The Asian Correspondent of May 07, 2012 has an article by Kirsten Han headed "Unable to leave Singapore, Dr. Chee Soon Juan records a video for the Oslo Freedom Forum". Chee was invited by the prestigious human rights organization to speak at their forum together with other distinguished speakers from around the world. As he was declared bankrupt though trumped upped libel charges which the Lee ruling family routinely uses to silence dissent in collaboration with their corrupt judges, under
Every single Singaporean as well as those throughout the world who take the trouble to know Singapore are vey well aware of the kangaroo courts of Singapore which the Lee ruling family uses to destroy political opponents enabling them to remain perpetually in power.
As a result, not a single Singaporean believes in the truth of any of these libel suits and political bankruptcies. It would not be wrong to say that the legal system of the island, their judges and lawyers have lost all credibility whatsoever. One manifestation of this disgrace is the fact that there hardly are any lawyers there. In that island with 5 million people, there are not more than 3,000 lawyers! I guess that explains everything.
Thor Halvorssen, President and CEO of the Human Rights Foundation of New York managed to get a great deal of egg on the Lee ruling family's Singapore island when he wrote an open letter to Lee Kuan Yew's son, the Prime Minister of the island who was placed there by his father, requesting that they allow Chee to leave Singapore to attend the conference as they are footing the entire bill for the trip and a guarantee that he will return and not abscond. In spite of Halvorssen's plea, Lee Kuan Yew's son refuses to allow Chee to attend at
By these events, once again,
The real reason is not any of this. It is the Lee ruling family's fear of Chee's speaking to the world and exposing the corrupt government of
You see the same sort of disgrace in Communist China now. Chen Guancheng, a blind human rights lawyer who worked against forced sterilization and abortions had escaped from house arrest and sook refuge in the US Embassy. By this debacle, the world once again was reminded that Communist China just like
But compared to
Recent newspapers articles from the island's state controlled press have admitted that much. They have finally admitted that the battle is lost. Far too many people are leaving the island. Too few babies are being born and the fast aging population is dying. Their only choice after having their reputation dragged repeatedly through the sewage pipes with episodes of shame such as this is to invite the only people in the world who are still willing to come to
For those who want to see the fall of the Lee ruling family in
Gopalan Nair
Attorney at Law
Disbarred from practicing law in Lee's Singapore, imprisoned and refused entry to the island for criticizing Singapore's judiciary in this blog (see blogpost May 29, 2008 Singapore. Judge Belinda Ang's Kangaroo Court)
Actively practicing law in California and in good standing at the California Bar.
Member in good standing as a lawyer in England and Wales (Barrister).
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. We reserve the right to publish your letters. 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.
4 comments:
Gopalan, you are right. However, who wins at the end of the day? Dr Chee is bankrupt, in poverty and unable to do what he should legally be able to do. LKY and his stooges are wealthy, in power, laugh at their critics and go their merry way, not caring two hoots about world publicity, since nothing concrete is happening. I mean, the world is not clamoring for LKY and his son’s impeachment or their necessary criminal trials, are they?
Don’t get me wrong, I ABHOR what LKY, his son and stooges are doing to Dr. Chee and others. However, the sad reality is the golden rule: “He who has the gold, makes the rules.” Unless the US or the UN sanctions Singapore, father and son don’t give a hoot. Even if there are sanctions, North Korea is proof that it may not topple the regime. Singapore may be the same, who knows?
For now, nothing can be done or will be done. I feel sorry fro Dr. Chee. His only option is to to follow your footsteps. He needs to somehow sneak out of Singapore, flee to the west and carry on his work from there.
To Soul Man,
You make a very valid point. Sometimes I grapple with that too. I ask myself, should I have stayed back in Singaproe and carried on the struggle.
Men such as Dr. Chee are a special lot. Men such as Gandhi and Mandela. I am not sure what answer I would get if I had asked your question to Mandela. Was it worth it? 26 years in jail?
Over the years I have realized that the fight itself is estatic. It is euphoria. It is one long pleasurable adrenelin boost.
I am not made of the same mettle such as Dr. Chee. I love life too much. Which is why I left Singapore rather than be Lee's permanent victim.
I admire Dr. Chee. One day he will succeed and he will be vindicated. It may take time but the rewards will be sweet. Very sweet.
I am an UBC alumni who grew up in Singapore. I sincerely hope LKY and LHL can be gentlemen and would be courageous and righteous enough to acknowledge their wrong doings like what Stephen Harpher did.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2008/06/11/pm-statement.html
http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/2012/05/02/an-alumna-70-years-later/
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=b902615e-3dfc-4fda-b843-feed3f45514f&k=37539
I am the same UBC alumni who has written the above post. It may sound philosophical but I really admire Jiddu Krishnamurti's conception of "Truth as pathless land". We are all victims of circumstances and sometimes I wonder what would happen if Lee Kuan Yew didn't insist on Singapore being separated from Malaysia. Would Singapore be a better place under Lim Chin Siong's guidance ? What is done cannot be undone but one thing for sure is people's perception on LKY and LHL would change for the better if the Singapore's constitution is changed to respect human rights, to respect individualism and not treat people like digits.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiddu_Krishnamurti
“It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.”
― Aung San Suu Kyi, Freedom from Fear
Post a Comment