Ladies and Gentlemen,
Singapore state controlled newspaper the Straits Times Online edition of Aug 5, 2010has the story "both sides appealing" about Oliver Fricker the Swiss computer consultant jailed and caned for graffiti. As the title states, both the prosecution and Fricker are appealing the sentence, the prosecution because it is too short and Fricker because it is too long.
But what I want to say is this. Fricker had a marvellous opportunity to turn his misfortune of being arrested into a worldwide cry against the inhumanity cruelty and brutality of the Singapore legal regime.
Instead of pleading guilty at the first opportunity which he did, he could have gone to trial, dragged his case as long as he could and told the world how inhumane and barbaric this puny tin pot dictatorship is, with it's beatings and torture.
Of course, had he fought the case, there is a possibility of his sentence being increased. But really they cannot hurt him too much. The heightened adverse publicity generated by a prolonged trial for this totally inappropriate punishment of caning for a minor offense, would in all likelihood have offended the feelings of the entire civilized world. Singapore would have even rescinded it's caning order in the face of worldwide recrimination against the brutality. In that process, Fricker would have been serving the cause of freedom and justice by placing Singapore on the spotlight once again; the spotlight of state sanctioned brutality.
Well the opportunity was lost but we still must thank Fricker for helping to publicize to the world that Singapore is truly not a first world country, but rather an arbitrary island run by a bloodcurdling monster.
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/
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7 comments:
The President of the USA could only help Michael Fay by getting 2 strokes less. Fricker's quite 'lucky'.
It could have been a simple case of vandalism, where there was some leeway in the administration of justice -whereby Fricker could possibly have been let off with a lenient slap on the wrist (a small fine and/or short jail time). But after 9/11 and the Mas Selamat's escape/fiasco (ineptitude of the Home Affairs Ministry), public perception was one of inept or lack of security at the MRT depot. Hence Fricker, and not SMRT or law enforcement, became the scapegoat (or I shoudl say the authorities shifted the majority of the blame onto him). Many "foreign talents" (especially westerners) who work in S'pore forget the country still has draconian laws for offenses that do net exist in developed countries (eg, political paraphernalia/banned books, pornography, gay sex, jaywalking etc).
Yes, Fricker could have tried to drag it all out, but judging by the judges recent words he may have got off even worse. This whole case stinks and I am sure will hurt .sg more than help it's already dwindling image overseas. So much hatred and bad stuff is constantly being written about Singapore that it seems in time the place will either go under water or have some kind of a revolution. The people get treated like nobodies and robots. I'd hate to live there. Lots of people i know are boycotting the place, fine if they don't want out tourist money, many other places do.
Fricker should have also been give the max nuber of strokes with the raton-8! Lucky white guy!
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/16/go-to-the-head-of-the-class/the-middle-man-lee-hsien-loong.html
Aug 20, 2010
PM Lee wins praise from Newsweek
Magazine says he keeps Singapore balanced politically, economically
Mr Lee was described as 'a master at risk management' and ranked among 12 top leaders.
PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong has won praise for leading the world's fastest-growing economy from Newsweek magazine, in its latest issue documenting the best countries round the globe.
For keeping Singapore balanced in the diplomatic, political and economic arena, the magazine gave him the title 'the middle man', ranking him among the 12 leaders it singled out in its 'Head of the class' category published online.
Calling him 'a master at risk management', Newsweek noted that under Mr Lee's charge, Singapore had survived the global financial crisis well and managed to stay friends with major powers in the region.
'In the lead-up to the
global financial crisis, Singapore's institutions mostly avoided troubled assets, saving the country the banking shock that hit other nations,' it said.
'Global credit insurers such as France's Coface now rate Singapore as the safest place to do business in Asia.'
The feature came just after Singapore's economy registered a record 18.8 per cent growth in the second quarter from a year earlier. With optimistic forecasts for growth to hit 13 per cent to 15 per cent for the whole of this year, the Republic could well become the fastest-growing economy in the world.
The praise for Singapore came as part of Newsweek's feature on 'the best countries in the world', which the
magazine ran in its Aug 23-30 issue.
Overall, Singapore was ranked No. 20 on a list of countries, but the Lion City topped out in the 'economic dynamism' category, beating the United States, South Korea and Britain.
It won praise for its 'uniquely successful brand of state capitalism', low unemployment and pro-free-trade, pro-business stance.
Singapore also ranked in the top 10 when it came to education and health.
In its print edition, the magazine also listed 10 world leaders it described as having 'managed to win serious respect' despite the 'thankless job' they had.
The list included Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah.
But in its online version of the feature, Newsweek included another two names, Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj and Mr Lee.
Calling him 'the middle man', Newsweek noted that the Singapore Premier had succeeded in carving out a role as a friend to all the big powers in the region.
'China wants to emulate Singapore's feat of liberalising the economy while maintaining one-party rule,' it said.
'And Lee's close political and economic relationship with Beijing has given him the room to do things that might otherwise rankle China. This April, he pushed Beijing to allow the yuan to strengthen. He also just announced free-trade talks with Taiwan.'
The online feature also gave Singapore an optimistic forecast.
'If Singapore can manage to reduce tensions with its immediate neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia,' it said, 'expect a decade or more of smooth sailing for the country under the indomitable Lee.'
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/16/go-to-the-head-of-the-class/the-middle-man-lee-hsien-loong.html
Aug 20, 2010
PM Lee wins praise from Newsweek
Magazine says he keeps Singapore balanced politically, economically
Mr Lee was described as 'a master at risk management' and ranked among 12 top leaders.
PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong has won praise for leading the world's fastest-growing economy from Newsweek magazine, in its latest issue documenting the best countries round the globe.
For keeping Singapore balanced in the diplomatic, political and economic arena, the magazine gave him the title 'the middle man', ranking him among the 12 leaders it singled out in its 'Head of the class' category published online.
Calling him 'a master at risk management', Newsweek noted that under Mr Lee's charge, Singapore had survived the global financial crisis well and managed to stay friends with major powers in the region.
'In the lead-up to the
global financial crisis, Singapore's institutions mostly avoided troubled assets, saving the country the banking shock that hit other nations,' it said.
'Global credit insurers such as France's Coface now rate Singapore as the safest place to do business in Asia.'
The feature came just after Singapore's economy registered a record 18.8 per cent growth in the second quarter from a year earlier. With optimistic forecasts for growth to hit 13 per cent to 15 per cent for the whole of this year, the Republic could well become the fastest-growing economy in the world.
The praise for Singapore came as part of Newsweek's feature on 'the best countries in the world', which the
magazine ran in its Aug 23-30 issue.
Overall, Singapore was ranked No. 20 on a list of countries, but the Lion City topped out in the 'economic dynamism' category, beating the United States, South Korea and Britain.
It won praise for its 'uniquely successful brand of state capitalism', low unemployment and pro-free-trade, pro-business stance.
Singapore also ranked in the top 10 when it came to education and health.
In its print edition, the magazine also listed 10 world leaders it described as having 'managed to win serious respect' despite the 'thankless job' they had.
The list included Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah.
But in its online version of the feature, Newsweek included another two names, Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj and Mr Lee.
Calling him 'the middle man', Newsweek noted that the Singapore Premier had succeeded in carving out a role as a friend to all the big powers in the region.
'China wants to emulate Singapore's feat of liberalising the economy while maintaining one-party rule,' it said.
'And Lee's close political and economic relationship with Beijing has given him the room to do things that might otherwise rankle China. This April, he pushed Beijing to allow the yuan to strengthen. He also just announced free-trade talks with Taiwan.'
The online feature also gave Singapore an optimistic forecast.
'If Singapore can manage to reduce tensions with its immediate neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia,' it said, 'expect a decade or more of smooth sailing for the country under the indomitable Lee.'
Mr Gopalan, why don't you read how Newsweek can Mr Lee Hsien Loong's BALLS.
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