Communist China to study English. These new immigrants understand no English at all in their Communist towns and villages in China. Only Mandarin and the various dialects they speak.

And it is against this background that the Malays and Indians of Singapore must be very worried and concerned. An overwhelming number of immigrants from Communist China are being brought to Singapore for settlement; totally disproportionate to the Malay and Indian native populations of Singapore; deliberately intended to maintain the Chinese majority in Singapore in perpetuity. This is a policy which is clearly unconstitutional, illegal and racially discriminatory against Singapore Indians and Malays.

This policy is unconstitutional, without lawful basis and deliberately intended to racially discriminate against and marginalize the Malays and Indians even further than what they already are. If the Malays and Indians do not act now, their country for what it was or is, will be lost to them forever. Inaction by them now is not only ill advised, it is totally irresponsible. There is now be an urgency so compelling and immediate to act now that any further delay would mean they have lost their country forever. At least the country, which they once knew.

The Constitution of Singapore, the supreme law of the land, specifically enshrines the right to equality under the law for all, regardless of race language or religion. Therefore there has to be equality for the Chinese Malays Indians Eurasians, and other races; and anyone else who happens to be born in Singapore. And here when I mean Singapore citizens, I mean people like me, people born in Singapore; not those who have been recently brought to Singapore from China and given instant citizenship; overnight!

At present there are 75% Chinese, Malays 15% and Indians about 10%, with small percentage of disparate races. With a small population of Singapore of about 3 million, it is preferable that population should grow. Unfortunately with all the stresses and insecurity brought upon by Lee Kuan Yew with his misguided and ill advised laws and policies, Singapore Chinese women are not producing babies in sufficient numbers as compared to the Malays and Indians who are managing better.

This would mean of course, with time that the share of the Malay population in Singapore will increase, and perhaps also Indians; with the Chinese population in decline. This change in population mix happens in any country. It is a natural thing. It is also healthy for any country to undergo such natural changes.

But Lee Kuan Yew, an ethnic Chinese has decided that Singapore has to remain a predominantly ethnic Chinese country, composed of a population of at least 75% ethnic Chinese. Therefore his government brings in disproportionately large hordes of immigrants from Communist China to unconstitutionally keep up the majority.

This is destroying the country and impedes its development. Singapore has up till now been made up of an English educated people, able to understand English, hardworking and disciplined and leaning towards a Western lifestyle. This cultural and educational background makes them international in their outlook and able to interact with the Western world in trade business and commerce; an asset to Singapore’s hope of becoming a fully developed country.

But this influx of Chinese from Communist China is a step backwards and with time, turns Singapore into another satellite city of China. Perhaps another Swatow, in the middle of South East Asia!

Immigrants from Communist China speak no English. This would mean Singapore becoming a Mandarin speaking country, not an English speaking one; clearly a disadvantage. In fact I have heard many Malays and Indians feeling left out in their own country because these Chinese immigrants cannot understand Malay or even English; thus making even basic communication for everyday activities difficult or impossible.

A Malay woman from Lorong One Toa Payoh had personally told me that she was unable to communicate with the driver of Bus No. 49 from Toa Payoh Central to Robinson Road. She was not sure if 49 was the correct bus; but the Chinese man driving the bus, presumably from some village in Communist China; knew neither Malay nor English. He uttered something in Mandarin (at least that was what she thinks it was) which was no help at all.

Only after speaking to a Singapore Indian bus driver, who happened to be at hand, who of course spoke Malay, English and Tamil, all fluently; that she found her way. Imagine this happening in Singapore, a multi racial country of Chinese Malay and Indian; even when the national anthem is in Malay (Bahasa Melayu)!

These immigrants from Communist China, not only bring their language with them, they also their philosophy; which is total submission to authority; compliance and blind obedience. In China they are taught and brainwashed from young to obey authority; obedience and submission being the hall mark of communist societies such as China.

Even if Singaporeans have been left with at least some ability to think independently, living under Lee Kuan Yew for 40 years; even this will be destroyed, as these Chinese from Communist China would set the clock back decades and create a population of total submission and obedience. Like what you find now in Communist China.

I find the people of Communist China pitiful; merely slaves. And what a pity if Singaporeans are turned into masses like those! And the bad news is, that is exactly what will happen if nothing is done.

Singapore historically being a South East Asian country next to Indonesia and Malaysia has a Malay and South East Asian feel about it. This is fast changing with this import of overwhelming large numbers of Chinese from China; and which will make Singapore just another Chinese city in South East Asia next to Malaysia and Indonesia. This is going to make the neighbors very uncomfortable.

Therefore Singapore Malays and Indians should do something about the destruction of their country now. And that something is not telling your local Member of Parliament about it. That something is protest. You should be aware by now that Parliament of Singapore is nothing more than a rubber stamp for Lee Kuan Yew. They cannot help you. You have to help yourself. And the only effective way to do it is to protest.

Raising this issue is not inciting racial hatred or anything of the sort. You are not inciting anyone. You are merely demanding what is right. And that is, that this government stops this Chinese immigration immediately. And secondly, that this government should be required to examine the unacceptably large numbers of permanent residencies and citizenships given to immigrants from Communist China; that these immigrant permits and citizenships be reversed, and these Chinese be repatriated back to China.

And finally, that this government be asked to examine the reasons for the low birthrates in Singapore, make living conditions more comfortable and secure so that more children will be born in Singapore.

You should not fear for being arrested by the ISD or other fear mongering. There is nothing legally wrong in raising this legitimate issue that affects Singaporeans; in this case, racial discrimination by the Singapore government.

Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
Fax: 510 657 6914
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com

Your letters are welcome. Please EMail your letters to nair.gopalan@yahoo.com

And if you like what I write, please tell your friends. This blog not only gives information, it dispels government propaganda put out by this dictatorial regime.

Your letters

Hi!

I have been reading many of your articles...agreed 99%...1% is off bec. your words are "too" kind to the Lee family.It is so damn obvious the Lee family bends the law to keep them in power.It is good that you emigrated to the States or else you could end up as a regular client of the "Changi Hilton".

I immigrated to Canada in May 1991 and now live in Edmonton. I am like you, one of those "talent" that the PAP govt would die to have....First Class Engineering in Instrumentation from UK and also a MSc degree (MBA) form the highly prestigious Imperial College, London University in 1983.

Please email me if you happen to visit our city. I will arrange my small group of about 8 to 10 ex-Singaporeans (all age 50+) to listen to you and your experience. We meet and phone regularly to discuss on Singapore matters. We will celebrate when Lee Kuan Yew dies. As long as he is around Singaporeans live in fear.

NO one fear his sissy cancer-stricken sons and all those President BG generals who are trained to fight in "video games".

Look at the JI case...with the whole nation of army and police force they cannot even catch a limbing man. Perhaps the Lee family might have killed him in the jail and dare not let this news out fearing that he JI gp in S.E. Asian will take revenge. And it took 700 of the NS men to catch two robbers hidden in Pulau Tekong.

At the rate Singapore goes, it can finish in 10 to 15 yrs.

Bernard Chan

Time for solidarity for democracy in Singapore.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First the grim reality. Singaporeans cannot expect to change their government through the ballot box. Freedom House, the respected international monitor on democracy worldwide has said this, and we know they are right.

For the last 40 years or so, at each elections the opposition have tried their hand at the ballot. They tried very hard. And every time they have failed. Not because they are not good enough. But because, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew does not believe in free and fair elections. In 1981, Jeyaretnam won. When it was known that he really intended to behave the part of an opposition politician, unlike Loh Thia Khiang who just goes through the motions; Lee had him removed through the courts which he controls. Same thing when Francis Seow appeared to win. The pattern is quite clear by now. If you intend merely to enter Parliament, make a few speeches and never offend Mr. Lee; like the present elected opposition, there is no problem and welcome. Not if you intend to take them head on.

Lee is able to remain in power through dirty tricks; dirty tricks because he has the judges under his thumb, the police under his thumb, the newspapers under his thumb; everybody under his thumb.

So it is time that you looked at reality in the face and woken from your reverie. 2011 elections is not going to do you any good. I know this. The sooner you know this the better. Even now, Mr. Lee in consultation with his son, are already planning how to rig the elections and what to do if somehow more than the present 2 pseudo opposition is elected.

Mr. Tenku the late Prime Minister of Malaysia understood Lee. He correctly told him that he was “too smart by half!”

But the good news is this. All his smartness is not going to do him any good anymore, because we know what his game is. And that is when his game is up.

Keeping in mind, we know what the tricks of Lee is; that is rigging the elections; using the courts to remove duly elected opposition through defamation actions and bankruptcy, as in the case of JB Jeyaretnam and Dr. Chee Soon Juan, it is easy for us to prepare ourselves for it. And if there was ever a time when Lee is on his decline and fall, it is now. Lee is in fact existing on borrowed time. It won’t be long before both he and his son are history.

Lee is already 85 and has not long to live. Unlike in the past, the Internet has totally destroyed his credibility and exposed him for what he is; the bully that he is. His son, the Prime Minister as we all know is a washout, waiting for his father to tell him what next. The PAP government around him are nothing more than a bunch of opportunists. They will stay as long as the going is good; without any ideals passion or anything. So Lee cannot count on their support.

Therefore the opposition cannot have it any better than now. Now is the time for action. And that action is protest, demonstrations and civil disobedience; since the elections, with Lee Kuan Yew and his bag full of tricks, is not going to change anything.

So I ask Singaporeans to rally for the cause. Rally if you believe that justice is on the side of the opposition who demand change, and not on the side of this dictatorship.

Singaporeans can help by contacting Dr. Chee of the SDP to volunteer for protest. As you know the March 15, 2008 Tak Boleh Tahan protest was a resounding success with no less than 50 taking part. The 50 have now been even further emboldened and we expect future protests in much greater numbers. If you believe that the only way you can wrench the power that belongs to you from Lee is through protests; then join Dr. Chee in his future protests. This will force this authoritarian government to look into your grievances. Up till now, they have just ignored them.

Singapore police who are asked to arrest their fellow citizens at these protests should re-consider what they do. They should realize that they are violating their oath of office as policemen and women when they arrest and harm these peaceful citizens. They should be aware that the Constitution allows peaceful protests, since this harms no one. It is the government that acts unlawfully by denying permits for these protests. Honest policemen should refuse to carry out these unjust orders by this Lee administration. Searching their souls, they will know that it is better to refuse these unjust orders and to resign if necessary than harm, harass and intimidate peaceful citizens exercising their constitutional rights.

Singapore judges when asked to try these cases of peaceful protestors should look at their consciences and examine what they do. These prosecutions are politically motivated, without a single basis under law. These citizens are merely exercising their constitutional rights of peaceful assembly. Convicting them is unconscionable and unjust. I ask these judges, for once, to act as honorable men and women. They should remind Mr. Lee Kuan Yew that their job is to adjudicate cases; not to prop up Lee Kuan Yew government. If it is dirty work that Lee wants done, Lee should do it himself!

I ask the civil servants to act with honor. Kalaselvi d/o of Rengamsamy in the Bankruptcy Office should look at herself in the mirror and ask herself about bankrupting Dr. Chee. Is she doing it because she believes Dr. Chee defamed Mr. Lee or is she doing it because she wants to keep her job? If it is money that she needs, could she not find another occupation that is less dishonorable.

I cannot help but feel very confident about Singapore’s future. As it is, the legal profession is not getting any takers. The law, thanks to judges like Belinda Ang who awards a half a million verdict in favor of Lee against Dr. Chee for defamation of character even without getting up from her chair in chambers; without even giving an opportunity for Dr. Chee to speak; all in ten minutes flat; has been completely discredited. This shame is known not only in Singapore but worldwide, resulting in Singaporeans shunning the profession and foreign workers not wanting to do it at any price!

The civil service is plagued with resignations and no amount of money thrown at them appears to stem the attrition. The police force is facing massive resignations. In a nut shell; there are not enough people wanting either to live or work in Singapore; and the only organization that thinks everything is fine is the state controlled propaganda newspaper the Straits Times. Everyday, it puts out more and more good news, as expected of any other state controlled newspaper just as the North Korean Morning Star does. They too dish out the good news everyday.

Even if one civil servant, refuses to do the dirty work; even if one policeman says no; this blog of mine would have been worthwhile.

Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
Fax: 510 657 6914
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com

Your letters are welcome. Please EMail your letters to nair.gopalan@yahoo.com

And if you like what I write, please tell your friends. This blog not only gives information, it dispels government propaganda put out by this dictatorial regime.

Michael Hwang, President Law Society, continues to live in denial

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The President of Singapore’s Law Society, the official body of legal practitioners, which is controlled by Lee Kuan Yew and his government; just as every other official organization in the island is; has told the similarly controlled newspaper "The Straits Times" in the article of March 18, 2008, titled "The Law Society President says lawyers apathetic about public law" the following.

The Law Society President says “lawyers are apathetic about public law"and that Singapore lawyers are apathetic when it comes to human rights.

Among other things, he says Singapore lawyers should be more aware of international treaties such as the International Declaration on Human Rights and how it applies to Singapore, and laments the fact that Singapore lawyers have so far not challenged the government when it unfairly treats them. He contrasts the Singapore situation where no lawyer dares challenge the government to the recent Hong Kong case, where the Equal Opportunities Commission there successfully sued the Hong Kong government over preferential treatment for boys over girls in high school admission.

Congratulations Mr. Hwang in finally realizing that there is a human rights problem in Singapore and that lawyers are not doing anything about it! But my question to Mr. Hwang is this. Where was he the last 30 years or so?

Was he practicing law in Mars! Why has he just realized this now? What took him so long? Is he saying that all this time, he never knew that Lee Kuan Yew denies Singaporeans as well as him any human rights? We should ask this President of the Law Society of Singapore whether he feels safe in Singapore, and if so; is it because he has human rights or is it because he has the patronage and support of his benefactor, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew?

I will try to put it as civilly as possible. This man is not being entirely honest in this sudden realization. He has been living and practicing law in Singapore for over 20 or 30 years in a government linked law firm Allen and Gledhill. Only recently has he set out on his own.

In all these years, he stood idly by, as he managed his lucrative business law practice; servicing his clients, the Lee Kuan Yew establishment; making sure that he never went within a mile of any case where Lee routinely misused the law to polish off his opponents. The law was being broken, bent and abused to suit Lee Kuan Yew and family and his benefactors; while Mr. Hwang, a lawyer, stood by doing nothing.

You know Lee Kuan Yew’s victims in Lee Kuan Yew’s law courts. Is he saying that the law was not bent, broken and abused to unjustly punish JB Jeyaretnam, the famous opposition politician? Is he saying that the law was properly applied in the crippling damage awards and then to bankrupt him and remove him from office. Was this not a human rights violation, a violation of the right to free speech and expression? Why did he not do anything to help all those years? At least, why did he not, at least say something?

Is he not aware that over the last 2 decades, Dr. Chee Soon Juan of the Singapore Democratic Party has been sued bankrupted and imprisoned for doing nothing more than exercise his rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the very rights which he refers to now?

Is he denying that the series of politically motivated actions by Lee Kuan Yew and his family against JB Jeyaretanm and Dr. Chee Soon Juan are blatant violations of human rights; the right of free speech and expression, the right of peaceful assembly and the right of equal protection?

Mr. Michael Hwang is making a fool of himself by publicly saying now that Singapore lawyers should engage in issues such as human rights and administrative justice when he clearly knows that it is not possible for Singapore lawyers to engage in any of it; for the simple reason that they fear Lee Kuan Yew, his son and their entire family; just as Mr. Hwang fears them, as his actions during the past 30 years have shown.

Let me set out the reality to Mr. Hwang. He is in blinkers and it is about time, he took them off, and began to look about him.

There are only 3,400 lawyers practicing in Singapore. It was the same number 10 years ago despite the fact that the population had increased during the same time from 3 to 4.5 million, and despite the fact that Singapore during that time had increased it's banking and commercial sector 10 fold!

There is a chronic shortage of lawyers and it is going to drop even further because almost half of the profession is above 50 years old, most of whom are giving up practice for good.

Recently the government has come up with all sorts of incentives for lawyers to stay such as more money, doing work from home, 4 days week and so on and so forth. One law firm had even gone to the extraordinary length of chasing away lawyers who remained in their offices after office hours. It was not because they wanted to save electricity; but because of the hope, the lawyers would appreciate the gesture of their employers and not resign as they had threatened to do!

What desperation!

Look here Mr. Hwang. The legal profession in Singapore is dead. There are no takers. And the reason for this problem is people like you and Lee Kuan Yew. Your appointment by the government to head the Law Society is ample evidence that Singapore law is politicized. No rule of law. You as well as every Singapore lawyer are aware that challenging Lee Kuan Yew on matters of human rights is recipe for disaster and bankruptcy.

That is why you yourself have not dared to challenge Lee's routine abuse of the law during your entire career of 30 years. You have lived in fear and gone along with whatever human rights violations this government has thrown at the people; idly standing by when the people's rights have been repeatedly violated before your very eyes. I think, you should not be talking about civil liberties and human rights. Such things are not for you.

And although you already know this, let me tell you the stark reality of things. The government of Singapore is illegitimate. Every election is rigged to ensure that Lee wins each time. This being so, the laws enacted by this illegal government are themselves without legal foundation. So are the international treaties and agreements signed with the international community.

Every publication, every newspaper, every radio broadcast, every judge, every court, every police officer, every civil servant, every one in any position of authority is subservient to one man, Lee Kuan Yew his son and his family. And so are you.

And no matter how much you try to pretend that you are discussing human rights, discussing international treaties and other such high sounding positions plans and objectives, nothing is going to change. You, as well as the committee that you set up are no better than page boys; running the errands of the Lee family; and wasting everyone’s time by filling the pages of the propaganda sheets of the Straits Times.

If Lee Kuan Yew is not prepared to let you have any human rights; you are not going to have any. It is as simple as that. I know this, and I think you know this too. But in your case, you are quite prepared to live the compliant life you have lived worshipping Lee Kuan Yew, just as a poodle lives in the comfort of his caring master.

Mr. Hwang, you have wasted your time, making that press statement about important issues such as human rights. Such matters are for real lawyers; lawyers who insist on defending the rights of their fellow citizens. We all know who you are. We also know that you are not one of them. If you were, you will not be the President of the Law Society of Singapore.

Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
Fax: 510 657 6914
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com

Your letters are welcome. Please EMail your letters to nair.gopalan@yahoo.com

And if you like what I write, please tell your friends. This blog not only gives information, it dispels government propaganda put out by this dictatorial regime.

Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew Administration says it may allow protests at Speakers Corner

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew government in its state controlled newspaper Straits Times on Feb 29, 2008 reports "Protests may be allowed at Speakers' Corner". Don’t be fooled. This is yet another attempt to continue restriction of Singaporean’s human right of free expression, not expand it. Not only that, if you really think about it; it is utterly ridiculous.

Yet again, this authoritarian government where every aspect of society is controlled by the state; including newspapers, the courts, the judges, the entire Parliament, and everything else in between; continues with its nonsensical rules, reasons and explanations fit only for the pages of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.

Since 1959, the date when Lee Kuan Yew came to power, his government has never allowed even one dissenting protest to take place. Of course, Lee Kuan Yew himself and his ruling party have held as many protests as they want; but not even one by the opposition was allowed. This is despite the fact that the constitution specifically gives Singaporeans the right of assembly; which right Lee has continued to ignore.

Recently Lee Kuan Yew and his son's government have come under increasing pressure in this regard. Dr. Chee Soon Juan and his political party have clearly begun to become a thorn in Lee Kuan Yew's flesh which is becoming increasingly difficult to dislodge.

Unlike the majority of Singaporeans, a small but growing number of them, including Dr. Chee, have finally decided that they are going to exercise their right enshrined in the Constitution. They are going to publicly protest the glaring injustices that Singaporeans suffer with or without the government's blessing.

So we have seen at the most recent protest on March 15, 2008 in front of Parliament House; the ugly spectacle of police brutality and police lawlessness when they used excessive force, manhandled and dragged unarmed peaceful citizens into waiting police vans, almost breaking the fingers of Chee Siok Chin one protestor and causing another, John Tan, a diabetic to almost suffer a heart attack.

And all this being watched by hundreds of passing onlookers at a busy intersection in Singapore, next to a busy shopping mall; not to mention the thousands, if not millions of both Singaporeans and foreigners, thanks to the Internet.

March 15, 2008 protest in front of Parliament House, called "Ta Boleh Tahan", which means "I cannot take it anymore" in Malay; was the last of a series of public protests which have been gaining both momentum and in numbers. In a country, not much different from North Korea in political style, where every citizen lives in fear, this last protest of 50 people shows that more and more Singaporeans are willing to publicly protest and are not allowing their fear of Lee Kuan Yew to stop them anymore.

Lee Kuan Yew now finds himself in a quandary. Dr. Chee is not prepared to let up, no matter what Lee Kuan Yew throws at him. As you know he has been bankrupted a number of times, gone to prison several times, he has been prevented from traveling, denied a passport and thrown out of his job.

Normally a person having gone through this much pain, would normally be expected to give up. And Lee Kuan Yew and his son, the Prime Minister thought so too. But the problem, which they never expected, is this. This Dr. Chee has turned out to be one tough nut to crack! And what is worse, the bulldog within this man is causing many others to emulate him.

Mr. Lee Kuan Yew has finally found out that it is not just one stubborn prize fighter that he has to face but 50 others with their number steadily increasing. Yap Keng Ho, Gandhi Ambalam, Chee Siok Chin, Chia Ti Lik and Lawrence Chua, Seelan Pallay, are some like Dr. Chee who have decided they will fight Lee no matter Hell or High Water.

Facing this unstoppable demand from the people for their rights which they have been denied so far; we see this government making their typical lame attempts in desperation to somehow placate the enraged Singaporean. And as expected of this government which has clearly lost its bearings; it is suggesting some nonsence as a favor to the people. Treating Singaporeans no better than children, they are suggesting that protests might be allowed at Speakers Corner at Hong Lim Park; as harebrained a suggestion as any harebrained suggestion will go.

Anyone can see, this is no concession at all by this authoritarian government. Protests are intended to show the world that some injustice is happening at a certain place. For instance if you are protesting against unjust laws, the best location will be the Parliament House, since that is where they make laws. If you want to protest against HDB price rises, you may want to protest outside the HDB office in Toa Payoh. If you want to protest against CPF policies, you may want to do it outside the CPF Building in Robinson Road. If you want to protest against the unacceptably high salary that is being paid to Lee Kuan Yew, you may want to protest outside his house at 10 Oxley Rise, Singapore 090001 where this dictator lives.

What is the point of asking the unjust laws protestor, the HDB protestor, the CPF protestor and the Lee Kuan Yew protestor to go and protest several miles away in Hong Lim Park where Speakers Corner is located?

Look at the Constitution. It says Singaporeans have a right to assemble. It does not say, Singaporeans have a right to assemble at Speakers Corner at Hong Lim Park. In any case, is not plain nonsensical and comical for a man to be standing at a specific location called Speakers Corner in Hong Lim Park in protest against his illegal sacking from his job as a welder at Sembawang Shipyard, 20 miles away nearer the Malaysian waterfront?

And is it not time for someone to suggest to Wong Kan Seng, the Minister for Home Affairs that he should have his head examined for even suggesting this. I believe, in Wong's case, it was not a problem with his mind at all. He did not care what people think of him. After all he has the patronage of his benefactor Lee Kuan Yew to say or do anything with impunity. At least that is what he has been thinking so far.

My answer to Wong Kan Seng is no. This won’t do. And I am sure Dr. Chee and Company is with me on this. We are not prepared to restrict our protests to Speakers Corner. Thanks but no thanks. The Constitution gives us the right. It is not restricted to Speakers Corner. Had it been so, the Constitution would have said so.

I am sure the message of Dr. Chee, Gandhi, Siok Chin, Yap, Ti Lik, Seelan and the other 50- protestors to Wong Kan Seng is this. Brace yourself. The constitution will finally be resurrected. It was dead so far, but it has come alive once again.

The people will exercise their rights. The next protest is being planned. This time there are going to several hundreds. Be prepared to deploy your riot squad with truncheons, dogs and red marias. Charge and beat up the protestors like you did on March 15, 2008 before Parliament House. And cameramen both local and foreign will have a field day posting the images of police brutality on the Internet. And then tell me, how small you feel.

The march for democracy in Singapore has begun; while in Malaysia they have reached their destination. Singaporeans are slowly turning from sheep into lions.

We can only wait to say this about Singapore. "What a pleasant transformation".

Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
Fax: 510 657 6914
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com

Your letters are welcome. Please EMail your letters to nair.gopalan@yahoo.com

And if you like what I write, please tell your friends. This blog not only gives information, it dispels government propaganda put out by this dictatorial regime.

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

And if you like what I write, please tell your friends. This blog not only gives information, it dispels the government propaganda put out by this dictatorial regime.

Constitutional law for Singapore protestors.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

With the most recent protest on March 15, 2008 by Singaporeans who seek an end to dictatorial rule in Singapore, here are important things you need to know about Constitutional Law. You are not breaking any law at all in engaging in peaceful protests.

It is high time that you become aware of your rights now, with peaceful protests becoming almost a common occurrence in Singapore. Since it is impossible to seek change through Parliament, Singaporeans have now realized that only through protests can they ever hope to see real change.

These courageous protesters are mainly educated middle class Singaporeans, mostly upwardly and geographically mobile and aware of their legal right to protest. However there are some who are still are unaware, and it is these people that this blog is intended to educate and enlighten.

Please be clear in your minds about one thing. It is not illegal in Singapore to engage in peaceful demonstration or to give public speeches; no matter what the Singapore Police Force or Mr. Wong Kan Seng, the Minister for Home Affairs say.

The law specifically permits you to engage in such activity; in fact all democracies encourage people to participate in them, since collective political participation and the robust exchange of ideas and debate can only benefit society, not damage it.

Singapore is a constitutional democracy. If it is not one under Lee Kuan Yew's dictatorship, it is at least supposed to be one in which the primary or most important legal document or law is the Constitution.

You can consider the Constitution as the backdrop that supports or defines every aspect of life in Singapore. You can also treat it as a template by which every law has to pass muster by. If a law fails to live up to the terms of the Constitution, such a law is struck down and declared illegal and null and void; as it violates the very supreme authority upon which all laws depend; the Constitution.

To put it very simply, every citizen, including Lee Kuan Yew and his son, and the government of Singapore are supposed to obey and submit to the Constitution. The problem is that Lee Kuan Yew and his son believe that they are too good for the Constitution, and they disobey by passing laws which are clearly ultra vires or contrary to the Constitution. This activity by Lee and his son is illegal and should be resisted.

What does the Constitution say? It lays down the people’s rights. The fundamental human rights. The right to free speech and expression without fear from government action. The right to assemble freely. The right to be treated equally. The right to elections. The right to change governments.

These rights are so important that in most countries governments are prevented from ever denying these rights. It is there to stay in perpetuity regardless of which government comes to power.

The Constitution exists so that men and women can hope to live as free men and women and be safeguarded against the excesses of a tyrants and bullies such as Lee Kuan Yew and his son.

Other than the Constitution, there is Parliament. Parliament makes laws. But laws made by Parliament are subordinate, secondary and subject to the Constitution.

Therefore Parliament has to ensure that the laws they pass at all times comport and comply with the intent and meaning of the Constitution. If it violates any Constitutional provision, the law itself becomes illegal and of no effect. It can be disobeyed at will and any government that arrests people for violating that illegal law, themselves are acting illegally.

The Constitution specifically gives the right of peaceful assembly to citizens. Please read the Constitution of Singapore for the exact wording of the law. So, when Dr. Chee and 50 other Singaporeans assembled in front of Parliament House Singapore on March 15, 2008 at 2 pm, they were engaging in an activity which is entirely lawful and permitted by the Constitution of Singapore.

There is an illegal law in Singapore, deliberately intended to prevent Singaporeans from engaging in their constitutional right. I believe it is the Public Order Act but correct me if I am wrong.

Under this law, the government requires any public assembly of more than 4 people to have a permit. As I said, any law which clearly violates a Constitutional provision is null and void without more. Therefore since this law requiring a permit is in direct violation of a Constitutional provision, it is therefore without any legal force. That alone gives one the right to ignore it and protest in any number.

There are rare instances, such as serious national issues, where a constitutional provision can be temporarily amended. But such instances, as I said, are very rare.

For instance the constitution does prohibit the government from carrying out random searches and seizures against the person or property. Ordinarily the police need a magistrate’s warrant for this. They cannot just barge in. But this rule can be changed in emergencies, for instance during the unrest in Northern Ireland, where the rule against searches and seizures was relaxed to permit searches merely upon suspicion. But as I said, these challenges to the Constitution are rare and only in emergencies.

In Singapore Lee Kuan Yew government's law that requires permits for a peaceful assembly for 4 or more people is clearly unjustified and illegal. There is no compelling or urgent need based on national security reasons or otherwise for a law requiring these permits. Singapore is a peaceful place and peaceful protests pose not danger to anyone, not even to Lee Kuan Yew or his son.

Therefore this law is illegal and ultra vires the Constitution.

Second, even if this law is permissible; which it is not; it again becomes illegal when the government does not exercise it fairly, justly, legally or in a judicious manner.

You will recall that Dr. Chee did apply for a permit; even though he did not have to; to hold the assembly on March 15, 2008. Even though there was no danger to anyone for Dr. Chee to hold the assembly; Mr. Wong Kan Seng, the Minister for Home Affairs flatly refuses it without any reasons.

Furthermore the law requires the striking out of legal provisions that clearly violate the provisions of the Constitution, unless the government can show a compelling reason to justify it. Here, the government could show no such compelling reason based on national security or otherwise. There was clearly no danger to anyone by Dr. Chee and 50 others holding a peaceful assembly in front of Parliament House, Singapore. Therefore the denial of Dr. Chee's application for a permit was clearly illegal and without any basis. Again, this denial of a permit alone is sufficient for the protesters to break this law.

The other reason why these peaceful protesters were arrested was because the government claims the area outside Parliament House was a gazetted security area and no one is allowed to protest there. A whole load of humbug. Very convenient for Lee Kuan Yew, his son and his family but not so convenient to the citizens of Singapore.

This practice of gazetting places as security areas is merely a ploy to prevent ordinary citizens from exercising their constitutional rights. This law is invalid and illegal. There can be no justification for such a law in any part of Singapore unless a legitimate and compelling reason based on national security is shown. No such reason exists for the space in front of Parliament. Members of the public are there all the time. In fact, you can see busloads of Japanese tourists in the hundreds there with cameras at hand. Why were the Japanese tourists not told to leave because the spot was gazetted?

Parliament of Singapore is a mere rubber stamp, as you know. There are 82 as well as 2 opposition MPs in Parliament who attend at its sittings ready at any moment to say that Lee Kuan Yew is Jesus Christ! So the laws these so called Members of Parliament pass are actually those of Lee Kuan Yew and his son. These two rule by dictate. The 84 MPs are stooges employed merely to say "Yes Sir."

Therefore it is you who has to decide what rights you have and what you have not. As far as Lee and Son are concerned, you don't have any at all.

Finally you are within your right in these circumstances to protest. You can realize by now that contesting elections every 4 years has not done you any good. I hope you realize that by now. If you do, then you must know that your only salvation lies in deliberately opposing this regime in protests.

There are many books in Constitutional Law but the book that I read at University was Stanley A De Smith's “Constitutional and Administrative Law.” I understand it is available through Amazon but I am sure the regular bookshops will carry other books on Constitutional Law. It will tell you your rights.

Lastly remember that police officers such as Deep Singh, DSP, Tanglin Police Station, who misused his police powers dispersing and harassing peaceful citizens at the Burmese protests; and on this occasion ASP William Goh who arrested Dr. Chee and 10 others at Parliament House, were not being entirely honest when they kept repeating that the protesters were engaged in an illegally assembly. It was not illegal at all. If anything was illegal, it was the actions of such dishonest officers such as Deep Singh, DSP and William Goh, ASP.

As for further information on Constitutional Law, I am sure Mr. Chia Ti Lik, Lawyer, one of the protesters will be pleased to enlighten you. His phone number is 6225 9983. You can also Email me at gopalnair@us-immigrationlaw.com or call me at United States (510) 657 6107. Remember Pacific Daylight Time here is 15 hours behind Singapore time.

Don’t let up in protesting against this regime. You are already winning, as all the signs indicate. This government is finding it increasingly difficult to function, despite the propaganda being put out daily by its state owned and controlled media such as the Straits Times.

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

And if you like what I write, please tell your friends. This blog not only gives information, it dispels the government propaganda put out by this dictatorial regime.

A personal account of a peaceful protestor before Parliament House, Singapore, March 15, 2008, to commemorate World Human Rights Day.Part 2

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As you are aware, approximately 20 peaceful protesters had gathered in front of Parliament House Singapore on March 15, 2008 to protest against the government's consumer goods price hikes and lack of human rights. Despite the fact that the Constitution specifically allows for peaceful assembly, the government had denied their request for a permit to conduct it, and had used force to disperse and arrest these peaceful men and women in circumstances no different than that of Nazi Germany.

The following account of the incident is that of Mr. Chia Ti Lik, a lawyer whose address and contact is as follows, Chia Ngee Thuang & Co, 24 Peck Seah Street #05-09/11 Nehsons Building, S(079314); Tel:62259983; Fax:62237856; Email: mailto:62237856ngeethuangc@hotmail.com

Mr. Chia is one of the growing number of Singaporeans, a true patriot, who sees the need for democratic change for him and his family; a realization that business as normal according to the terms of Lee Kuan Yew will not do; and he is prepared as one true citizen to say his piece because it his his right to do it.

I had been honored to meet Mr. Chia Ti Lik, Attorney at Law, personally in Singapore during my last trip there in November 2006.

I was deeply moved to read his account and so I post it here. Mr. Chia, I admire you and with your courage, I truly believe that others will see the need for action and with increased speed, we will see a true Singapore; a Singapore that my father believed in as well as I.

Thank you.

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

And if you like what I write, please tell your friends. This blog not only gives information, it dispels the government propaganda put out by this dictatorial regime.

A personal account of Mr. Chia Ti Lik, Attorney at Law,posted on Chia Ti Lik’s Blog Confessions of a Protestor World Consumer Rights’ Day - Protest in front of Parliament House Part 2

The trip towards Police Cantonment Complex was a very fast one.

The route was one which i often took as a lawyer, be it to bail clients / friends or to attend sessions when my clients were interviewed.

The police were ready at Police Cantonment Complex. The barrier was raised and there were extra police officers standing on guard to receive the welcoming of the vans. We drove into the basement carpark. The basement car park was also guarded.

We drove into a de-loading / de-bus bay. The vans reversed into the parking lots and a steel shutter was lowered to shut out the vans from the rest of the car park. A number of fresh police officers stood outside the van.

When it came for time to de-bus three police officers brought Selan out first. They seemed to be unsure of what to do and then in a moment of haplessness asked us to stay right there where we were. Van doors open but steel shutters down. [a thought crossed my mind - did they tell Mas Selamat Kastari this as well prior to this escape?] After a while we were asked to move one by one out of the van and into the premises.

There were steel gates everywhere. Corridors had seel gates locking down wherever we passed. My mind begins to wonder - how did Mas Selamat Kastari escape?

We were asked to empty our pockets and put them into a transparent bag. The process was a tedious process. There were a number of us and the police

One of the police officers had trouble securing the transparent bag. Minutes passed. I tried to offer some advice to shorten the agony. A staff sergeant stepped in to demonstrate and finally the constable succeeded in securing my plastic bag of belongings.

We were then asked to move into a lock up room. big empty room with steel bars on the sides of one wall. As we were processed and put into the room. John Tan was finally brought in. John had been bound with his hands behind his back with extremely menacing looking plastic handcuffs.

The handcuffs were clearly deliberately tightened to the point where there was discomfort caused.

John looked a bit pale. He was obviously We were outraged and disgusted at the actions of the police. The police attempted to protray a soft side infront of the eyes of the public and the media. But within the walls of a police van and within Police Cantonment Complex, it was all a different story.

Dr. Chee demanded that the handcuffs be removed. John was unarmed. John was not violent. The policemen outnumbered us. We were in the lock up and we were not resisting. So why was John put in plastic handcuffs? Station Inspector Tan Kok Ann was the man in charge, he was the one who was supposed to keep us under control. Station Inspector Tan and Dr. Chee exchanged some firm words about the need to release John from the handcuffs. Siok Chin was firm in dealing with the police. When the cuffs were finally removed, John felt unwell, we then led him to the bench to be seated.

The lockup had windows. Transparent windows. It faced the guardroom. Inside the guardroom were as many as 4 - 8 policemen. When they processed us there were as many as 8 policemen standing nearby at the corridor. As we were being processed, they can put as many as 3 policemen in the lockup with us. Just to stand there and watch us. They had also put as many as 3 policemen watching us through the glass windows when the locked room was secured.

[You begin to wonder - how the hell did Mas Selamat Kastari escape? we were non-violent citizen activists and they place us under the eye of so many policemen]
[You begin to wonder - whether the Singapore Police Force had grostesquely misplaced priorities]

to be continued with part 3 on visits to the toilet.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sammyboymod/messages?msg=68978.1 on 15/03/2008 12:56 ET by Mata catch SDP but let go of JI (TiLik)