Ladies and Gentlemen,
Singapore, a tiny county with a small population has been over the last few decades suffering from a serious impediment to its ambition of becoming a first world international city state. This is the problem of massive on going emigration to more developed countries by the educated and skilled of Singapore.
The reasons for Singaporeans wanting to leave are many, such as the search for better paid jobs; the political uncertainly of it's future since it is nothing more than a dictatorship with an ageing dictator; the uncertainty of whether Singaporeans will receive their retirement benefits since the government is repeatedly extending the age limit before which retirement savings can be withdrawn; and due to the lack of political freedom and human rights.
The Minister Mentor or the dictator Lee Kuan Yew has himself referred to this problem on several occasions locally and with him traveling abroad; appealing and begging overseas Singaporeans to return to Singapore, confessing that this exodus of Singaporeans leaving the country is beginning to hurt the very foundation of Singapore. On one occasion, out of desperation in Melbourne Australia when speaking to a group of Singaporeans who were determined not to return to Singapore, come Hell or high water; he began to passionately appeal to their consciences, reminding them that it was Singapore that educated them; enabling them to immigrate to Australia.
In their desperation, wrestling with this problem; the government of Singapore spends thousands of dollars, setting up Singapore clubs all over the world, throwing lavish parties and functions where free food and drinks are provided to overseas Singaporeans to somehow entice them to return to live and work in Singapore, in return for the free food and drink, at government expense.
We have also had government ministers traveling to these international locations at tax payer’s expense for this purpose. All this has come to naught. Not a single Singaporean has agreed to return. Their dislike for Singapore appears quite clear and they have made up their minds.
As if this is not enough, we have another problem. This time the involuntary draft dodgers who leave, never to return. I say involuntary because they were too young when they left to have any intent to become draft dodgers.
I am referring to young male teenagers, born in Singapore, who left Singapore, merely accompanying their parents who emigrated. These young teenagers, upon reaching 18, even though they are already settled overseas, are still required to return to Singapore to enlist and undergo national service for 2 years in the Army.
Since it makes no sense to be spending 2 years in the Army of a country where they have no intention of living, invariably these young men fail to surrender themselves for this purpose. And from that point of time, under the Enlistment Act, they become criminals or draft dodgers, who are liable to arrested on sight the moment they step foot on Singapore soil. And since imprisonment and a fine is their only reward if they return; they turn themselves into permanent exiles from Singapore with no prospect of ever returning to their country of birth. This adds to the already huge numbers of educated Singaporeans leaving.
This group of young men who are in essence in permanent banishment status, are the very ones which Singapore can least afford to lose; being the most educated capable skilled with international experience, all qualities that Singapore most desperately needs if it wants to achieve its aim of first world status.
Singapore's Enlistment Act requires all males born in Singapore to endure 2 years of national service upon reaching 18. Failure to report and submit to national survive requirements renders the offender to both fine and jail at Queenstown Prison. Only men have this requirement. Women do not have this liability.
With the present uncertain political situation in the country, the lack of social graces among its people, the lack of courtesy and manners, and not only that; the lack of human rights, a dictatorial government, the lack of an independent judiciary and the recent refusal of the government to give their citizens their retirement benefits held in the CPF, all make Singapore an unattractive place for those with means, education and skills.
Since these qualified people are accepted for emigration to Australia and other more developed societies, they leave Singapore taking their families with them including their sons who are born in Singapore.
These boys who accompany their parents to Australia are not the ones who decided on emigration since they are minors, less than 18 years and merely accompanying their parents to their adopted country to live. But it is these boys who will automatically become criminals under Singapore law if they did not return to Singapore to spend 2 years of their lives in the Army for national service.
Punishing these boys who turn 18, who happen to be living in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA and other places around the world, simply because they refuse to return to Singapore to serve in the Army, is completely illogical and harebrained. Firstly, it was not the boy who decided to leave Singapore to settle in Australia. It was his parents. By punishing the boy when he turns 18 is to punish the wrong person!
Second, since it is clear that having left Singapore the boy has indicated that he wants nothing more to do with that island, what is the point of insisting that he return to a country to spend 2 years in the Army, a country to which he has no desire to live at all?
Singapore is already suffering from a serious shortage of births. Not only that all attempts by the government to encourage people to marry have failed; the birth rate is so low, it is insufficient to replace the numbers dying. This is already causing a severe shortage in manpower for the 3 military arms of Army Air Force and Navy; it is also turning into a national security problem because of insufficient recruits.
As if all this is not enough, the government by their misconceived policies exasperates the already worsening situation by adding another class of disgruntled young men, who are now forced to become permanent exiles because through no fault of their own they have been turned into criminals and fugitives subject to being arrested on sight if they ever step foot in Singapore.
This not only causes very capable educated young men to be lost permanently to Singapore, it also causes extreme bitterness and hatred towards Singapore in the minds of these young men; circumstances where not only are these men lost to Singapore, they also turn out to become ambassadors of hate against Singapore.
If the Singapore government had any wisdom, which I doubt very much; they will reverse this self destructive and self defeating policy of requiring these men to serve national service in Singapore; where circumstances clearly show that they have no desire to return to the country.
So as not to lose their talents forever, since one day they may want to return to Singapore; the government should rescind the requirement for national service in this case; permitting them to retain their citizenship if they desire, devise some other mechanism whereby these overseas Singaporeans can discharge their duty to remain overseas Singaporeans; and to permit dual nationality such as the case in the UK, where citizens of Singapore can remain Singaporeans regardless of their accepting some other nationality.
Under the UK, British Nationality Act, a UK citizen remains a citizen regardless of his having acquired American or any other nationality. Just like the thousands of colonial Englishmen who settled in Singapore acquiring Singapore citizenship. In the end, they all returned to England. And England accepts them. This, I think, is the answer to the severely people strapped tiny island of Singapore.
If only they will listen.
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.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
A reader Shawn Michaels, not sure if real name, needs help with his CPF
Hello Mr Nair,
No point talking so much in this incorrigible country. The country and its ppl can never be changed. All that coffee shop heroic talks will just end there.
Now, i would be grateful if you could enlighten me on how do i go about giving up my Singapore citizenship in return for my CPF funds. And will Mr Lee retain my CPF funds, WHICH BELONGS TO ME, which is well over S$120k, and ask me to come back when i am 55 (i am only 35 now) and give me a small percentage of MY OWN MONEY which i am entitled to get AND TELL ME THAT THE REST HAS BEEN USED FOR THE GAIN OF THIS MINDLESS COUNTRY.
I am counting on that money to at least start a decent life in a neighbouring country where i believe although there is corruption, i can have a much better and free life than there.
After all, i am leaving this country for good and the government does not have to plan for my retirement rite??
You are rite. I afraid to approach the CPF board to even make an enquiry on this for fear that anything could happen. This is the fate of every Singaporean. It can never be changed. We have to live in fear as long as we live in this country.
And thats the very reason why I want to leave.
Please help.
Shawn Michaels
No point talking so much in this incorrigible country. The country and its ppl can never be changed. All that coffee shop heroic talks will just end there.
Now, i would be grateful if you could enlighten me on how do i go about giving up my Singapore citizenship in return for my CPF funds. And will Mr Lee retain my CPF funds, WHICH BELONGS TO ME, which is well over S$120k, and ask me to come back when i am 55 (i am only 35 now) and give me a small percentage of MY OWN MONEY which i am entitled to get AND TELL ME THAT THE REST HAS BEEN USED FOR THE GAIN OF THIS MINDLESS COUNTRY.
I am counting on that money to at least start a decent life in a neighbouring country where i believe although there is corruption, i can have a much better and free life than there.
After all, i am leaving this country for good and the government does not have to plan for my retirement rite??
You are rite. I afraid to approach the CPF board to even make an enquiry on this for fear that anything could happen. This is the fate of every Singaporean. It can never be changed. We have to live in fear as long as we live in this country.
And thats the very reason why I want to leave.
Please help.
Shawn Michaels
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
The Gurkhas. A closer look, may not show such a rosy picture.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Gurkhas are looked upon as great warriors. Fine so far. But a closer look at them, may dispel some of that grandeur and invisibility. In fact, it may seem more a case of their having to do all the fighting and killing because they have no other choice; not because they want to.
The Gurkhas serve in the British Army, the Indian Army, the Brunei Armed Forces and as policemen in Singapore. Of course they also serve in the Nepali military as well. Question is, what type of people are these, who are prepared to fight and die for some foreign country, some foreign king, or in the case of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew a foreign dictator.
Most with any amount of self respect and the means to avoid having to do it; would tell these foreign kings and governments that they are not prepared to serve and defend other nations. They are not mercenaries. Only a mercenary would be prepared to be going around doing other people’s fighting. A self respecting individual would probably say that their loyalty lies with their own country. In this case, with Nepal. If a Gurkha with the means the education and skills to go with it; had he been asked walking down a street in Pokhara, whether he would want to fight and die for Botswana for money, the answer would probably be no. Heck no! His life is more precious than that!
The sad facts are these. Nepal is a corruption ridden poverty stricken country which hardly manages to feed its people. A boy growing up in Nepal has almost no chance of making a decent living. These Gurkhas come from certain locations in Nepal and are selected from a few particular groups, such as the Gurungs, the Rai, the Limbu and similar clans
Four hundred years ago, the British who were in India found the Gurkhas loyal and good soldiers. So by agreement with the King of Nepal these Nepalese were recruited into the British Army to serve Britain, fighting and dying first in the Afghan Wars, then the First War and then the Second and every war after that, in theaters all over the world. An objective bystander would probably ask, why in Heavens! Why should they be going all over the world, killing strangers they never knew and all for a King who is not even their own! For what? To be known as brave soldiers and to die!
Oh Yes. Had I been a Gurkha and my country was invaded by enemies, yes; I will fight and die for it. But why in Heavens should they be willing to fight and die for the King of England! You know they recently had tours of duty in Iraq. What business do they have going to Basra to kill Shiite Arabs for a British Monarch! To me it doesnt make sense. And if you thought about it, neither would it to you.
All this bravery and courage and physical fitness and the Kukri charge is a whole load of hogwash which does not mean anything at all if you think of it. It is just plain pathetic.
But don't get me wrong. It is not that I am not sympathetic. I have no problem in these poor souls trying to make a living somehow. In the case of the Swiss, they were great watchmakers, in the case of the Belgians they were great gunsmiths and in the case of the Gurkhas, they are good fighters. So if you are looking for a good watch, you look for a Swiss, for rifle a Belgian and for a good soldier, a Gurkha; a man who is prepared to be deployed to any battlefield, for money. Pay him and he will do the work in Iraq, in Italy in the second war, in India shooting at the Sikhs at Jillianwalla Bagh. In the case of the Gurkha, his only skill is his ability to fight and fight well. And at the same time, absolutely loyal and obedient. So he sells it. Just as the Japanese would sell their Toyotas.
I have pity for them. True. Everyone needs to make a living somehow. Perhaps had I been a Gurkha boy running around the hills with no shoes and no prospects whatsoever, I too would probably be serving in some Gurkha unit in Aldershot England or at the Gurkha camp in Singapore. But had I been a graduate from Katmandu University armed with a degree in Computer Science rather than a kukri; a career as a foot soldier in the British Army or serving Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore looking for Mas Selamat Kastari in the shrubs at Bukit Timah would be the last thing I would thing of. I rather be a computer engineer in California sipping Napa wine in comfort rather than doing a 3 mile run everyday and looking for other human beings to kill just because my master wants it done.
I once remember some years ago when Sentosa was known as Pulau Blakang Mati, Gurkha Engineers had barracks there. I was running on the beach. Came across a young Gurkha teenager about my age, about 18. Pleasant fellow. We had a chat. His father was Queens Gurkha Major in the British Army stationed at the island. I asked him about all that bravery and what not; about which I too was taken in as a boy. He was very frank with me. He was well educated and spoke excellent English, much better than mine. What he said came as a shock. He said, if the Gurkhas had a better way to make a living, they surely would not have chosen to be a soldier in the British Army. They have no other choice!
So look at it this way. Next time you see a Gurkha standing at the Malayan Railway train station holding on to an Armalite Ar15 assault rifle with a kukri dangling from his right behind, realize this. He is not doing it because he enjoys dressing up as a soldier and looking as grim as possible at passers by. He does it because he has no other choice. And given the opportunity, he too will prefer to sip Napa Wine and enjoy the weather as many do in California.
I know of such an individual myself. His name is Gopalan Nair.
Let me tell you another interesting thing. You will be surprised to know that as a matter of military regulations, in Gurkha units in the British Army only Gurkhali is spoken. Let me tell you why. Even till today, as per tradition, usually Scottish officers graduating from Sandhurst were posted to Gurkha Units. Not English or Welsh. Reason being, I suppose, Scotland is a hilly place, and since Nepal is also one; Scots officers would be better suited in Gurkha units.
It appears that they had tried, many years ago, to teach English to the Gurkhas, naturally since they are in the British Army, but finding that Gurkhas were either unable or unwilling to learn English, I suspect the former, the British Army came up with the next best alternative. You’ve guessed it. The Sots officer learnt Gurkhali. So you have today, Scottish officers going around speaking perfect Gurkhali rather than Gurkhas speaking English in the British Army! As to what this tells us about the Gurkhas, I leave it entirely up to you!
And setting aside all the smokescreen of bravery valor and what not, what actually happened in the British Army is this. Imagine the campaigns in Burma against the Japanese in the second war. There was probably one white British officer way behind while these willing Gurkhas were charging up and down hills, all brave and splendid. In the end, a hundred Gurkhas are killed in the line of duty and all of them are either living with severe wounds or dead; awarded all sorts of medals such as George Cross, Victoria Cross and what not. As for the British officer, the Scotsman, he is alive and working the next day with another pathetic group of Gurkhas waiting their turn to charge up another hill, to their death, while the British Officer is still alive and having a pint at the local the next week. You may think all this charging up and down hills with kukris drawn with their war cry is great, but in my case; I look upon it with a bit of cynicism. You can see why.
Just as the Gurkhas, the Sikhs are also known for great courage and daring both in the first and second wars with the Indian Army (actually the British Army then). They too saw action in various theaters around the world fighting for British India. But with one difference. The British had not managed to sign any agreement with India after independence permitting the Sikhs to continue fighting for the British Crown. India was independent. Indians will not fight and die for other people. There was no need. Indians can make a living in their India.
No offense meant to Gurkhas. But if you remove all the veneer of all this bravery and daring and so on, it all boils down to one thing. These Gurkhas have to make a living, and for want of a better way, they join foreign armies. They serve foreign governments including a foreign dictator. Lee Kuan Yew.
As to whether this is honorable, I leave it to 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
The Gurkhas are looked upon as great warriors. Fine so far. But a closer look at them, may dispel some of that grandeur and invisibility. In fact, it may seem more a case of their having to do all the fighting and killing because they have no other choice; not because they want to.
The Gurkhas serve in the British Army, the Indian Army, the Brunei Armed Forces and as policemen in Singapore. Of course they also serve in the Nepali military as well. Question is, what type of people are these, who are prepared to fight and die for some foreign country, some foreign king, or in the case of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew a foreign dictator.
Most with any amount of self respect and the means to avoid having to do it; would tell these foreign kings and governments that they are not prepared to serve and defend other nations. They are not mercenaries. Only a mercenary would be prepared to be going around doing other people’s fighting. A self respecting individual would probably say that their loyalty lies with their own country. In this case, with Nepal. If a Gurkha with the means the education and skills to go with it; had he been asked walking down a street in Pokhara, whether he would want to fight and die for Botswana for money, the answer would probably be no. Heck no! His life is more precious than that!
The sad facts are these. Nepal is a corruption ridden poverty stricken country which hardly manages to feed its people. A boy growing up in Nepal has almost no chance of making a decent living. These Gurkhas come from certain locations in Nepal and are selected from a few particular groups, such as the Gurungs, the Rai, the Limbu and similar clans
Four hundred years ago, the British who were in India found the Gurkhas loyal and good soldiers. So by agreement with the King of Nepal these Nepalese were recruited into the British Army to serve Britain, fighting and dying first in the Afghan Wars, then the First War and then the Second and every war after that, in theaters all over the world. An objective bystander would probably ask, why in Heavens! Why should they be going all over the world, killing strangers they never knew and all for a King who is not even their own! For what? To be known as brave soldiers and to die!
Oh Yes. Had I been a Gurkha and my country was invaded by enemies, yes; I will fight and die for it. But why in Heavens should they be willing to fight and die for the King of England! You know they recently had tours of duty in Iraq. What business do they have going to Basra to kill Shiite Arabs for a British Monarch! To me it doesnt make sense. And if you thought about it, neither would it to you.
All this bravery and courage and physical fitness and the Kukri charge is a whole load of hogwash which does not mean anything at all if you think of it. It is just plain pathetic.
But don't get me wrong. It is not that I am not sympathetic. I have no problem in these poor souls trying to make a living somehow. In the case of the Swiss, they were great watchmakers, in the case of the Belgians they were great gunsmiths and in the case of the Gurkhas, they are good fighters. So if you are looking for a good watch, you look for a Swiss, for rifle a Belgian and for a good soldier, a Gurkha; a man who is prepared to be deployed to any battlefield, for money. Pay him and he will do the work in Iraq, in Italy in the second war, in India shooting at the Sikhs at Jillianwalla Bagh. In the case of the Gurkha, his only skill is his ability to fight and fight well. And at the same time, absolutely loyal and obedient. So he sells it. Just as the Japanese would sell their Toyotas.
I have pity for them. True. Everyone needs to make a living somehow. Perhaps had I been a Gurkha boy running around the hills with no shoes and no prospects whatsoever, I too would probably be serving in some Gurkha unit in Aldershot England or at the Gurkha camp in Singapore. But had I been a graduate from Katmandu University armed with a degree in Computer Science rather than a kukri; a career as a foot soldier in the British Army or serving Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore looking for Mas Selamat Kastari in the shrubs at Bukit Timah would be the last thing I would thing of. I rather be a computer engineer in California sipping Napa wine in comfort rather than doing a 3 mile run everyday and looking for other human beings to kill just because my master wants it done.
I once remember some years ago when Sentosa was known as Pulau Blakang Mati, Gurkha Engineers had barracks there. I was running on the beach. Came across a young Gurkha teenager about my age, about 18. Pleasant fellow. We had a chat. His father was Queens Gurkha Major in the British Army stationed at the island. I asked him about all that bravery and what not; about which I too was taken in as a boy. He was very frank with me. He was well educated and spoke excellent English, much better than mine. What he said came as a shock. He said, if the Gurkhas had a better way to make a living, they surely would not have chosen to be a soldier in the British Army. They have no other choice!
So look at it this way. Next time you see a Gurkha standing at the Malayan Railway train station holding on to an Armalite Ar15 assault rifle with a kukri dangling from his right behind, realize this. He is not doing it because he enjoys dressing up as a soldier and looking as grim as possible at passers by. He does it because he has no other choice. And given the opportunity, he too will prefer to sip Napa Wine and enjoy the weather as many do in California.
I know of such an individual myself. His name is Gopalan Nair.
Let me tell you another interesting thing. You will be surprised to know that as a matter of military regulations, in Gurkha units in the British Army only Gurkhali is spoken. Let me tell you why. Even till today, as per tradition, usually Scottish officers graduating from Sandhurst were posted to Gurkha Units. Not English or Welsh. Reason being, I suppose, Scotland is a hilly place, and since Nepal is also one; Scots officers would be better suited in Gurkha units.
It appears that they had tried, many years ago, to teach English to the Gurkhas, naturally since they are in the British Army, but finding that Gurkhas were either unable or unwilling to learn English, I suspect the former, the British Army came up with the next best alternative. You’ve guessed it. The Sots officer learnt Gurkhali. So you have today, Scottish officers going around speaking perfect Gurkhali rather than Gurkhas speaking English in the British Army! As to what this tells us about the Gurkhas, I leave it entirely up to you!
And setting aside all the smokescreen of bravery valor and what not, what actually happened in the British Army is this. Imagine the campaigns in Burma against the Japanese in the second war. There was probably one white British officer way behind while these willing Gurkhas were charging up and down hills, all brave and splendid. In the end, a hundred Gurkhas are killed in the line of duty and all of them are either living with severe wounds or dead; awarded all sorts of medals such as George Cross, Victoria Cross and what not. As for the British officer, the Scotsman, he is alive and working the next day with another pathetic group of Gurkhas waiting their turn to charge up another hill, to their death, while the British Officer is still alive and having a pint at the local the next week. You may think all this charging up and down hills with kukris drawn with their war cry is great, but in my case; I look upon it with a bit of cynicism. You can see why.
Just as the Gurkhas, the Sikhs are also known for great courage and daring both in the first and second wars with the Indian Army (actually the British Army then). They too saw action in various theaters around the world fighting for British India. But with one difference. The British had not managed to sign any agreement with India after independence permitting the Sikhs to continue fighting for the British Crown. India was independent. Indians will not fight and die for other people. There was no need. Indians can make a living in their India.
No offense meant to Gurkhas. But if you remove all the veneer of all this bravery and daring and so on, it all boils down to one thing. These Gurkhas have to make a living, and for want of a better way, they join foreign armies. They serve foreign governments including a foreign dictator. Lee Kuan Yew.
As to whether this is honorable, I leave it to 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
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Go Kastari Go! Mas Selamat Kastari, my hero.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
No doubt about it. The escaped prisoner Mas Selamat Kastari is my hero. He managed to escape his unlawful detention and got his freedom in dramatic, almost heroic circumstances from a detention facility from which escape is impossible. Or almost, except for Kastari. Other than Kastari, only a Rambo could have managed such a feat. Good for him. And both the police and the citizens of Singapore should look aside, a wink wink nod nod, and let him pass safely if possible; if no one is watching. By doing that you will doing freedom and democracy a great deal of good.
An outrageous statement! Not at all. Look at the facts.
First of all he is not a "terrorist". And when he is finally safe, he should engage a top notch defamation attorney to sue both the Singapore government and Lee Kuan Yew for calling him one. And give Lee Kuan Yew taste of the same bitter medicine which he has been successfully giving to all his hapless political opponents over the last 40 years.
He was arrested in 2006 for allegedly being a mastermind in wanting to blow up Changi Airport. For over a year they have not charged him with anything. Up till the time of his escape, no charges have yet been brought. None at all. The law clearly says that a man is presumed innocent, unless proven guilty. Why then was he kept for 1 year without any charges being brought? Clearly Lee Kuan Yew had no proof.
Therefore, not only is he innocent and therefore not a "terrorist" but he was unlawfully detained for one whole year. For this there is a legal term as well . It is called false imprisonment. Mr. Kastari should when convenient not only sue the government of Singapore for defamation of character and claim four figure monetary award for calling him a "terrorist", but additionally for damages for false imprisonment for an entire year.
And he should throw in a claim for punitive damages. It is about time someone drove Lee Kuan Yew and his friends into bankruptcy through a defamation of character lawsuit. And at this moment, Mr. Kastari appears the most appropriate litigant. Lee Kuan Yew should be sent to the cleaners for this. And Mr. Kastari is the man for it.
If there is any "terrorist" around, it has to be Lee Kuan Yew and his Minister for Home Affairs, Mr. Wong Kan Seng, both terrorists of the basest kind; for going around illegally detaining innocent people and calling them terrorists!
Secondly, Singapore has no jurisdiction in this matter at all. It is alleged that he was arrested in Indonesia. If indeed he was arrested in Indonesia, all the planning to blow up Changi Airport, by the way a completely unproven fact, must have occurred in Indonesia. In this case, the offense was committed in the country where it occurred, namely Indonesia. Singapore has no jurisdiction whatsoever and he was therefore apprehended and repatriated to Singapore unlawfully. Mr. Kastari stands to recover even greater damages in any lawsuit for this breach.
Mr. Kastari has every right to try to escape from a facility that is unlawfully detaining him in violation of international norms of just and fair jurisprudence. I am talking about detention without trial. There is no civilized country in the world that will condone such misuse of the law.
I am not condoning the American use of Guantanamo to detain enemy combatants but there are some arguments or legal fiction that they use to justify Guantanamo. Firstly it is not US territory, Guantanamo being in Cuba thereby dispensing with the need for due process which only applies within US territory. Secondly they are enemy combatants in the Afghan war, and being enemy combatants, a term of art, which does not give them protection under the Geneva Convention.
None of these arguments can apply to Singapore. Mr. Kastari was not involved in any war with Singapore. Second, he is not an enemy combatant in the American definition. He is merely a criminal (allegedly that is) who wanted to blow up Changi, which of course he denies. So, charge him like a criminal. Bring charges. Use your corrupt judges to find him guilty. Even that would have been better than merely repeating that he is a "terrorist" again and again; without your having any proof at all. Without proof there can be no charges. And that is why, both I and the entire population of Singapore are not surprised that Lee has not managed to officially charge him.
To me Kastari is a hero. As far as I know he has not harmed anyone and could indeed be the nicest man in the world.
And another reason why he should escape from Singapore's custody is its legal system itself. We all know that there is no rule of law. Quite clear from all the defamation of law cases successfully prosecuted by Lee Kuan Yew against JB Jeyaretnam and lately Dr. Chee Soon Juan; all before Lee Kuan Yew's corrupt judges in his corrupt legal system. Since Mr. Kastari is now already fully aware that the legal system of Singapore is compromised, there is no rule of law, there is no guarantee that he will not be detained for his entire life just because it pleases Mr. Lee, since Singapore is governed by Lee Kuan Yew by dictate; tell me who in the world will not try to escape his jailers in such a case as this.
If I was detained in these circumstances, I too will escape, if I can; even though I may not succeed. Mr. Kastari's escape was dramatic, only seen in movies. As for me, I would have to lose much weight to even attempt such a feat! And mind you he even did this with a broken leg! If there is an Olympic award or some international award for exceptional achievement in prison escapes, Kastari wins gold medal.
Perhaps Mr. Kastari is safe now in Indonesia. But if he is not and someone sees him in Singapore; please remember what I have said. He has not been proven guilty of anything. He is not a terrorist. The only "terrorists" are the ones calling him that. You must agree that he has managed an escape which is normally found in adventure stories. Give him credit for that. Look away if you can.
Please remember that quite often in dictatorial banana republics such as Singapore, it the accuser who is the greater criminal than the accused. As is shown in this case.
And if you like what I write, please tell it to your friends. This blog not only gives information, it dispels the government propaganda put out by this dictatorial regime.
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
No doubt about it. The escaped prisoner Mas Selamat Kastari is my hero. He managed to escape his unlawful detention and got his freedom in dramatic, almost heroic circumstances from a detention facility from which escape is impossible. Or almost, except for Kastari. Other than Kastari, only a Rambo could have managed such a feat. Good for him. And both the police and the citizens of Singapore should look aside, a wink wink nod nod, and let him pass safely if possible; if no one is watching. By doing that you will doing freedom and democracy a great deal of good.
An outrageous statement! Not at all. Look at the facts.
First of all he is not a "terrorist". And when he is finally safe, he should engage a top notch defamation attorney to sue both the Singapore government and Lee Kuan Yew for calling him one. And give Lee Kuan Yew taste of the same bitter medicine which he has been successfully giving to all his hapless political opponents over the last 40 years.
He was arrested in 2006 for allegedly being a mastermind in wanting to blow up Changi Airport. For over a year they have not charged him with anything. Up till the time of his escape, no charges have yet been brought. None at all. The law clearly says that a man is presumed innocent, unless proven guilty. Why then was he kept for 1 year without any charges being brought? Clearly Lee Kuan Yew had no proof.
Therefore, not only is he innocent and therefore not a "terrorist" but he was unlawfully detained for one whole year. For this there is a legal term as well . It is called false imprisonment. Mr. Kastari should when convenient not only sue the government of Singapore for defamation of character and claim four figure monetary award for calling him a "terrorist", but additionally for damages for false imprisonment for an entire year.
And he should throw in a claim for punitive damages. It is about time someone drove Lee Kuan Yew and his friends into bankruptcy through a defamation of character lawsuit. And at this moment, Mr. Kastari appears the most appropriate litigant. Lee Kuan Yew should be sent to the cleaners for this. And Mr. Kastari is the man for it.
If there is any "terrorist" around, it has to be Lee Kuan Yew and his Minister for Home Affairs, Mr. Wong Kan Seng, both terrorists of the basest kind; for going around illegally detaining innocent people and calling them terrorists!
Secondly, Singapore has no jurisdiction in this matter at all. It is alleged that he was arrested in Indonesia. If indeed he was arrested in Indonesia, all the planning to blow up Changi Airport, by the way a completely unproven fact, must have occurred in Indonesia. In this case, the offense was committed in the country where it occurred, namely Indonesia. Singapore has no jurisdiction whatsoever and he was therefore apprehended and repatriated to Singapore unlawfully. Mr. Kastari stands to recover even greater damages in any lawsuit for this breach.
Mr. Kastari has every right to try to escape from a facility that is unlawfully detaining him in violation of international norms of just and fair jurisprudence. I am talking about detention without trial. There is no civilized country in the world that will condone such misuse of the law.
I am not condoning the American use of Guantanamo to detain enemy combatants but there are some arguments or legal fiction that they use to justify Guantanamo. Firstly it is not US territory, Guantanamo being in Cuba thereby dispensing with the need for due process which only applies within US territory. Secondly they are enemy combatants in the Afghan war, and being enemy combatants, a term of art, which does not give them protection under the Geneva Convention.
None of these arguments can apply to Singapore. Mr. Kastari was not involved in any war with Singapore. Second, he is not an enemy combatant in the American definition. He is merely a criminal (allegedly that is) who wanted to blow up Changi, which of course he denies. So, charge him like a criminal. Bring charges. Use your corrupt judges to find him guilty. Even that would have been better than merely repeating that he is a "terrorist" again and again; without your having any proof at all. Without proof there can be no charges. And that is why, both I and the entire population of Singapore are not surprised that Lee has not managed to officially charge him.
To me Kastari is a hero. As far as I know he has not harmed anyone and could indeed be the nicest man in the world.
And another reason why he should escape from Singapore's custody is its legal system itself. We all know that there is no rule of law. Quite clear from all the defamation of law cases successfully prosecuted by Lee Kuan Yew against JB Jeyaretnam and lately Dr. Chee Soon Juan; all before Lee Kuan Yew's corrupt judges in his corrupt legal system. Since Mr. Kastari is now already fully aware that the legal system of Singapore is compromised, there is no rule of law, there is no guarantee that he will not be detained for his entire life just because it pleases Mr. Lee, since Singapore is governed by Lee Kuan Yew by dictate; tell me who in the world will not try to escape his jailers in such a case as this.
If I was detained in these circumstances, I too will escape, if I can; even though I may not succeed. Mr. Kastari's escape was dramatic, only seen in movies. As for me, I would have to lose much weight to even attempt such a feat! And mind you he even did this with a broken leg! If there is an Olympic award or some international award for exceptional achievement in prison escapes, Kastari wins gold medal.
Perhaps Mr. Kastari is safe now in Indonesia. But if he is not and someone sees him in Singapore; please remember what I have said. He has not been proven guilty of anything. He is not a terrorist. The only "terrorists" are the ones calling him that. You must agree that he has managed an escape which is normally found in adventure stories. Give him credit for that. Look away if you can.
Please remember that quite often in dictatorial banana republics such as Singapore, it the accuser who is the greater criminal than the accused. As is shown in this case.
And if you like what I write, please tell it to your friends. This blog not only gives information, it dispels the government propaganda put out by this dictatorial regime.
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
Monday, March 3, 2008
One year has passed. A word of thanks.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This blog Singapore Dissident has been in existence for more than a year. During this time, its readership has increased exponentially. You will recall that Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, when asked what he thought about blogs had dismissed them as ineffective. I still remember his exact words. Blogs he said "had a readership of one! The author". An arrogant man and an arrogant statement. Just as his other PAP arrogance.
Well, Mr. Balakrishnan, you could not have been further from the truth. This blog has up till now, over 5,000 hits only on my profile in just one year. In other words, people who read the blog for the first time, may look at the profile. At this rate, the regular readers who do not have the need to look at the profile may be perhaps 50,000. I have no means to know the exact number since only profile views are published. This figure is indeed encouraging. Singapore Dissident is indeed widely and regularly read. Thank you.
And when I began this blog, I told myself that I cannot be incognito, under a disguise. If a man wishes to say something, he should have the courage to show his face. What sort of a man is that if he makes speeches hiding his face in a mask!
So it is as you see. I am Gopalan Nair. My face, my address and contact is fully disclosed. And I will say what is in my mind. It gives me great pleasure and satisfaction to do it this way.
There are thousands of other bloggers who share my views about Singapore. Like me, they are disgusted at this dictatorial regime of Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore. They consider him, like me, no better than a thief who steals $3.7 million each year for each person. They are angry at the lack of human rights. At the persecution of political dissenters. So like me, they write, but with one difference. Out of fear, they prefer to remain in disguise. They use names such as Robin Hood or Botakbotak for their blogs. It is sad to see this. I am sure deep in their hearts, they deeply wish if only they could identify themselves. But alas, they are in a grip of fear. Since I am not a doctor or psychiatrist, I cannot say this with certainty, but personally I think this all consuming pent up fear is not only bad for them mentally but also physically.
I think this blog, like others who try to expose the tomfoolery of Lee Kuan Yew is doing a tremendous amount of good for Singapore. For one thing, they tend to educate Singaporeans when the government tries to keep them in ignorance. I have been writing a lot about the fundamental human rights that people have, but which is denied to Singaporeans. I have been writing about the need for a free press. The right to free speech and expression. Telling people that the first thing needed for your advancement is your liberty. Without it, you have no future.
It is true that I am now an American Citizen. But that does not prevent me from writing about Singapore. I was born there. My birthright remains. No one can stop me from writing.
Secondly simply because I write from California does not mean I am entirely safe. As you know the Russian recently who had criticized Yeltzin from London had been murdered in London by poisoning. In 1979, while I was in London, the Bulgarian correspondent at the BBC English language section was murdered while crossing London Bridge by someone who stuck an umbrella into him, tipped with poison. Well Lee Kuan Yew may one day decide enough is enough and finish me off in California. Furthermore, I come to Singapore almost twice a year travelling on an American passport. They could stop me in Changi, arrest me and do whatever they want. These are dangers that I face by criticizing Lee Kuan Yew. But none of this scares me. There is a saying in Gurkhali which goes like this "A brave man dies only once. A coward dies many times over".
I believe my blog is doing a tremendous amount of good. For one thing, the educated who have been reading my blog has resulted in increased rates of emigration among them, particularly to Australia. They can see that Singapore is nothing more than a tiny island with a dictator and his son strutting around as if they own the place. This is not the first world country they want to live in, so they leave. My blog helps them in their decision to leave. My blog has been instrumental for the increase in brain drain. This is hurting the Lee Regime. There is not enough people to run the place.
My readership of my blog has increased in monumental numbers thereby spreading the message that the Lee Administration is bad for Singapore. The government is aware of the danger of such mass dissemination of critical information. As you know in the past, as soon as any person wrote anything critical, the government pounced on them with full force with defamation action, criminal charges, the works. The reason is quite obvious. Just one piece of critical writing against the government can result in serious damage to the government, as news tends to spread like wild fire. But now the tables have turned. Lee Kuan Yew has not sued me. He cannot because he knows he will lose. The truth is on my side, not his.
Blogging is indeed a very powerful tool. I am glad I have been able to use it.
So this is my message to all. If you are not yet a blogger, become one. Keep writing so that your message spreads long and wide. The more it spreads, the more Lee Kuan Yew is in trouble. And if possible, identify yourselves. Tell them who you are and where you are. This will send an even stronger message to these tyrants by showing you are not afraid.
If you are within Singapore and afraid to show your face, it is understandable. But there are thousands of Singaporeans in Australia New Zealand UK and all over the world who left Singapore for the very reasons why I left. Their positions are no different than mine. They too can show this dictatorship a piece of their mind. They are better able like myself to blog with their identities public. Yes they may be killed by a Singapore hit man but as far as I know, Francis Seow is still alive and kicking. So is Tang Liang Hong.
So if you are not yet a blogger, join the family. And tell this Lee Kuan Yew that he may be able to silence his citizens within that island, but he cannot silence everyone.
Such blogging causes massive emigration from Singapore, warns foreigners about the true political state of Singapore thus preventing good immigrants making Singapore their home, adversely affects Singapore's international trade by revealing the lack of rule of law in Singapore, makes Singaporeans willing to publicly protest and demonstrate against this regime, discourages many European companies from investing in Singapore because of the lack of human rights. Blogs such as this reveals to foreigners in Singapore the truth about Singapore which they take back with them to their countries where the reputation of Singapore is ruined at their places.
Blogging is hurting the Lee Administration. Please join me in hurting them further. Become a blogger. A public one at that.
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
This blog Singapore Dissident has been in existence for more than a year. During this time, its readership has increased exponentially. You will recall that Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, when asked what he thought about blogs had dismissed them as ineffective. I still remember his exact words. Blogs he said "had a readership of one! The author". An arrogant man and an arrogant statement. Just as his other PAP arrogance.
Well, Mr. Balakrishnan, you could not have been further from the truth. This blog has up till now, over 5,000 hits only on my profile in just one year. In other words, people who read the blog for the first time, may look at the profile. At this rate, the regular readers who do not have the need to look at the profile may be perhaps 50,000. I have no means to know the exact number since only profile views are published. This figure is indeed encouraging. Singapore Dissident is indeed widely and regularly read. Thank you.
And when I began this blog, I told myself that I cannot be incognito, under a disguise. If a man wishes to say something, he should have the courage to show his face. What sort of a man is that if he makes speeches hiding his face in a mask!
So it is as you see. I am Gopalan Nair. My face, my address and contact is fully disclosed. And I will say what is in my mind. It gives me great pleasure and satisfaction to do it this way.
There are thousands of other bloggers who share my views about Singapore. Like me, they are disgusted at this dictatorial regime of Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore. They consider him, like me, no better than a thief who steals $3.7 million each year for each person. They are angry at the lack of human rights. At the persecution of political dissenters. So like me, they write, but with one difference. Out of fear, they prefer to remain in disguise. They use names such as Robin Hood or Botakbotak for their blogs. It is sad to see this. I am sure deep in their hearts, they deeply wish if only they could identify themselves. But alas, they are in a grip of fear. Since I am not a doctor or psychiatrist, I cannot say this with certainty, but personally I think this all consuming pent up fear is not only bad for them mentally but also physically.
I think this blog, like others who try to expose the tomfoolery of Lee Kuan Yew is doing a tremendous amount of good for Singapore. For one thing, they tend to educate Singaporeans when the government tries to keep them in ignorance. I have been writing a lot about the fundamental human rights that people have, but which is denied to Singaporeans. I have been writing about the need for a free press. The right to free speech and expression. Telling people that the first thing needed for your advancement is your liberty. Without it, you have no future.
It is true that I am now an American Citizen. But that does not prevent me from writing about Singapore. I was born there. My birthright remains. No one can stop me from writing.
Secondly simply because I write from California does not mean I am entirely safe. As you know the Russian recently who had criticized Yeltzin from London had been murdered in London by poisoning. In 1979, while I was in London, the Bulgarian correspondent at the BBC English language section was murdered while crossing London Bridge by someone who stuck an umbrella into him, tipped with poison. Well Lee Kuan Yew may one day decide enough is enough and finish me off in California. Furthermore, I come to Singapore almost twice a year travelling on an American passport. They could stop me in Changi, arrest me and do whatever they want. These are dangers that I face by criticizing Lee Kuan Yew. But none of this scares me. There is a saying in Gurkhali which goes like this "A brave man dies only once. A coward dies many times over".
I believe my blog is doing a tremendous amount of good. For one thing, the educated who have been reading my blog has resulted in increased rates of emigration among them, particularly to Australia. They can see that Singapore is nothing more than a tiny island with a dictator and his son strutting around as if they own the place. This is not the first world country they want to live in, so they leave. My blog helps them in their decision to leave. My blog has been instrumental for the increase in brain drain. This is hurting the Lee Regime. There is not enough people to run the place.
My readership of my blog has increased in monumental numbers thereby spreading the message that the Lee Administration is bad for Singapore. The government is aware of the danger of such mass dissemination of critical information. As you know in the past, as soon as any person wrote anything critical, the government pounced on them with full force with defamation action, criminal charges, the works. The reason is quite obvious. Just one piece of critical writing against the government can result in serious damage to the government, as news tends to spread like wild fire. But now the tables have turned. Lee Kuan Yew has not sued me. He cannot because he knows he will lose. The truth is on my side, not his.
Blogging is indeed a very powerful tool. I am glad I have been able to use it.
So this is my message to all. If you are not yet a blogger, become one. Keep writing so that your message spreads long and wide. The more it spreads, the more Lee Kuan Yew is in trouble. And if possible, identify yourselves. Tell them who you are and where you are. This will send an even stronger message to these tyrants by showing you are not afraid.
If you are within Singapore and afraid to show your face, it is understandable. But there are thousands of Singaporeans in Australia New Zealand UK and all over the world who left Singapore for the very reasons why I left. Their positions are no different than mine. They too can show this dictatorship a piece of their mind. They are better able like myself to blog with their identities public. Yes they may be killed by a Singapore hit man but as far as I know, Francis Seow is still alive and kicking. So is Tang Liang Hong.
So if you are not yet a blogger, join the family. And tell this Lee Kuan Yew that he may be able to silence his citizens within that island, but he cannot silence everyone.
Such blogging causes massive emigration from Singapore, warns foreigners about the true political state of Singapore thus preventing good immigrants making Singapore their home, adversely affects Singapore's international trade by revealing the lack of rule of law in Singapore, makes Singaporeans willing to publicly protest and demonstrate against this regime, discourages many European companies from investing in Singapore because of the lack of human rights. Blogs such as this reveals to foreigners in Singapore the truth about Singapore which they take back with them to their countries where the reputation of Singapore is ruined at their places.
Blogging is hurting the Lee Administration. Please join me in hurting them further. Become a blogger. A public one at that.
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
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Detention without trial is morally and legally wrong and totally unacceptable. I hope Singapore never catches Mr. Kastari. I rejoice in his freedom.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Singapore has unjustly detained Mr. Mas Selamat Kastari for more than 1 year under a law that fails any test in jurisprudence anywhere in the world. That is detaining a man indefinitely without trial. This is unacceptable in Singapore, unacceptable in Europe, even unacceptable in the darkest corners of Africa.
Regardless of what one has done, the basic principles of law require that if the state has colorable evidence against him of wrong doing, the correct thing to do is to charge him in a court of law, in public and try him in an impartial courtroom with an impartial judge, sworn to uphold the law. If he is found guilty, mete out the proper punishment. Otherwise hold your tongue and let him go. This is justice.
Mr. Kastari was being held under the Internal Security Act. The same law that has so far been principally used to shut up Lee Kuan Yew's political opponents or silence them. This same law has been routinely and shamelessly abused for this political purpose. You will recall Lim Chin Seong, who had the misfortune of attracting Lee's wrath? He was tortured and imprisoned for many years, several in solitary confinement; not because he did anything wrong but because he crossed Lee's path.
Please do not forget Francis Seow, the former Solicitor General of Singapore, another victim of Singapore’s notorious Internal Security Act. His only offence was to stand for election, something which Lee did not approve. He was detained at the very same location as Mr. Kastari, the Whitely Detention Center, where several of Lee's thugs took turns in turning poor Francis into pulp. After which they let him go. Another example of detention without trial.
We cannot forget the 1987 Marxist Conspirators; conveniently given this bad name because they were turning out into become Lee's political opponents. 22 innocent people altogether were given this unwelcome label, beaten up, kept in solitary confinement and released after more than a year!
In all these cases, just as in the case of our Mr. Kastari, there is one common factor. None of them were ever charged with anything. Meaning the government did not have any evidence. And when they do not have evidence, instead of letting them go; at Lee's option, they are arrested, beaten up, locked up and the keys thrown away. This is wrong in the case of all those mentioned before Mr. Kastari. And it is wrong in his case too.
What we are told is bits and pieces here and there. Singapore claims that among his alleged offenses, he had planned to fly a plane into Changi and destroy the airport. Well if that is the case, why was he not charged with an attempt to destroy the airport. Clearly an attempt to commit a crime is also a crime. But instead of trying him for this offense, Mr. Wong Kan Seng comes up with various accusations that he attempted this and that and so on ad nasuem. This is not good enough Mr. Wong Kan Seng. You have nothing to hold Mr. Kastari. He is entitled to his freedom. And I wish him well.
And those of you who share my sentiment, that you either charge a man or let him go; may I suggest a way that you can help Mr. Kastari to remain free. I have been reading in Singapore’s state controlled newspapers that it only took one man to report having seen a limping man near the Bukit Batok woods for the government to deploy an entire brigade of soldiers spending days there looking for the elusive Mr. Kastari.
It is easy for Singaporeans to call in claiming to have seen him one day in the McRitchie woods, another day a sighting at Pierce Reservoir and the third day at the shopping mall at Boon Lay. This way, Lee Kuan Yew the dictator will be spending his whole time looking here and there for the elusive Mr. Kastari, while you and I, and perhaps Mr. Kastari who may be already in the Rhiu Islands by now can all have a good laugh. There is no way that anyone can accuse you of making a false complaint since it is perfectly normal that you may have seen a Malay man fitting his description and walking with a limp. Come on now. Let us have some fun at the expense of this dictator Lee Kuan Yew and his son.
I would also ask the Indonesian government not to hand him over to the Singapore government even if he was found. Indonesia has a much fairer and just legal system. At least all their judges are not like the corrupted sort in Singapore and Indonesia does not have detention without trial. So since it is improper to send a fugitive from a country to another where such punishment does not exist in their own; Indonesia should not send Mr. Kastari to Singapore since Indonesia does not have detention without trial.
And if Mr. Kastari is reading my blog now, this is what I will say to him. I wish him peace. I ask that he denounce violence. There are many interpretations to the Koran. The interpretations in the Sunna according to the foremost Islamic University in Cairo, Al Azahar, is completely different from the Wahabis of Saudi Arabia. Islam should grow with the times just as Judaism changed over the years. A look at the Jewish Bible will startle someone with its similarities with the Koran. According to Jewish Law, the death penalty is a valid punishment. However you also know that the last man ever to be executed in Israel was Adolf Eichmann in 1962. No one has ever been executed since then in the State of Israel.
My point is this. No need for revenge. No need for bitterness. It is true that the Jewish state has treated the Arabs very badly. But the answer to that is not blood for blood. Death does not bring about any good.
Education is the answer. With education comes moderation. With moderation come social exchanges. And with it everyone is uplifted. To give you an example, I can have an educated intelligent debate with an Egyptian graduate from a Egyptian University on religion. I cannot expect to have the same debate with a Pakistani from the tribal areas of Pakistan such as Waziristan without my life being in jeopardy. The difference is because the Egyptian is educated. The Pakistani has never been to school.
Mr. Kastari, I wish you peace, long life and happiness.
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
Singapore has unjustly detained Mr. Mas Selamat Kastari for more than 1 year under a law that fails any test in jurisprudence anywhere in the world. That is detaining a man indefinitely without trial. This is unacceptable in Singapore, unacceptable in Europe, even unacceptable in the darkest corners of Africa.
Regardless of what one has done, the basic principles of law require that if the state has colorable evidence against him of wrong doing, the correct thing to do is to charge him in a court of law, in public and try him in an impartial courtroom with an impartial judge, sworn to uphold the law. If he is found guilty, mete out the proper punishment. Otherwise hold your tongue and let him go. This is justice.
Mr. Kastari was being held under the Internal Security Act. The same law that has so far been principally used to shut up Lee Kuan Yew's political opponents or silence them. This same law has been routinely and shamelessly abused for this political purpose. You will recall Lim Chin Seong, who had the misfortune of attracting Lee's wrath? He was tortured and imprisoned for many years, several in solitary confinement; not because he did anything wrong but because he crossed Lee's path.
Please do not forget Francis Seow, the former Solicitor General of Singapore, another victim of Singapore’s notorious Internal Security Act. His only offence was to stand for election, something which Lee did not approve. He was detained at the very same location as Mr. Kastari, the Whitely Detention Center, where several of Lee's thugs took turns in turning poor Francis into pulp. After which they let him go. Another example of detention without trial.
We cannot forget the 1987 Marxist Conspirators; conveniently given this bad name because they were turning out into become Lee's political opponents. 22 innocent people altogether were given this unwelcome label, beaten up, kept in solitary confinement and released after more than a year!
In all these cases, just as in the case of our Mr. Kastari, there is one common factor. None of them were ever charged with anything. Meaning the government did not have any evidence. And when they do not have evidence, instead of letting them go; at Lee's option, they are arrested, beaten up, locked up and the keys thrown away. This is wrong in the case of all those mentioned before Mr. Kastari. And it is wrong in his case too.
What we are told is bits and pieces here and there. Singapore claims that among his alleged offenses, he had planned to fly a plane into Changi and destroy the airport. Well if that is the case, why was he not charged with an attempt to destroy the airport. Clearly an attempt to commit a crime is also a crime. But instead of trying him for this offense, Mr. Wong Kan Seng comes up with various accusations that he attempted this and that and so on ad nasuem. This is not good enough Mr. Wong Kan Seng. You have nothing to hold Mr. Kastari. He is entitled to his freedom. And I wish him well.
And those of you who share my sentiment, that you either charge a man or let him go; may I suggest a way that you can help Mr. Kastari to remain free. I have been reading in Singapore’s state controlled newspapers that it only took one man to report having seen a limping man near the Bukit Batok woods for the government to deploy an entire brigade of soldiers spending days there looking for the elusive Mr. Kastari.
It is easy for Singaporeans to call in claiming to have seen him one day in the McRitchie woods, another day a sighting at Pierce Reservoir and the third day at the shopping mall at Boon Lay. This way, Lee Kuan Yew the dictator will be spending his whole time looking here and there for the elusive Mr. Kastari, while you and I, and perhaps Mr. Kastari who may be already in the Rhiu Islands by now can all have a good laugh. There is no way that anyone can accuse you of making a false complaint since it is perfectly normal that you may have seen a Malay man fitting his description and walking with a limp. Come on now. Let us have some fun at the expense of this dictator Lee Kuan Yew and his son.
I would also ask the Indonesian government not to hand him over to the Singapore government even if he was found. Indonesia has a much fairer and just legal system. At least all their judges are not like the corrupted sort in Singapore and Indonesia does not have detention without trial. So since it is improper to send a fugitive from a country to another where such punishment does not exist in their own; Indonesia should not send Mr. Kastari to Singapore since Indonesia does not have detention without trial.
And if Mr. Kastari is reading my blog now, this is what I will say to him. I wish him peace. I ask that he denounce violence. There are many interpretations to the Koran. The interpretations in the Sunna according to the foremost Islamic University in Cairo, Al Azahar, is completely different from the Wahabis of Saudi Arabia. Islam should grow with the times just as Judaism changed over the years. A look at the Jewish Bible will startle someone with its similarities with the Koran. According to Jewish Law, the death penalty is a valid punishment. However you also know that the last man ever to be executed in Israel was Adolf Eichmann in 1962. No one has ever been executed since then in the State of Israel.
My point is this. No need for revenge. No need for bitterness. It is true that the Jewish state has treated the Arabs very badly. But the answer to that is not blood for blood. Death does not bring about any good.
Education is the answer. With education comes moderation. With moderation come social exchanges. And with it everyone is uplifted. To give you an example, I can have an educated intelligent debate with an Egyptian graduate from a Egyptian University on religion. I cannot expect to have the same debate with a Pakistani from the tribal areas of Pakistan such as Waziristan without my life being in jeopardy. The difference is because the Egyptian is educated. The Pakistani has never been to school.
Mr. Kastari, I wish you peace, long life and happiness.
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
Saturday, March 1, 2008
The Gurkhas. Is it safe?
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On Feb 28, 2008, 2 days ago, I had written the following post in this blog, Was Mas Selamat Kastari assited in his escape? And by whom? I had pointed out that, and as you already know, that escape from Whitley Detention Center is impossible. The only questions that remain are, did he die in custody, or was he assisted in escaping?
It is not necessary to belabor the obvious. Escape from Whitely Detention Center is impossible. You know it as well as I. It is the most high security detention facility in Singapore. It is guarded entirely by Gurkha troopers. As a single group of soldiers, up till today, the Gurkhas who serve in the British Army have been awarded the highest number of Victoria Crosses, the highest award for bravery beyond the call of duty in the face of the enemy in battle. Their courage and discipline is legendary.
In Whitely Detention Center, they are not in battle. Their duties there are merely to secure the detention facility and to ensure those pathetic unarmed prisoners do not escape. A job that can be described as a piece of cake for them. The easiest thing in the world. What, with security cameras, barbed wire, 20 foot high electrified fences, with disciplined crack Gurkhas at every nook and corner under 24 hours surveillance, telling us that Mas Selamat Kastari, a man with a broken leg escaped, is to insult our intelligence. Although it is true that Singaporeans are totally cowed into submission and fear and unable to criticize this Lee Kuan Yew dictatorship; please do not insult us even further by treating us as children. Even a child will not believe that this man with a broken leg escaped from that impregnable fortress!
No. Since an unassisted escape is ruled out, the remaining possibilities are that he died under torture. Second either the Gurkhas or high level members of the Singapore ISD were bribed into letting him go; just as the Singapore Kidney Foundation had corruptly made off with millions of Singaporeans hard earned money, the principle culprit I understand is enjoying the high life in Dubai or some other Arab gulf state!
Now let us look into the possibility that he escaped with the help of some corrupted Gurkhas. A strong possibility in the present circumstances, which cannot be ignored. Are we not overlooking the possible serious dangerous consequences to Singapore; if this was true?
As Lee Kuan Yew does not believe the Singapore Armed Forces or Singapore Police are neither efficient or capable enough of guarding its vital installations such as the power stations, its TV and Radio Stations, its airports, its border posts, the Singapore Treasury and other vital places including the residence of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and his son; Lee has instead relied on the Gurkhas, a foreign mercenary military and police troopers to do this job. The only country in the world which does not have faith in its own soldiers and police; relying instead on foreign mercenaries!
Now, if in fact it was some Gurkha troopers at the Whitely Detention Facility who collaborated with some unknown foreign agencies to allow Mr. Kastari to escape, is not the security of every vital installation in Singapore, vital to the very survival and existence of Singapore threatened, by these Gurkhas?
What happens if for a sufficient sum of money, the Gurkhas guarding the Singapore power stations permitted Jama Islamia to destroy them? What happens if they were to do the same at the Singapore Airport? To Singapore's water supply, to the border posts; what happens if they permit an attack to occur against Lee Kuan Yew and his son himself? Although it is true that a majority of Singaporeans would in fact rejoice if Lee Kuan Yew were eliminated forever from the face of this Earth taking his son along with him; being Singaporeans of honor and conscience, we would not want that to really happen.
Is this not the correct time for Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and his son and other family members to sit down together and ask themselves whether their family, that is the Lee family, can continue in confidence in safety? Is it safe? That is whether they will be safe with these foreign mercenaries. These Gurkhas who will serve anyone who pays them; the British, the Brunei Government; the Singapore government, and I do not who else?
In the present circumstances, especially since Mr. Kastari is alleged to have done the impossible, should not these Gurkhas be brought into the equation? Especially since up till today, the Singapore government has not complied with the requests of Dr. Chee Soon Juan of the Singapore Democratic Party on this important matter of national interest.
They have not produced the video film from the CCTV cameras at Whitley Detention Center. They have not provided any statement from the police in charge at the facility. They have not provided any detailed explanation as to how he escaped. How long did it take him to escape? Did he scale a fence? Was it electrified? How did he manage to scale an electrified fence? Did he breach a hole in the fence? How did he do it? Did he use a Bangalore torpedo for it? Who supplied it? Did he burrow a tunnel in the ground? Why are there no pictures? Were there Gurkhas at the gate? Why did the Gurkhas let him out? Was the gate guarded at the time? How many sentries were there? Were there no sentries? What were their names? Was the Gurkha Ram Bahadhur Thapa there? And why not? Was he absent without leave? What is happening to the Brigade of Gurkhas after all?
I can go on. We have no answers. Singaporeans are not idiots. They may be rabbits who live in fear of Lee Kuan Yew as salves, but they are not idiots. Please don’t treat them as one.
We want answers. An investigation. After all Lee is taking $3.7 million a year in so called salary!
And according to Lee it is a first world country! This is not the way a First World Country is expected to behave!
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
On Feb 28, 2008, 2 days ago, I had written the following post in this blog, Was Mas Selamat Kastari assited in his escape? And by whom? I had pointed out that, and as you already know, that escape from Whitley Detention Center is impossible. The only questions that remain are, did he die in custody, or was he assisted in escaping?
It is not necessary to belabor the obvious. Escape from Whitely Detention Center is impossible. You know it as well as I. It is the most high security detention facility in Singapore. It is guarded entirely by Gurkha troopers. As a single group of soldiers, up till today, the Gurkhas who serve in the British Army have been awarded the highest number of Victoria Crosses, the highest award for bravery beyond the call of duty in the face of the enemy in battle. Their courage and discipline is legendary.
In Whitely Detention Center, they are not in battle. Their duties there are merely to secure the detention facility and to ensure those pathetic unarmed prisoners do not escape. A job that can be described as a piece of cake for them. The easiest thing in the world. What, with security cameras, barbed wire, 20 foot high electrified fences, with disciplined crack Gurkhas at every nook and corner under 24 hours surveillance, telling us that Mas Selamat Kastari, a man with a broken leg escaped, is to insult our intelligence. Although it is true that Singaporeans are totally cowed into submission and fear and unable to criticize this Lee Kuan Yew dictatorship; please do not insult us even further by treating us as children. Even a child will not believe that this man with a broken leg escaped from that impregnable fortress!
No. Since an unassisted escape is ruled out, the remaining possibilities are that he died under torture. Second either the Gurkhas or high level members of the Singapore ISD were bribed into letting him go; just as the Singapore Kidney Foundation had corruptly made off with millions of Singaporeans hard earned money, the principle culprit I understand is enjoying the high life in Dubai or some other Arab gulf state!
Now let us look into the possibility that he escaped with the help of some corrupted Gurkhas. A strong possibility in the present circumstances, which cannot be ignored. Are we not overlooking the possible serious dangerous consequences to Singapore; if this was true?
As Lee Kuan Yew does not believe the Singapore Armed Forces or Singapore Police are neither efficient or capable enough of guarding its vital installations such as the power stations, its TV and Radio Stations, its airports, its border posts, the Singapore Treasury and other vital places including the residence of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and his son; Lee has instead relied on the Gurkhas, a foreign mercenary military and police troopers to do this job. The only country in the world which does not have faith in its own soldiers and police; relying instead on foreign mercenaries!
Now, if in fact it was some Gurkha troopers at the Whitely Detention Facility who collaborated with some unknown foreign agencies to allow Mr. Kastari to escape, is not the security of every vital installation in Singapore, vital to the very survival and existence of Singapore threatened, by these Gurkhas?
What happens if for a sufficient sum of money, the Gurkhas guarding the Singapore power stations permitted Jama Islamia to destroy them? What happens if they were to do the same at the Singapore Airport? To Singapore's water supply, to the border posts; what happens if they permit an attack to occur against Lee Kuan Yew and his son himself? Although it is true that a majority of Singaporeans would in fact rejoice if Lee Kuan Yew were eliminated forever from the face of this Earth taking his son along with him; being Singaporeans of honor and conscience, we would not want that to really happen.
Is this not the correct time for Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and his son and other family members to sit down together and ask themselves whether their family, that is the Lee family, can continue in confidence in safety? Is it safe? That is whether they will be safe with these foreign mercenaries. These Gurkhas who will serve anyone who pays them; the British, the Brunei Government; the Singapore government, and I do not who else?
In the present circumstances, especially since Mr. Kastari is alleged to have done the impossible, should not these Gurkhas be brought into the equation? Especially since up till today, the Singapore government has not complied with the requests of Dr. Chee Soon Juan of the Singapore Democratic Party on this important matter of national interest.
They have not produced the video film from the CCTV cameras at Whitley Detention Center. They have not provided any statement from the police in charge at the facility. They have not provided any detailed explanation as to how he escaped. How long did it take him to escape? Did he scale a fence? Was it electrified? How did he manage to scale an electrified fence? Did he breach a hole in the fence? How did he do it? Did he use a Bangalore torpedo for it? Who supplied it? Did he burrow a tunnel in the ground? Why are there no pictures? Were there Gurkhas at the gate? Why did the Gurkhas let him out? Was the gate guarded at the time? How many sentries were there? Were there no sentries? What were their names? Was the Gurkha Ram Bahadhur Thapa there? And why not? Was he absent without leave? What is happening to the Brigade of Gurkhas after all?
I can go on. We have no answers. Singaporeans are not idiots. They may be rabbits who live in fear of Lee Kuan Yew as salves, but they are not idiots. Please don’t treat them as one.
We want answers. An investigation. After all Lee is taking $3.7 million a year in so called salary!
And according to Lee it is a first world country! This is not the way a First World Country is expected to behave!
Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
Fax: 510 657 6914
Email: gopalnair@us-immigrationlaw.com
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