TR EMERITUS

Human rights activist Mr Seelan Palay is serving a 12-day prison term for taking part in the Tak Boleh Tahan (Malay for “cannot take it”) protest on 15 Mar 08 outside Parliament House. Mr Seelan was convicted together with 8 other activists by District Judge Chia Wee Kiat in Mar 2010. All of them have appealed the conviction. The appeal hearing date has yet to be fixed. Some of those convicted, including Ms Chee Siok Chin and Dr Chee Soon Juan, have served their two-week sentences. Mr Seelan, who produced One Nation Under Lee (ONUL), is facing another charge of participating in an illegal assembly on 9 Aug 08 together with 10 other activists (see here). The record-breaking video (which has nearly 100,000 views) has awakened many a young Singaporean. In fact, a few of the SDP's Young Democrats joined the party after watching ONUL. The activist is also behind much of the campaigning against the mandatory death penalty. In fact, he has taken with him Once A Jolly Hangman written by Mr Alan Shadrake into prison to read. The book is for all intents and purposes banned in Singapore and Mr Shadrake himself is being charged with contempt of court. Mr Seelan was taken to court this morning in prison garb and shackled. When the Judge, Mr Kessler Soh, began the session, Mr Seelan said: “Before we begin, I'd like to clarify that I'm in the dock in shackles, cuffs and chains not because I have committed any crime. I am here in this state because of another unjust law administered on behalf of the PAP Government." Mr Seelan's conviction involved the case where the Government-affiliated Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) had also held a protest in the same vicinity and had carried out similar activities as the Tak Boleh Tahan (TBT) protest. CASE had staged a protest two years in a row including protesting with placards and marching outside Parliament House. No action was taken against its organisers and participants. Such blatant double standards can only happen in an autocratic state where there is one set of rules for the rulers and another one for the rest. The TBT defendants raised the issue of illegal discrimination and exercise of police powers in bad faith when they allowed the CASE protest to proceed but clamped down on the TBT protest. The TBT activists cited Article 12 of the Constitution which states that all citizens must be treated equally under the law. However, DJ Chia Wee Kiat did not allow the defendants to raise the matter during the hearing and proceeded to convict the defendants.    Source: Singapore Democrats  Read More →

This year’s theme for the National Day is Live our Dreams, Fly our Flag. I shall focus on talking about the Singapore flag in my article. 1. The PAP has call on Singaporeans to put up the Singapore flag as a display of patriotism. And this year’s National Day celebrations, we have people describing what the flag means to them. Such attempts by the PAP to use the Singapore flag for whatever purposes is clearly an insult as the Singapore flag does not represents the PAP government. Well I’ll describe how our sacred flag along with its meaning has been insulted by the PAP The PAP’s immigration policies have send floods of foreigners to Singapore. How can we put up the Singapore flag in our homeland when it is being flooded by foreigners? These foreigners are depriving us of our jobs; depress our wages and jacking by HDB flats prices. Perhaps it would make more sense to put up flags from other countries. 2. The colour red is symbolic of universal brotherhood and equality of men. If the PAP government failed to treat Singaporean citizens as brothers. Despite the fact that there is a widening income gap and that Singaporeans are still suffering from the effects of an economic recession which the PAP government declared “over”. Instead of doing everything in its means to help the citizens like how someone helps his brother, the PAP government is certainly going to expect a pay rise. At the same time it is perfectly alright to spend $387m on YOG while Singaporeans are struggling. This is just an example of how the PAP government interprets the idea of brotherhood. 3. The colour red and the stars represent equality of men. I do not see any equality of men. When YPAP leader called Singaporeans 3rd class citizens, it appeared that the lack of condemnation from PAP leaders indicated their approval of such comments. This is how PAP sees us. We the commoners as 3rd class while they are first 1st class. PRs and new citizens are treated more favourably than locals. Equality as defined by PAP: We’re god-like while you are crap. 4. The stars also represent justice. Where is justice when political prisoners such as Lim Hock Siew were detained unjustly by the PAP regime under LKY? I do not see justice when the innocent are punished for “defaming” PAP leaders. PAP’s definition of justice: Fairness in the way people are dealt with ONLY when it benefits PAP 5. The white represents pervading and everlasting purity and virtue. I only see a government which cares about money. I see a government tainted by “legal” corruption in the form of high salaries drawn by the PAP. The five stars also represent democracy. Democracy as defined by PAP is when people have restricted freedom. Freedom of speech is allowed only when it benefits the PAP. GRCs and gerrymandering is a must. Votes are won through intimidation. An example will be threats that the HDB estate will not receive upgrading if they vote for the opposition.   C M Yew  Read More →

Since our publication of an article on the "DOG" food which YOG "volunteers are being fed with in contrast to the buffet spread the YOG athletes and officials are enjoying, a massive outcry has erupted in cyberspace forcing the caterer for YOG Singapore Food Industries (SFI) to improve the food for the volunteers. Two days ago, we received an email attached with a photo of the now infamous "DOG" food from an angry YOG "volunteer" on the food she was given for providing 10 continuous hours of "free labor" for YOG under the hot sun: “This is what I am eating everyday. Even my dog is fed better food!” she wrote. SFI has since confirmed to the Straits Times today that the food in the above picture "was part of a meal provided to the YOG workforce." Singapore Food Industries (SFI), a subsidiary of the Singapore Airport Terminal Services (Sats) had been awarded a $5.5 million catering services contract by the YOG organising committee. Its contract covers meals for up to 7,000 athletes, officials and volunteers at the Youth Olympic Village. While "DOG" food is being served to Singapore volunteers, foreign athletes and officials were given three daily buffet meals befitting of a king by SFI: [Source: Yahoo Fit to Post] The wide discrepancy in the treatment between the volunteers and the athletes prompted many angry Singaporeans to criticize the organizers with some calling for a boycott of the YOG. When contacted by the media, the YOG committee dared not reveal the budget allocated for the volunteers' food. "We are aware of the feedback (on the meal) and have taken immediate action. We will work with the caterers to continually improve the meal standards," the spokesperson was quoted as saying in the Straits Times. According to some volunteers we spoke to, they have been complaining to the YOG committee about the food for a number of days to no avail. It's only after the matter was blown up in cyberspace did the organizers bother to take any action. As usual, there were no immediate comments on the embarrassing saga from PAP Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan or his sidekick Teo Ser Luck who continue to immerse themselves in their own deluded world of very "real" and "infectious" YOG "bliss, pomp and glory", no thanks to the massive "astroturfing" efforts by MOE, grassroots organizations and the state media. EDITORS’ NOTE: Has your life been turned upside down by the YOG? Please share your views with us. We assure you that your identity will be kept strictly confidential. We will be your UNCENSORED VOICE. You do not have to suffer in silence and have the right to speak up. Related articles: >> Journey of YOG flame costs Singaporeans $7 million dollars >> Tharman: YOG enthusiasm is "infectious" >> Corny YOG propaganda in Straits Times >> Polytechnic student: I don’t care about YOG >> JC students being “volunteered” for YOG >> YOG students being given “dog food” >> YOG: What the HELL is that >> Singapore students forced to volunteer for YOG >> Poor ticket sales forced closure of YOG gallery section >> PM Lee calls on Singaporeans to support YOG >> Young Singaporeans hurl vulgarities at YOG >> Dr Vivian wants Singaporeans to celebrate YOG >> NTU students complain about YOG >> Dr Vivian: Sports is not about “petty politics” >> More than 300 Singaporeans joined “I hate YOG” Facebook >> CNA poll: 90 percent of Singaporeans “not interested” in YOG >> Slovak YOG Ambassador slams YOG venues of “school standard” only >> Two Facebook groups calling for boycott of YOG >> Free condoms for YOG officials and athletes >> Singapore helping to repair Jamaica’s stadium in return for YOG marketing >> Former stripper to choreograph opening ceremony of YOG >> Desperate PAP wants Singaporeans to get “passionate” about YOG >> PAP to Singaporeans: Give way to YOG vehicles or get fined $130 >> PM Lee wants Singaporeans to do their part for YOG >> Only six teams in YOG soccer tournament 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 →