Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Sunday Times report of Dec 2nd 2007 reads "We can barely stay afloat, say low income folk". It is the story of yet another Singapore citizen, neglected by the Singapore government. Administrative assistant Noor Zeen earns $1350 (about US$800.00) a month and has not paid her utility bills for the past 4 months.
The reasons for Noor Zeen's financial difficulties many. One is that she is a divorcee being the sole breadwinner in her family which consists of her mother, her 8 year old son and her late aunt's 2 children, all of whom she has to support with her sole meager income. At the same time, inflation makes everything more expensive than before. These 2 contributing factors make it physically impossible for her and her family to survive in any reasonable manner.
Yet there is one more reason; a major one that causes her plight. That is the government's determined, and totally indiscriminate policy of bringing into Singapore huge numbers of migrant workers who depress local wages. Unlike Noor Zeen a Singapore citizen, born in Singapore and a true native of the country, foreign workers do not have HDB rents to pay, they probably do not have any dependants family members in Singapore, they do not have to pay school fees and they can live rough, while Noor Zeen with her children in Singapore cannot.
The Singapore government appears determined to make the plight of Noor Zeen and others in similar dire circumstances worse. And they appear to have no plans whatsoever to rectify the ever worsening situation.
The Singapore government pays it's ministers millions of dollars each year. They claim that if these astronomical sums are not paid to them they will turn corrupt. Therefore in order to prevent them becoming corrupt, they have to be paid these unacceptably huge salaries. A curious argument indeed, since should we not ask whether the payment of these sums is indeed corruption by itself without more!
In any case, my point is this. If these politicians who have seized power by dishonest means, such as the defamation actions against opposition politicians which we all know; should they not take a pay cut so that these Singapore citizens in dire circumstances can be helped. A fraction of the $3 million that each minister pays themselves can handsomely take care of the plight of the entire section of population who find themselves in the position of Noor Zeen.
If the government calibrates and controls the entry of foreign workers into Singapore, this would help to improve the situation of Noor Zeen because we can suspect, and quite correctly too, that Noor Zeen's salary would have been much higher, had it not been for foreigners who would have displaced Singapore workers in Noor Zeen's position, causing her to work for the pittance that she woks now. Had it not been for foreign workers, her salary would have been much higher.
Noor Zeen's unhappy situation makes her have to go to her MP for a handout, to keep her family alive. Compelling her, a Singapore citizen who has done no wrong, to go cap in hand asking for a handout is demeaning to her as a human and damaging to her morale and the morale of her children and family members. She should not be required to ask for handouts. This is an insult to her and her self respect.
What the government should do is this. They have to realize first that citizens who are given the tools to fend for themselves and given a chance to learn skills and succeed, develop their skills in their chosen disciplines and make a success of themselves, end up better human beings and better citizens. When people are neglected and are made to suffer, their morale is destroyed, they begin to hate their country and their leaders, they lose hope and eventually they turn into a greater burden to their country than if they were given some help to stand up proud as citizens.
And in order to to achieve this, the government should first realize that leaving society to market forces alone is not enough, especially market forces where disproportionate numbers of foreign workers are permitted to flood the market and take jobs at any price. Second, the government should realize and accept the fact that Singaporeans unlike foreigners come first and must be served first. In other words citizenship should have its privileges, I mean Singaporeans born in Singapore, not some mainland Chinese foreigner who was given citizenship on a fast track.
Third the government should realize that Singapore can complete in the world not just by depressed wages. It should compete with best quality, and with higher productivity. This way Singaporeans should enjoy a good standard of living and at the same time remain highly competitive. Singapore government had said that it is the Switzerland of the east. Well then look at Switzerland. It has very high wages, its citizens enjoy excellent state benefits and yet, they are one of the most competitive countries in the world.
Switzerland is so, because, unlike Singapore, it has an honest government, and honest politicians who do not make these silly dishonest arguments that unless they are paid $3 million a year, they will all turn corrupt. Switzerland believes that being a Swiss citizen has certain privileges, such as a minimum living wage, medial assistance for the needy and educational assistance. This makes a Swiss worker 10 times more productive and skilled than a Singaporean worker, making a Swiss citizen far more skilled and competitive over a Singaporean.
This makes a citizen of Switzerland proud to be Swiss. A well fed well trained and educated work force, that serves their country just as their country serves them. In other words a country that looks after its citizens is rewarded with a highly contented and loyal workforce able to compete with anyone in the world.
So please stop comparing yourselves with the Swiss or the New Zealanders, the British or the Americans. Burma is a country that is not too dissimilar to Singapore. Please do not insult the Swiss by claiming that you are like them.
I have noted with pleasure that the Singapore Democratic Party has acted where action was necessary as in the case of protesting the Burmese brutality. The SDP now should take the case of these poor and neglected Singaporeans who are left to suffer by this heartless government on the silly excuse that market forces alone is sufficient. The SDP should point out to this government that this alone is not enough.
There are those who are too old and incapable of learning a trade. It is not enough to give these people a mere $200.00 and told to fend for themselves, which they cannot. Children of low income families need assistance to lead a reasonably comfortable life since otherwise their education suffers. Large numbers of workers without any skills have to be trained and financial assistance should be provided for their training.
But the fundamental requirement before anything else is the need for this government to realize that the first thing is for the government to ensure that citizens have a right to live a normal decent life without having to beg. And when you demand that they beg, is when you will see a turning point in their patience. And at that point, they will take no more.
This Singapore administration is neglecting their duty to their people. It is time Dr. Chee and the SDP reminded the government of it.
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, December 3, 2007
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Singapore. Lee Kuan Yew finding it difficult to enforce unjust laws
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Both the law requiring a permit for a 5 person or more protest and requirement of a permit for a public speech law appear to be slowly dying a natural death. As expected.
Laws are only effective if people are afraid to violate them. If not, any government trying to enforce them begin to look silly. This is exactly what is happening in Singapore now.
Singapore's laws requiring a permit for even a peaceful protest of a gathering of 5 persons or more; in circumstance where permits even if applied for are never granted, are untenable. A contradiction in terms. Ridiculous.
I am referring to Dr. Chee Soon Juan's arrest on numerous occasions for breaking this law. He had previously, on numerous occasions dutifully applied for permits prior to the peaceful gatherings. Not even once has the government approved a single permit. Since he already knows that permits will not be granted, and since he needed to peacefully protest, he went ahead with his protests. He has been charged in court on multiple occasions for these Singaporean law violations, but not even once did he plead guilty. Instead to the government's chagrin and disappointment, at each time, he disputed the charges, tried the case, lost and willingly went to jail. This is not what Lee Kuan Yew had expected or wanted. He expected that Dr. Chee, like other Singaporeans in the past would promptly plead guilty, show remorse repentance and contrition, dutifully pay the fine, apologize profusely and cease and desist from the offending behaviour. But unfortunately for Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, Dr. Chee is determined to remain defiant and unrepentant for his various crimes.
This is throwing a wrench into the spokes for Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. He is now in a quandary as to what to do. Dr. Chee is not behaving according to his plans.
Same with the Public entertainment charges which are presently going on. Dr. Chee is not behaving the way Lee Kuan Yew would prefer. He is not willing to plead guilty. He is fighting the charges tooth and nail. What is more, he has already bought various books for reading material while in jail to which he is preapring himself to go! Lee Kuan Yew, as you can see is at a loss as to what to do with this tough nut, Dr. Chee. Dr. Chee has turned out to be a tough nut to crack.
And what is worse, Dr. Chee's determination to resist unjust laws is emboldening various others to emulate Dr. Chee. Numerous Burmese had protested, all in violation of the protest laws. None have been arrested. As you are aware, there is in the case of Dr. Chee's public speaking charge, 6 other charges remaining. Although the government had threatened to charge him, one case at a time with six more to go, it appears strong likelihood that the government will drop all remaining charges.
As to the 4 who protested outside the Istana against the Burmese junta, they were arrested and threatened with criminal charges. It now appears that the police will probably not proceed at all.
Last time I was in Singapore, I had seen a great many Singaporeans, educated young men and women, all ready and willing to protest on the various injustices and show no fear whatsoever.
Regardless of whether Minister for Police Wong Kan Seng (Wong Can Sing) can or cannot sing, one thing he has to know and it is this. The tide is turning. Singaporeans are beginning to pick up their courage. He should stop wasting his time trying to enforce these ridiculous laws, because he is beginning to look silly.
It is about time he and his master Lee Kuan Yew understood that times have changed. They are planning to protest the CPF laws, the million dollar ministerial salaries, the plight of the aged and the poor in the Singapore and various other unacceptable laws and policies.
So Wong Kan Seng. Braise up.
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
Both the law requiring a permit for a 5 person or more protest and requirement of a permit for a public speech law appear to be slowly dying a natural death. As expected.
Laws are only effective if people are afraid to violate them. If not, any government trying to enforce them begin to look silly. This is exactly what is happening in Singapore now.
Singapore's laws requiring a permit for even a peaceful protest of a gathering of 5 persons or more; in circumstance where permits even if applied for are never granted, are untenable. A contradiction in terms. Ridiculous.
I am referring to Dr. Chee Soon Juan's arrest on numerous occasions for breaking this law. He had previously, on numerous occasions dutifully applied for permits prior to the peaceful gatherings. Not even once has the government approved a single permit. Since he already knows that permits will not be granted, and since he needed to peacefully protest, he went ahead with his protests. He has been charged in court on multiple occasions for these Singaporean law violations, but not even once did he plead guilty. Instead to the government's chagrin and disappointment, at each time, he disputed the charges, tried the case, lost and willingly went to jail. This is not what Lee Kuan Yew had expected or wanted. He expected that Dr. Chee, like other Singaporeans in the past would promptly plead guilty, show remorse repentance and contrition, dutifully pay the fine, apologize profusely and cease and desist from the offending behaviour. But unfortunately for Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, Dr. Chee is determined to remain defiant and unrepentant for his various crimes.
This is throwing a wrench into the spokes for Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. He is now in a quandary as to what to do. Dr. Chee is not behaving according to his plans.
Same with the Public entertainment charges which are presently going on. Dr. Chee is not behaving the way Lee Kuan Yew would prefer. He is not willing to plead guilty. He is fighting the charges tooth and nail. What is more, he has already bought various books for reading material while in jail to which he is preapring himself to go! Lee Kuan Yew, as you can see is at a loss as to what to do with this tough nut, Dr. Chee. Dr. Chee has turned out to be a tough nut to crack.
And what is worse, Dr. Chee's determination to resist unjust laws is emboldening various others to emulate Dr. Chee. Numerous Burmese had protested, all in violation of the protest laws. None have been arrested. As you are aware, there is in the case of Dr. Chee's public speaking charge, 6 other charges remaining. Although the government had threatened to charge him, one case at a time with six more to go, it appears strong likelihood that the government will drop all remaining charges.
As to the 4 who protested outside the Istana against the Burmese junta, they were arrested and threatened with criminal charges. It now appears that the police will probably not proceed at all.
Last time I was in Singapore, I had seen a great many Singaporeans, educated young men and women, all ready and willing to protest on the various injustices and show no fear whatsoever.
Regardless of whether Minister for Police Wong Kan Seng (Wong Can Sing) can or cannot sing, one thing he has to know and it is this. The tide is turning. Singaporeans are beginning to pick up their courage. He should stop wasting his time trying to enforce these ridiculous laws, because he is beginning to look silly.
It is about time he and his master Lee Kuan Yew understood that times have changed. They are planning to protest the CPF laws, the million dollar ministerial salaries, the plight of the aged and the poor in the Singapore and various other unacceptable laws and policies.
So Wong Kan Seng. Braise up.
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
Friday, November 30, 2007
Singapore's bid to be an international legal services center!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
One really wonders what goes on in the minds of the Singapore government officials when they suggest that Singapore is capable of becoming an international legal hub like London and New York!
The Attorney General Mr. Chan Sek Kiong and the Deputy Prime Minister and Law Minister Jayakumar speaking at the International Bar Association Meeting in Singapore a few months ago, actually wanted Singapore to be a place where businesses and individuals from neighboring countries and afar used the Singapore courts to settle their disputes! They said this because, according to them, Singapore has a good legal system and the rule of law!
Wait a minute. Was it Singapore they were talking about?
Did they think even for a moment, with the present abysmal view that the world has on the type of justice being meted out there, would even one foreigner dream of coming within even a mile of the Singapore courts for dispute resolution!
If Mr. Chan Sek Kiong, the Attorney General wants to be told the stark reality of the disappointment of Singapore justice, I will do it. This is the sad state of affairs of the Singapore legal system.
Over the last 40 years, Singapore judges have been used by Lee Kuan Yew to subvert the law to silence JB Jeyaretnam, a prominent opposition politician who is now 82 and only recently reinstated to the Bar after being kept out of law practice nearly a decade!
Singapore courts has been repeatedly misused for the pleasure of Lee Kuan Yew to sue JB Jeyaretnam for defamation when no defamation existed even once. He was ordered to pay astronomical sums of money by the same Singapore courts at the behest of Lee, and being unable to pay, bankrupting him and disbarring him. This had gone on for the last 30 years. And the preferred tool of Lee Kuan Yew to finish of JB Jeyaretnam was the Singapore courts.
While the entire country knows this dirty practice of Lee using the courts; while the judges willingly comply to his despicable requests; to destroy and silence the opposition, does he expect foreigners to bring their cases to these same discredited Singapore courts?
Not only Jeyaretnam but almost all opposition politicians have been destroyed through the misuse of the Singapore courts to please Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. You will recall Mr. Tang Liang Hong, lawyer who was sued and ordered to pay several million dollars by Singapore courts at Lee's behest during the 1997 national elections. Unable to pay, he was bankrupted and driven into exile. He now lives in Melbourne Australia.
Francis Seow, another opposition politician, had been arrested and jailed under the Internal Security Act just because he wanted to contest the elections in 1988. At the orders of Lee Kuan Yew, the police and the Singapore courts have filed several charges against him for tax evasion. He managed to escape and now lives in Boston, Mass.
And of course there is the injustice that was and is being done to Dr. Chee Soon Juan who is presently being persecuted in Court No. 7, Subordinate Courts in yet another politically motivated trumped up charge; a travesty of justice.
There are others of course. M Jufrie; A. Balakrishnan; Wee Han Kim; late Dr. Lee Seow Cho; the falsely labeled Marxist conspirators, who were neither Marxist nor conspirators consisting of 22 or so of them; the list goes on. All this evil is done in Singapore by the Singapore Legal System because Lee Kun Yew wants them done. If there is one country in the world which does not have the rule of law, it has to be Singapore.
It is not that only I know this. Singaporeans know this. The world knows this. Yet the Attorney General of Singapore and the Deputy Prime Minister wants foreigners to come to Singapore to use the Singapore legal system for their disputes, because it has rule of law!
What did they think the foreigners were? Dummies!
The truth is this, which you already know. The Singapore legal system has been discredited by Lee's actions, and it is now beyond repair; beyond redemption. It is a country where the government uses the courts as a tool to stymie any criticism and to sue bankrupt and imprison any dissenters who are bold enough to speak up against Lee.
Even within Singapore, the courts systemically find in favor of the government even in civil cases where the opponent is a private individual.
The criminal law denies a person the right to counsel at the time of arrest but only after the prosecution has completed their investigation. This means by the time the defendant gets a lawyer, he has already confessed under torture. The Singapore code of evidence permits evidence regardless of how it is obtained and there are no laws against illegal searches and seizures and no protection against the use of coerced confessions under torture. What little safeguards there are to protect police excesses are routinely ignored.
I do not know what the legal system in North Korea or Burma is, but I believe that the degree of a lack of checks against police abuses between these countries and Singapore is only a matter of degree.
According to Mr. Philip Alston of the UN, Singapore has the highest rate of executions per capita in the world. It also has the totally unacceptable cruel and unusual punishment of caning (striking the bare buttocks of the prisoner with a stick or cane very hard calculated to cause extreme pain) which draws blood and leaves the poor victim's buttocks in a mass of blood and flesh, even for such minor transgressions as overstaying your visit!
As for executions, they hang people; even small time drug moles like the 22 year old Australian Ngyuen last year who was stupid enough to be caught with a small quantity of drugs at the Singapore Airport.
A barbaric, inhuman country whose judges permit themselves to be used to make favorable verdicts for their master, Lee Kuan Yew.
Yet the Singapore Attorney General and it's Deputy Prime Minister states at the International Bar Association meeting held this year in Singapore that the country is suited to be an international legal hub where international parties decide their legal cases using Singapore courts or arbitrators. What? Are they mad?
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
One really wonders what goes on in the minds of the Singapore government officials when they suggest that Singapore is capable of becoming an international legal hub like London and New York!
The Attorney General Mr. Chan Sek Kiong and the Deputy Prime Minister and Law Minister Jayakumar speaking at the International Bar Association Meeting in Singapore a few months ago, actually wanted Singapore to be a place where businesses and individuals from neighboring countries and afar used the Singapore courts to settle their disputes! They said this because, according to them, Singapore has a good legal system and the rule of law!
Wait a minute. Was it Singapore they were talking about?
Did they think even for a moment, with the present abysmal view that the world has on the type of justice being meted out there, would even one foreigner dream of coming within even a mile of the Singapore courts for dispute resolution!
If Mr. Chan Sek Kiong, the Attorney General wants to be told the stark reality of the disappointment of Singapore justice, I will do it. This is the sad state of affairs of the Singapore legal system.
Over the last 40 years, Singapore judges have been used by Lee Kuan Yew to subvert the law to silence JB Jeyaretnam, a prominent opposition politician who is now 82 and only recently reinstated to the Bar after being kept out of law practice nearly a decade!
Singapore courts has been repeatedly misused for the pleasure of Lee Kuan Yew to sue JB Jeyaretnam for defamation when no defamation existed even once. He was ordered to pay astronomical sums of money by the same Singapore courts at the behest of Lee, and being unable to pay, bankrupting him and disbarring him. This had gone on for the last 30 years. And the preferred tool of Lee Kuan Yew to finish of JB Jeyaretnam was the Singapore courts.
While the entire country knows this dirty practice of Lee using the courts; while the judges willingly comply to his despicable requests; to destroy and silence the opposition, does he expect foreigners to bring their cases to these same discredited Singapore courts?
Not only Jeyaretnam but almost all opposition politicians have been destroyed through the misuse of the Singapore courts to please Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. You will recall Mr. Tang Liang Hong, lawyer who was sued and ordered to pay several million dollars by Singapore courts at Lee's behest during the 1997 national elections. Unable to pay, he was bankrupted and driven into exile. He now lives in Melbourne Australia.
Francis Seow, another opposition politician, had been arrested and jailed under the Internal Security Act just because he wanted to contest the elections in 1988. At the orders of Lee Kuan Yew, the police and the Singapore courts have filed several charges against him for tax evasion. He managed to escape and now lives in Boston, Mass.
And of course there is the injustice that was and is being done to Dr. Chee Soon Juan who is presently being persecuted in Court No. 7, Subordinate Courts in yet another politically motivated trumped up charge; a travesty of justice.
There are others of course. M Jufrie; A. Balakrishnan; Wee Han Kim; late Dr. Lee Seow Cho; the falsely labeled Marxist conspirators, who were neither Marxist nor conspirators consisting of 22 or so of them; the list goes on. All this evil is done in Singapore by the Singapore Legal System because Lee Kun Yew wants them done. If there is one country in the world which does not have the rule of law, it has to be Singapore.
It is not that only I know this. Singaporeans know this. The world knows this. Yet the Attorney General of Singapore and the Deputy Prime Minister wants foreigners to come to Singapore to use the Singapore legal system for their disputes, because it has rule of law!
What did they think the foreigners were? Dummies!
The truth is this, which you already know. The Singapore legal system has been discredited by Lee's actions, and it is now beyond repair; beyond redemption. It is a country where the government uses the courts as a tool to stymie any criticism and to sue bankrupt and imprison any dissenters who are bold enough to speak up against Lee.
Even within Singapore, the courts systemically find in favor of the government even in civil cases where the opponent is a private individual.
The criminal law denies a person the right to counsel at the time of arrest but only after the prosecution has completed their investigation. This means by the time the defendant gets a lawyer, he has already confessed under torture. The Singapore code of evidence permits evidence regardless of how it is obtained and there are no laws against illegal searches and seizures and no protection against the use of coerced confessions under torture. What little safeguards there are to protect police excesses are routinely ignored.
I do not know what the legal system in North Korea or Burma is, but I believe that the degree of a lack of checks against police abuses between these countries and Singapore is only a matter of degree.
According to Mr. Philip Alston of the UN, Singapore has the highest rate of executions per capita in the world. It also has the totally unacceptable cruel and unusual punishment of caning (striking the bare buttocks of the prisoner with a stick or cane very hard calculated to cause extreme pain) which draws blood and leaves the poor victim's buttocks in a mass of blood and flesh, even for such minor transgressions as overstaying your visit!
As for executions, they hang people; even small time drug moles like the 22 year old Australian Ngyuen last year who was stupid enough to be caught with a small quantity of drugs at the Singapore Airport.
A barbaric, inhuman country whose judges permit themselves to be used to make favorable verdicts for their master, Lee Kuan Yew.
Yet the Singapore Attorney General and it's Deputy Prime Minister states at the International Bar Association meeting held this year in Singapore that the country is suited to be an international legal hub where international parties decide their legal cases using Singapore courts or arbitrators. What? Are they mad?
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
Letter from Associate Profesor George Dutton, University of California, Los Angeles.
Dear Mr. Nair,
Thanks for writing your blog to get the word out about what is going on in Singapore and the farce of a trial awaiting Chee Soon Juan. I am currently teaching an intro course on Southeast Asian Studies at UCLA (125 students enrolled), and will be lecturing tomorrow on censorship and political restrictions across the region, in which Singapore will feature prominently. Last week the class saw an excerpt from "Singapore Rebel" and so I appreciated your update on Mr. Chee so that I could share it with my class. I spent a year at NUS from 1987-1988, and so saw the ISA being applied at first hand, so to speak, and have tried to follow the situation in S'pore closely since then. Keep up the good work and I'll be following your blog with interest.
Best wishes,
George Dutton
________________________________________
George Dutton
Chair, Southeast Asian Studies IDP
Associate Professor, UCLA Dept. of Asian Languages and Cultures 290 Royce Hall Los Angeles, CA 90095
Thanks for writing your blog to get the word out about what is going on in Singapore and the farce of a trial awaiting Chee Soon Juan. I am currently teaching an intro course on Southeast Asian Studies at UCLA (125 students enrolled), and will be lecturing tomorrow on censorship and political restrictions across the region, in which Singapore will feature prominently. Last week the class saw an excerpt from "Singapore Rebel" and so I appreciated your update on Mr. Chee so that I could share it with my class. I spent a year at NUS from 1987-1988, and so saw the ISA being applied at first hand, so to speak, and have tried to follow the situation in S'pore closely since then. Keep up the good work and I'll be following your blog with interest.
Best wishes,
George Dutton
________________________________________
George Dutton
Chair, Southeast Asian Studies IDP
Associate Professor, UCLA Dept. of Asian Languages and Cultures 290 Royce Hall Los Angeles, CA 90095
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Singapore's Political Judges
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Singapore state owned and controlled newspapers report that Dr. Chee Soon Juan, Secretary General of the Singapore Democratic Party, an opposition political party and Mr. Yap Keng Ho, an opposition political activist are being tried in Court No. 7, Subordinate Courts Singapore.
This is the second of a series of 8 related charges against them, on having violated an inappropriately worded legislation, Public Entertainments Act, which requires a permit for anyone who wishes to speak in public in Singapore. The charges relate to Dr. Chee and Mr. Yap asking passers by in Woodlands MRT to buy a copy of the newspaper “The Singapore Democrat” which is the official newspaper of Dr. Chee's political party.
The Judge is Jusvender Kaur.
But even though the Singapore state owned and controlled newspapers say this, what is happening in Court No. 7 is not a trial at all. It is a complete farce, a mockery of justice, a theatrical performance. Court No. 7 is actually a classroom. A classroom in which the teacher, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew is teaching Dr. Chee and Mr. Yap a lesson.
That lesson is that Singaporeans should not ever criticize him or his government. And since these 2 individuals had the temerity and gall to do it, they must be punished. And they will be punished. And the punishment will be meted out by his agent, Judge Jusvender Kaur who is presiding in Court No. 7, who has been commissioned to carry out the dirty work.
And Mr. Lee Kuan Yew wants this lesson to be learnt not only by these 2 individuals who were, in his opinion, stupid enough to challenge him; but by all of Singapore. The moral of the drama which will conclude soon with both Dr. Chee and Mr. Yap going to jail, is for all Singaporeans to fully understand that if any of you are so silly as to go about criticizing Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, he will release his attack dog, Judge Jusvender Kaur upon you. So beware.
I am going to tell you this. Judge Jusvender Kaur has already made up her mind to convict these 2 men even before she had ever stepped into the courtroom the first day. It does not matter what the evidence is, these 2 men will be convicted anyway. They are the 2 sacrificial lambs going to the slaughter because they have offended Mr. Lee Kuan Yew.
Judge Jusvender Kaur in this perversion is not a judge at all. She has now adopted the role of a PAP politician. And as an enforcer for Lee Kuan Yew, it is her duty to polish off these 2 men because that is what Mr. Lee Kuan Yew wants. She will do anything that he wants, since the whole exercise here is not to seek justice. It is political work. The purpose is to demolish Lee's political opponents.
This is what is happening in the courts of Lee Kuan Yew's self proclaimed first world country.
I had earlier written a post on the movie Judgment at Nuremburg about Nazi judges being tried at the Nuremburg war crimes trials in 1948 after the war. Please refer to the post: Judgement at Nuremburg and the trials in Singapore Courts. The reader will see the similarities. As in the Feldenstein case in Judgment at Nuremburg, it really did not matter whether the old Jew had defiled the 16 year old German girl. No, that did not matter at all. What mattered was that Feldenstien must be punished not for anything he did but simply because he was a Jew.
Just as in Dr. Chee's case, it does not matter if in fact the evidence was in his favor. No, that does not form part of the equation at all. What matters is that Dr. Chee was bold enough to publicly criticize none other that Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. That alone, in Singapore of today, demands punishment. And Jusvender Kaur has been commissioned to carry that out.
I am of course speaking as if the trial is over and the Judge had delivered her verdict, even though the trial is still going on. But you see, in the entire history of Singapore, there has not even been one case where the government has proceeded against a political opponent and lost. Therefore I am prepared to bet a million to one that both Dr. Chee and Mr. Yap will be convicted of the crime; as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow. Similarly for Feldenstein before the Nazi judges, the Messiah would himself have to come from Heaven to save Feldentstein from the gallows.
But if Jusvender Kaur had been a real judge, you can see there are several reasons why the charge should be thrown out.
First look at the title of the Statute! Public Entertainments Act! Anyone can see that it was never the intention of Dr. Chee and his colleague to provide entertainment to anyone. This was serious business. They were selling their newspaper which contained important news that Singaporeans would want to know. A real judge can say that as it was not "entertainment", and since the statute was about entertainers and since neither was one, the defendants should be released.
Second, the Judge should say that since Lee Kuan Yew claims that Singapore is a first world country and even a wrote a book about it; first world countries all allow their people freedom of speech, and therefore, since prosecuting these 2 men goes against the very definition of the country being “first world”, they should be acquitted.
Third, since the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and since it permits freedom of speech, these prosecutions are without basis.
Four, since the Public Entertainments Act requiring permits for public speaking is a direct violation of the Constitutional provision of the right to free speech; the Act itself is illegal and should be struck.
Five, what the men did, did not amount to making speeches at all. They were selling their newspaper. Look at the dictionary for the meaning of “speech”.
Six, since throughout the entire history of Singapore, the police have never even once given the opposition any permits to do anything in public, the defendants are absolved from requiring permits. This law is a political law to demolish opponents.
Seven, the equal protection clause in the constitution is violated. If the fishmonger can ask passers by to buy his fish, Dr. Chee should be able to ask passers by to purchase his newspaper, keeping in mind that the fishmonger had not written to Central Police Station for a permit, before he committed his act.
But of course, this line of reasoning would only be in the mind of a real judge. Jusvender Kaur as you know is not now in that role. Her job is to finish off both these men and send the correct signals to all Singaporeans in the island. Behave yourself, or else.
But is Dr. Chee, after all, learning any lesson from all this? Has Mr. Yap learned anything? It appears entirely the contrary. It appears that Dr. Chee and Mr. Yap are determined not to learn anything from their teacher Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. Instead they have both told me personally that they will criticize this Lee Kuan Yew as many times and as and when they like, if criticism is warranted. This is where the problem for Lee Kuan Yew lies.
Lee Kuan Yew has himself admitted in his Machiavellian way that unless his subjects fear him, he is nothing. This is the problem. These 2 men are not prepared to be afraid of him. So in the end, Lee Kuan Yew's actions become counterproductive. I write this blog in criticism of him. Others the world over read it. Others become emboldened. There begins to sprout more and more Dr. Chee Soon Juans and Mr. Yaps. Others begin to see the injustice in this case. They see the injustices of Lee Kuan Yew. As a result in disgust Singaporeans emigrate. European countries begin to shun Singapore as a dictatorship which they can easily avoid. Foreign businesses begin to leave.
On the whole, Lee Kuan Yew should understand that it is not in his interest to prosecute these 2 men, since in the end, justice always triumphs and justice is on the side of Dr. Chee and Mr. Yap.
And so is common sense.
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 Singapore state owned and controlled newspapers report that Dr. Chee Soon Juan, Secretary General of the Singapore Democratic Party, an opposition political party and Mr. Yap Keng Ho, an opposition political activist are being tried in Court No. 7, Subordinate Courts Singapore.
This is the second of a series of 8 related charges against them, on having violated an inappropriately worded legislation, Public Entertainments Act, which requires a permit for anyone who wishes to speak in public in Singapore. The charges relate to Dr. Chee and Mr. Yap asking passers by in Woodlands MRT to buy a copy of the newspaper “The Singapore Democrat” which is the official newspaper of Dr. Chee's political party.
The Judge is Jusvender Kaur.
But even though the Singapore state owned and controlled newspapers say this, what is happening in Court No. 7 is not a trial at all. It is a complete farce, a mockery of justice, a theatrical performance. Court No. 7 is actually a classroom. A classroom in which the teacher, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew is teaching Dr. Chee and Mr. Yap a lesson.
That lesson is that Singaporeans should not ever criticize him or his government. And since these 2 individuals had the temerity and gall to do it, they must be punished. And they will be punished. And the punishment will be meted out by his agent, Judge Jusvender Kaur who is presiding in Court No. 7, who has been commissioned to carry out the dirty work.
And Mr. Lee Kuan Yew wants this lesson to be learnt not only by these 2 individuals who were, in his opinion, stupid enough to challenge him; but by all of Singapore. The moral of the drama which will conclude soon with both Dr. Chee and Mr. Yap going to jail, is for all Singaporeans to fully understand that if any of you are so silly as to go about criticizing Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, he will release his attack dog, Judge Jusvender Kaur upon you. So beware.
I am going to tell you this. Judge Jusvender Kaur has already made up her mind to convict these 2 men even before she had ever stepped into the courtroom the first day. It does not matter what the evidence is, these 2 men will be convicted anyway. They are the 2 sacrificial lambs going to the slaughter because they have offended Mr. Lee Kuan Yew.
Judge Jusvender Kaur in this perversion is not a judge at all. She has now adopted the role of a PAP politician. And as an enforcer for Lee Kuan Yew, it is her duty to polish off these 2 men because that is what Mr. Lee Kuan Yew wants. She will do anything that he wants, since the whole exercise here is not to seek justice. It is political work. The purpose is to demolish Lee's political opponents.
This is what is happening in the courts of Lee Kuan Yew's self proclaimed first world country.
I had earlier written a post on the movie Judgment at Nuremburg about Nazi judges being tried at the Nuremburg war crimes trials in 1948 after the war. Please refer to the post: Judgement at Nuremburg and the trials in Singapore Courts. The reader will see the similarities. As in the Feldenstein case in Judgment at Nuremburg, it really did not matter whether the old Jew had defiled the 16 year old German girl. No, that did not matter at all. What mattered was that Feldenstien must be punished not for anything he did but simply because he was a Jew.
Just as in Dr. Chee's case, it does not matter if in fact the evidence was in his favor. No, that does not form part of the equation at all. What matters is that Dr. Chee was bold enough to publicly criticize none other that Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. That alone, in Singapore of today, demands punishment. And Jusvender Kaur has been commissioned to carry that out.
I am of course speaking as if the trial is over and the Judge had delivered her verdict, even though the trial is still going on. But you see, in the entire history of Singapore, there has not even been one case where the government has proceeded against a political opponent and lost. Therefore I am prepared to bet a million to one that both Dr. Chee and Mr. Yap will be convicted of the crime; as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow. Similarly for Feldenstein before the Nazi judges, the Messiah would himself have to come from Heaven to save Feldentstein from the gallows.
But if Jusvender Kaur had been a real judge, you can see there are several reasons why the charge should be thrown out.
First look at the title of the Statute! Public Entertainments Act! Anyone can see that it was never the intention of Dr. Chee and his colleague to provide entertainment to anyone. This was serious business. They were selling their newspaper which contained important news that Singaporeans would want to know. A real judge can say that as it was not "entertainment", and since the statute was about entertainers and since neither was one, the defendants should be released.
Second, the Judge should say that since Lee Kuan Yew claims that Singapore is a first world country and even a wrote a book about it; first world countries all allow their people freedom of speech, and therefore, since prosecuting these 2 men goes against the very definition of the country being “first world”, they should be acquitted.
Third, since the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and since it permits freedom of speech, these prosecutions are without basis.
Four, since the Public Entertainments Act requiring permits for public speaking is a direct violation of the Constitutional provision of the right to free speech; the Act itself is illegal and should be struck.
Five, what the men did, did not amount to making speeches at all. They were selling their newspaper. Look at the dictionary for the meaning of “speech”.
Six, since throughout the entire history of Singapore, the police have never even once given the opposition any permits to do anything in public, the defendants are absolved from requiring permits. This law is a political law to demolish opponents.
Seven, the equal protection clause in the constitution is violated. If the fishmonger can ask passers by to buy his fish, Dr. Chee should be able to ask passers by to purchase his newspaper, keeping in mind that the fishmonger had not written to Central Police Station for a permit, before he committed his act.
But of course, this line of reasoning would only be in the mind of a real judge. Jusvender Kaur as you know is not now in that role. Her job is to finish off both these men and send the correct signals to all Singaporeans in the island. Behave yourself, or else.
But is Dr. Chee, after all, learning any lesson from all this? Has Mr. Yap learned anything? It appears entirely the contrary. It appears that Dr. Chee and Mr. Yap are determined not to learn anything from their teacher Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. Instead they have both told me personally that they will criticize this Lee Kuan Yew as many times and as and when they like, if criticism is warranted. This is where the problem for Lee Kuan Yew lies.
Lee Kuan Yew has himself admitted in his Machiavellian way that unless his subjects fear him, he is nothing. This is the problem. These 2 men are not prepared to be afraid of him. So in the end, Lee Kuan Yew's actions become counterproductive. I write this blog in criticism of him. Others the world over read it. Others become emboldened. There begins to sprout more and more Dr. Chee Soon Juans and Mr. Yaps. Others begin to see the injustice in this case. They see the injustices of Lee Kuan Yew. As a result in disgust Singaporeans emigrate. European countries begin to shun Singapore as a dictatorship which they can easily avoid. Foreign businesses begin to leave.
On the whole, Lee Kuan Yew should understand that it is not in his interest to prosecute these 2 men, since in the end, justice always triumphs and justice is on the side of Dr. Chee and Mr. Yap.
And so is common sense.
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, November 26, 2007
The law being abused to punish Dr. Chee
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Please read the SDP website extract below on Dr. Chee's persecution yet again.
This is another instance of the dictatorial Singapore Government blatantly misusing the law to silence dissent. In cases where there are multiple charges which are related and similar, the court should hear all cases at a single trial, not hear one charge at a time and try the person over and over again after lengthy intervals in between.
This way of trying the first charge, sending the defendants to jail; then after the defendants have served sentence and several months or years later, try them on another charge, send them to jail again; then wait several months or years for the next trial, consecutively for 8 charges is unjust and deliberately cruel. It is against normal criminal procedure. When the charges are similar in nature, the proper, decent and fair procedure is to try all cases at one time, and deliver a fair verdict for all at once, so the defendants can serve their sentences and be free. With what the government is doing, these 2 defendants are going have to have these impending trials hovering over their heads for a very long period of time! This is neither just nor legal. It is plain and simple illegal!
I hope the free world is watching and reading my blog to see the depths to which this administration will go, unashamedly to silence dissent by misusing the law.
Sylvia Lim of the Workers Party and Nominated MP. You are a lawyer. What are you doing about this blatant misuse of the law before your very eyes.
People of Singapore and the free world. Do not let this government get away with this misuse of the law before your very eyes. Stand up now. State your protest.
The free world if you are watching. Please help these Singaporeans whose rights are being trampled on.
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 Democratic Party
BACK TO HOME PAGE
Chee's trial for speaking in public begins tomorrowSingapore Democrats26 Nov 07. Dr Chee Soon Juan will be back in court tomorrow to face charges for speaking in public with a permit. Mr Yap Keng Ho is the other defendant.
The two men are charged for speaking at the Woodlands MRT Station on 8 Apr 06 during the elections period. This is the second of a total of eight charges.
In Nov last year Dr Chee, Mr Yap and Mr Gandhi Ambalam were convicted of a similar charge for speaking at the Yishun town centre, also during the election period. The three served prison sentences of five weeks, ten days and three weeks respectively.
In all the eight incidents Dr Chee was selling the SDP's newspaper, The New Democrat, with party members and supporters in the run up to the general elections held in May 06. The defendants will make the case, as they did in the previous trial, that the charges are politically motivated and that the police, as with cases involving political issues, are acting at the behest of the PAP Government.
The courts did not want to consider this argument even though the defendants have evidence that the police allow PAP and its affiliated organisations to conduct political activities in public while prohibiting opposition and NGO groups to do likewise. Also street vendors often verbally advertise their wares to potential buyers.
And yet when the SDP does the same, it is prosecuted. The only difference is that Dr Chee is advertising and selling The New Democrat which focuses on political issues. But the rule of law and the Constitution categorically states that every citizen must be treated equally under the law. To prosecute the Dr Chee and Mr Yap for acts that other citizens widely and openly conduct is discrimination Worse, the discrimination is against the PAP's opponents – and during the elections to boot where parties are trying to reach out to the electorate.
Without the ability to effectively communicate with supporters during election time especially when the media is owned and run by the PAP Government, how are opposition parties going to succeed at the polls? The courts have, however, repeatedly ignored such arguments.
The hearing will take place at Subordinate Court No. 15 at 9:30 am tomorrow.
Please read the SDP website extract below on Dr. Chee's persecution yet again.
This is another instance of the dictatorial Singapore Government blatantly misusing the law to silence dissent. In cases where there are multiple charges which are related and similar, the court should hear all cases at a single trial, not hear one charge at a time and try the person over and over again after lengthy intervals in between.
This way of trying the first charge, sending the defendants to jail; then after the defendants have served sentence and several months or years later, try them on another charge, send them to jail again; then wait several months or years for the next trial, consecutively for 8 charges is unjust and deliberately cruel. It is against normal criminal procedure. When the charges are similar in nature, the proper, decent and fair procedure is to try all cases at one time, and deliver a fair verdict for all at once, so the defendants can serve their sentences and be free. With what the government is doing, these 2 defendants are going have to have these impending trials hovering over their heads for a very long period of time! This is neither just nor legal. It is plain and simple illegal!
I hope the free world is watching and reading my blog to see the depths to which this administration will go, unashamedly to silence dissent by misusing the law.
Sylvia Lim of the Workers Party and Nominated MP. You are a lawyer. What are you doing about this blatant misuse of the law before your very eyes.
People of Singapore and the free world. Do not let this government get away with this misuse of the law before your very eyes. Stand up now. State your protest.
The free world if you are watching. Please help these Singaporeans whose rights are being trampled on.
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 Democratic Party
BACK TO HOME PAGE
Chee's trial for speaking in public begins tomorrowSingapore Democrats26 Nov 07. Dr Chee Soon Juan will be back in court tomorrow to face charges for speaking in public with a permit. Mr Yap Keng Ho is the other defendant.
The two men are charged for speaking at the Woodlands MRT Station on 8 Apr 06 during the elections period. This is the second of a total of eight charges.
In Nov last year Dr Chee, Mr Yap and Mr Gandhi Ambalam were convicted of a similar charge for speaking at the Yishun town centre, also during the election period. The three served prison sentences of five weeks, ten days and three weeks respectively.
In all the eight incidents Dr Chee was selling the SDP's newspaper, The New Democrat, with party members and supporters in the run up to the general elections held in May 06. The defendants will make the case, as they did in the previous trial, that the charges are politically motivated and that the police, as with cases involving political issues, are acting at the behest of the PAP Government.
The courts did not want to consider this argument even though the defendants have evidence that the police allow PAP and its affiliated organisations to conduct political activities in public while prohibiting opposition and NGO groups to do likewise. Also street vendors often verbally advertise their wares to potential buyers.
And yet when the SDP does the same, it is prosecuted. The only difference is that Dr Chee is advertising and selling The New Democrat which focuses on political issues. But the rule of law and the Constitution categorically states that every citizen must be treated equally under the law. To prosecute the Dr Chee and Mr Yap for acts that other citizens widely and openly conduct is discrimination Worse, the discrimination is against the PAP's opponents – and during the elections to boot where parties are trying to reach out to the electorate.
Without the ability to effectively communicate with supporters during election time especially when the media is owned and run by the PAP Government, how are opposition parties going to succeed at the polls? The courts have, however, repeatedly ignored such arguments.
The hearing will take place at Subordinate Court No. 15 at 9:30 am tomorrow.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Without protests Singapore will not change.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In countries where there is a vibrant democracy, civil society, free press, independent judiciary and a representative parliament, protests are less important or necessary for change. The organs of civil society, it's pillars of a representative parliament can effectively bring about change. Singapore does not have such a society. Singapore is a dictatorship with Lee Kuan Yew as its dictator. It does not have any of the safeguards that a democratic society has; no independent judiciary, a rubber stamp parliament, a state owned and controlled press. In these circumstances, you cannot expect parliament to speak for you. If you want change, you have no choice but to take to the streets and protest. You have to make Lee Kuan Yew listen, whether he likes it or not.
Just as the Filipinos made Marcos listen whether he liked it or not. Just as the Poles did in Poland bringing down communism. Just as the Ukrainians did. Just as the Romanians did in Bucharesti. Just as the Serbs did in Sarajavo. Just as Mandela did in Pretoria.
At this moment, Lee Kuan Yew has neither respect nor regard for his people. Somehow he has begun to believe that he alone is God's choice to rule over you. That he will decide, the rubber stamp parliament will promptly place their seals of approval, the the law is passed. He alone will do the thinking and he alone will execute. You are living in a classic directorship with him as the dictator.
Over the years, you have seen that nothing you said mattered. He has increased his salary to $3 million over the objection of the entire population. He has decided to introduce casinos, regardless of what you thought about gamblers. As for the Malays and Indians, he has decided that they are only entitled to live in selected areas of Singapore and not necessarily their choice, re: HDB policy of racial segregation. He has decided that Singapore should have 75% Chinese regardless of how fertile the 3 races each are (overwhelming Chinese human imports to counteract the increasing number of Malays being born).
In the history of countries, the most effective way of making governments listen has been through protests. South Africa would have retained apartheid had it not for Mandela and the ANC taking to the streets. India would not have been free had it not for Gandhi adopting Satyagraha. And let us not forget Burma. Burma is going to be free. And it will be because of Burmese protests.
Other than the more abstract issues such as freedom of the press and so on, you can see there are burning issues, blatant outrages being committed by this government. First take the CPF issue. A large section of the population including many friends of mine are suffering because the government is unjustly refusing to pay their rightful retirement money, causing them pain and hardship in having to continue to work. It is not that they do not have savings because they have a lot of savings in the CPF. The problem is, the government is refusing to pay. The government is reneging on the promise they made when the CPF scheme had first started. They promised that it was our retirement money. They promised to give to us at 55. Now they betray their promise. This is not just. This alone should make your blood boil. This calls for a protest. This is so, because without a protest, this rubber stamp parliament under this dictator will never listen.
This is not the only burning grievance. The poor are crying out. They are being handed cooking oil and bags of rice and a few hundred dollars and are told to fend for themselves. They cannot possibly survive. They are suffering untold misery in their one room HDB cubicles. And while they suffer, these old folks who were the pioneers who built Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew and his ministers dance in public and pay themselves $3 million per year. This too should make your blood boil.
Furthermore there is discrimination even in this. Did you know that unlike you, Lee Kuan Yew and company will be paid pensions. You only get CPF, that is if you ever get it! Why the special treatment for Lee Kuan Yew, his son and cronies? Is this not corruption. If not what is it?
Citizens of Signapore, what are you waiting for. Have the courage. The country is yours as well as Lee Kuan Yew.
And lastly, protest is your right, not a privilege. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees you that right. It is a right that humans proudly possess. And it is honorable for you to exercise that right. There is no shame in it. If you have any doubts, you can confirm this by asking SDP's former Indian lawyer who claims to be a human rights lawyer. I understand he is returning to practice after a year's suspension. Congratulations to him.
If I sounded like Mark Anthony in Shakepear's Julius Ceaser, it wasn't intentional.
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
In countries where there is a vibrant democracy, civil society, free press, independent judiciary and a representative parliament, protests are less important or necessary for change. The organs of civil society, it's pillars of a representative parliament can effectively bring about change. Singapore does not have such a society. Singapore is a dictatorship with Lee Kuan Yew as its dictator. It does not have any of the safeguards that a democratic society has; no independent judiciary, a rubber stamp parliament, a state owned and controlled press. In these circumstances, you cannot expect parliament to speak for you. If you want change, you have no choice but to take to the streets and protest. You have to make Lee Kuan Yew listen, whether he likes it or not.
Just as the Filipinos made Marcos listen whether he liked it or not. Just as the Poles did in Poland bringing down communism. Just as the Ukrainians did. Just as the Romanians did in Bucharesti. Just as the Serbs did in Sarajavo. Just as Mandela did in Pretoria.
At this moment, Lee Kuan Yew has neither respect nor regard for his people. Somehow he has begun to believe that he alone is God's choice to rule over you. That he will decide, the rubber stamp parliament will promptly place their seals of approval, the the law is passed. He alone will do the thinking and he alone will execute. You are living in a classic directorship with him as the dictator.
Over the years, you have seen that nothing you said mattered. He has increased his salary to $3 million over the objection of the entire population. He has decided to introduce casinos, regardless of what you thought about gamblers. As for the Malays and Indians, he has decided that they are only entitled to live in selected areas of Singapore and not necessarily their choice, re: HDB policy of racial segregation. He has decided that Singapore should have 75% Chinese regardless of how fertile the 3 races each are (overwhelming Chinese human imports to counteract the increasing number of Malays being born).
In the history of countries, the most effective way of making governments listen has been through protests. South Africa would have retained apartheid had it not for Mandela and the ANC taking to the streets. India would not have been free had it not for Gandhi adopting Satyagraha. And let us not forget Burma. Burma is going to be free. And it will be because of Burmese protests.
Other than the more abstract issues such as freedom of the press and so on, you can see there are burning issues, blatant outrages being committed by this government. First take the CPF issue. A large section of the population including many friends of mine are suffering because the government is unjustly refusing to pay their rightful retirement money, causing them pain and hardship in having to continue to work. It is not that they do not have savings because they have a lot of savings in the CPF. The problem is, the government is refusing to pay. The government is reneging on the promise they made when the CPF scheme had first started. They promised that it was our retirement money. They promised to give to us at 55. Now they betray their promise. This is not just. This alone should make your blood boil. This calls for a protest. This is so, because without a protest, this rubber stamp parliament under this dictator will never listen.
This is not the only burning grievance. The poor are crying out. They are being handed cooking oil and bags of rice and a few hundred dollars and are told to fend for themselves. They cannot possibly survive. They are suffering untold misery in their one room HDB cubicles. And while they suffer, these old folks who were the pioneers who built Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew and his ministers dance in public and pay themselves $3 million per year. This too should make your blood boil.
Furthermore there is discrimination even in this. Did you know that unlike you, Lee Kuan Yew and company will be paid pensions. You only get CPF, that is if you ever get it! Why the special treatment for Lee Kuan Yew, his son and cronies? Is this not corruption. If not what is it?
Citizens of Signapore, what are you waiting for. Have the courage. The country is yours as well as Lee Kuan Yew.
And lastly, protest is your right, not a privilege. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees you that right. It is a right that humans proudly possess. And it is honorable for you to exercise that right. There is no shame in it. If you have any doubts, you can confirm this by asking SDP's former Indian lawyer who claims to be a human rights lawyer. I understand he is returning to practice after a year's suspension. Congratulations to him.
If I sounded like Mark Anthony in Shakepear's Julius Ceaser, it wasn't intentional.
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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