TR EMERITUS

Former ISA detainee Mr Vincent Cheng will be sharing his experience on how he was "mistreated" by the PAP regime during his detention for three years from 1987 to 1990 tomorrow at Hong Lim Park as part of the SDP pre-election rally. Mr Cheng was arrested under the PAP's repressive Internal Security Act in 1987 as part of "Operation Spectrum" for his involvement in the "Marxist Conspiracy" to "overthrow" the PAP regime. He was never charged in court or convicted of any crimes. Though it has been more than two decades, he was still stopped by the PAP regime from speaking about his experiences during detention a few months back at the National Library. The Internal Security Act was one of the many laws put in place by the PAP regime to stifle political dissent and to curtail the political rights of Singaporeans so that it can perpetuate its hegemony forever. To hear what Mr Cheng got to say, please attend the rally tomorrow. For more information, please read here. Below is a statement released by the ex-detainees of Operation Spectrum including Mr Vincent Cheng in 1988 alleging that they have been "tortured" by the PAP regime during their detention:   18 April 1988, nine ex-detainees of Operation Spectrum released a statement saying that even though they had kept a "rueful and fearful silence" on the "unjust treatment," they decided to make the statement now because of "the constant barrage of Government taunts and its public invitation to speak the truth". The statement alleged torture during their detention. Excerpt as follows - "...we were subjected to harsh and intensive interrogation, deprived of sleep and rest, some of us for as long as 70 hours insides freezing cold rooms. All of us were stripped of our personal clothing, including spectacles, footwear and underwear and made to change into prisoners' uniforms. Most of us were made to stand continually during interrogation, some of us for over 20 hours and under the full blast of air-conditioning turned to a very low temperature. Under these conditions, one of us was repeatedly doused with cold water during interrogation. Most of us were hit hard in the face, some of us for not less than 50 times, while others were assaulted on other parts of the body, during the first three days of interrogation. We were threatened with more physical abuse during interrogation. We were threatened with arrests, assault and battery of our spouses, loved ones and friends. We were threatened with INDEFINITE detention without trial. Chia Thye Poh, who is still in detention after twenty years, was cited as an example. We were told that no one could help us unless we "cooperated" with the ISD. These threats were constantly on our minds during the time we wrote our respective "statements" in detention. We were actively discouraged from engaging legal counsel and advised to discharge our lawyers and against taking legal action (including making representations to the ISA Advisory Board) so as not to jeopardise our chances of release. We were compelled to appear on television and warned that our release would depend on our performances on tv. We were coerced to make statements such as "I am Marxist-inclined..."; "My ideal society is a classless society..." ; " so-and-so is my mentor..."; "I was made use of by so-and-so..." in order to incriminate ourselves and other detainees." (The full statement is published in Appendix 1 of To Catch A Tartar, Francis Seow) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Spectrum   Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. Please use our online web form to contact us.  Read More →

Famed terrorist Mas Selamat Kasteri has been handed over to the Singapore authorities after a year in Malaysian custody, heightening fears among Singaporeans if he would repeat his spectacular escape again. Mas Selamat made the PAP regime an international laughing stock when he escaped from the Whitney Detention Center in 2008 by climbing through a toilet window without grills. Despite the massive manhunt in the aftermath of his escape, the limping terrorist managed to swim across the Straits of Johor completely undetected by the Singapore police. As Mas Selamat was enjoying his time in Skudai, Johor, the PAP regime was still completely clueless about his whereabouts with its Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng saying that he "could be in Singapore or out of it" in Parliament. When Mas Selamat was eventually apprehended by the Malaysian Special Forces last year, the PAP regime was quick to claim credit for it that the Singapore ISD had "shared intelligence" with the Malaysian authorities only for the latter to refute it publicly in the Malaysian media a day later, much to its embarrassment. With Mas Selamat finally back home in Singapore, Wong Kan Seng can expect another pay hike at the end of the year for his "performance" provided that Mas did not escape again. Singaporeans better keep their fingers crossed and pray that they do not see a repeat of "Toilet Break II" in 2010.   Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. Please use our online web form to contact us.  Read More →

Desperate to stem the tide of anti-PAP sentiments among young Singaporeans, the PAP regime has embarked on a "brainwashing" campaign to craft "active citizens" out of Singapore students. School teachers will be required to set aside two hours a week to "make confident learners and active citizens out of their students" in order to provide a "values-based" education. The programme will be coordinated by a Citizenship and Character Education unit to be set up by the Ministry of Education soon. When asked by the media on the objectives of the programme, PAP Education Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen said: "Only the right values can shape positive character and committed citizenship in moulding the future of our nation." Dr Ng did not elaborate on what the "right values" are. Neither did he outline the definition of "committed citizenship." PAP Law Minister K Shanmugam had earlier expressed his concerns that young Singaporeans are becoming increasingly influenced by the "western" concept of "democracy" which is "unhealthy" for the nation (PAP regime) in the long run. He floated the idea of teaching Singapore students the different types of political systems for them to make an "informed" decision on which is the most suitable for Singapore. PAP leaders have always claimed that "western-style" liberal democracy is unsuitable for a small country like Singapore where a "strong" government is needed to make "fast and difficult" decisions. Under the unique PAP system of governance, PAP ministers are never held accountable for any mistakes made and are allowed to pass bills and legislations at their whims and fancies without consulting the citizens who are denied their natural political rights by a series of repressive laws put in place to perpetuate the PAP's hegemony. The Citizenship Education Unit may turn out to be another PAP ploy to "educate" Singapore students so that they will grow up to be "responsible voters" and "active citizens" who partake in "community building" under the auspices of the People's Association, another PAP organization.   Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. Please use our online web form to contact us.  Read More →