Singapore. How to avoid national service (Disclaimer 02/06/2014)

02/06/2014/ Disclaimer: I want the reader to know that by encouraging young Singaporeans to avoid national service, I am not against the country of my birth, Singapore.

What I am against is Lee family and their PAP, and any means to disrupt, obstruct and harass their government is a patriotic duty because firstly Singapore is not the PAP and neither is it the other way round.

Secondly the PAP is clearly prejudicial to the interests of Singapore, being a dictatorship and a government in violation of the island Constitution.

The sooner the PAP falls the better it is for Singapore. And one way to obstruct the PAP is to encourage as many young Singaporeans to refuse service in their army.

This is already happening and my writing is merely precipitating that end. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have been receiving numerous enquiries daily on how young Singaporean men can avoid national service. It is very easy.

The only way is to leave Singapore. Young men before they are enlisted into the army do not need exit permits if they are going on holiday for not more than 90 days. All you need is a passport and a return ticket.

Before you plan to leave enroll in a foreign school university or college, e.g. in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA etc. Once you have been accepted, simply leave the island to the country where you have obtained acceptance. Once there, simply ignore all enlistment notices that may be sent to you at your last known address.

If your parents are still in Singapore, simply tell them to ignore any notices from Singapore CMPB. They cannot do anything to your parents for your failure to return since they have not signed any bond, because any trip for less than 90 days does not require any permission to leave.

Once you are abroad and have failed to return, you have committed an offense under the Enlistment Act. But this means nothing as long as you remain abroad and never return to Singapore. They cannot extradite you and there is no way they can do anything to you as long as you remain out of Singapore.

While you are abroad, at some point of time, your Singapore passport may expire. This may cause some problems as any extension application for your student status may require proof of a valid travel document. I don't think you have to worry too much about this. If you cannot prove that you have a valid travel document, simply file an asylum claim. This filing will give you valid status for filing student status extensions.

But be warned that refusal to do national service is not a ground for an asylum claim. But it is a ground if you claim to be a 7th Day Adventist, Jehovah's Witness etc which proscribes the use of firearms on religious grounds, since you can raise a valid argument that forcing you to carry arms is an express violation of your religion. What strengthens your case is that unlike many Western countries which allow you to do community service instead of serving in the army, Singapore does not allow this option.

Several Singaporeans have obtained asylum because they were persecuted for being gay. This is an accepted ground for asylum claims from Singapore since it is well documented that the island persecutes gay people. This may be a ground for you but may be unacceptable for those who detest homosexuality or any association with it.

Otherwise marry an American, Canadian or Australian or women from wherever you are; and that will solve the problem.

Otherwise file a claim that you have been persecuted on political grounds because you were supporting the opposition etc.

But remember, simply raising criminal grounds such as fear of loan sharks and criminals is not a valid asylum claim.

One caveat on marriage cases. At least you have to try to make it real. In other words, if you are 20, don't claim to have fallen in love with a 85 year old woman; it is unlikely to be believed. Remember, once you get your residence, you can part ways.

From anecdotal evidence, the Lee Kuan Yew's Singapore is having a hard time getting anyone to serve in national service. First you have the huge growing problem of young men who go abroad and never return.

Second you have the unrelenting decline in birth rate, leaving the island bereft of young men. Third you have an aging population and there are hardly anyone of military age. Fourth you have increasing numbers of permanent residents who give up their residencies and leave with their entire families once the son becomes of national service age.

And lastly you have to contend with the likes of  Gopalan Nair and Singapore Dissident who is determined to deplete the ranks of the Singapore army.

I have been told that the army barracks in Singapore is hardly receiving any occupants. Very soon they may be almost empty.

Good Luck to you in your life in the foreign country. Remember the world is wide. You only die once. Don't be afraid. By not doing it, you will only live to regret it for the rest of your life. If you do it, at least you have the chance of succeeding.

In my case, when I left with just $500.00 in my pocket and a one way ticket to Frankfurt, I told myself the worst thing that could ever happen to me was that I will die. After all we all die once. I not only didn't die, I did pretty well. I cannot deny that it was a wonderful adventure.

What man needs according to Nickos Kazantzakis in Zorba the Greek, is "a little bit of madness, because it will cut the rope and make you free". Zorba tells the Englishman not to put every question on a weighing machine, and looking at the pros and cons and being overly cautious. Life after all is a chance. You may or you may not succeed. But if you didn't try, you will never know. I would have been a far happier person having tried and failed completely ; rather than one who never tried.

If you are surprised why I can write this, remember, I am only able to write this because I am physically in California USA. Had I been within Singapore now, I would have been immediately arrested and tried for treason and jailed and the key thrown away. They only get you if they can.

Gopalan Nair
Attorney at Law
A Singaporean in Exile
Fremont, California USA
Tel: 510 491 8525
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com