TR EMERITUS

Written by Our Correspondent After three long weeks of investigation, there are still no updates from the police yet on the Eric How case when it took them only three days to apprehend the three teenagers responsible for allegedly posting racist remarks on Facebook. Two "Eric Hows" from the YPAP lodged separate police reports in January over somebody impersonating them on Facebook on the "advice" of YPAP Chairman Teo Ser Luck. An "Eric How" with a Mecedes Benz as its avatar posted disparaging remarks about Singaporeans on 1 and 19 January 2010 on the YPAP Facebook. In the first post, he slammed netizens for “slapping on the government senselessly” because they did not get “any fruits of benefits” from their forefathers: [Source: YPAP Facebook listed in the public domain] On 19 January, he described netizens who refuse to hear his "truth" as being "stubborn donkeys": [Source: YPAP Facebook listed in the public domain] Though there are more than 50 "Eric Hows" in Singapore alone, the two Eric Hows from YPAP found it necessary to make a police report where a simple clarification on their Facebooks will more than suffice. It is clear that there is no impersonation at all and the YPAP has made a fool out of itself by showing their ignorance of the New Media to the entire world. There can only be three reasons behind the wall of "silence" from both the police and YPAP: 1. Investigations are still "ongoing". 2. The police did not bother to pursue the case at all due to its triviality. 3. The "Eric How" turns out to be real and not an impersonator. Regardless of the outcome, YPAP should keep Singaporeans informed of the latest developments in the case since it was the one who made a mountain out of a molehill and used it to hurl baseless accusations against the New Media. They cannot expect to make audacious public statements to implicate innocent netizens without substantiating them and then "vanish" into thin air without accounting for their words or actions. In all likelihood, we may never know the truth of the matter and as usual, the YPAP has managed to get itself off the hook the again by disparaging the online community and casting aspersions on the credibility of the New Media.  Read More →

By U Aung Mein As a (Theravadin) Buddhist, I thank Pastor Rony Tan for giving me the opportunity here to address some common misconceptions about Buddhism.[1] During a session conducted by Pastor Tan to his congregation, he said that Buddha still "could not find the Way" before he passed away and in the end it was "Jesus who showed Buddha the Way." According to the Pali Canon, the earliest historical records of the Buddha's teachings, the Buddha passed away in 483 B.C., 483 years before the birth of (Jesus) Christ. The events leading to the passing of the Buddha can be found in the Mahaparanibbana Sutta of the Digha Nikaya. At the age of 80, the Buddha announced that he would soon reach Parinibbana or the final deathless state abandoning the earthly body. The Buddha taught that all sentinent beings (including human beings) are subjected to an infinite cycles of births, aging, sickness and death and the only way to extricate oneself out of this "mass of suffering" completely is to attain Nibbana [2] (Enlightenment) through the practice of meditation as documented in detail here. It can be attained in this life here and now so long one strives for it. Technically speaking, Buddhism is not a religion but simply a method/way to put a stop to dukkha or suffering once and for all. The Buddha did not demand everybody to follow his teachings which can be questioned, debated and challenged. Before he passed away, the Buddha asked his disciples if they had any questions for him: "It may be, bhikkhus (monks), that one of you is in doubt or perplexity as to the Buddha, the Dhamma, or the Sangha, the path or the practice. Then question, bhikkhus! Do not be given to remorse later on with the thought: 'The Master was with us face to face, yet face to face we failed to ask him." But when this was said for the first, ssecond and third time, the bhikkhus were silent. A disciple and attendant of the Buddha Venerable Ananda spoke to the Blessed One, saying: "Marvellous it is, O Lord, most wonderful it is! This faith I have in the community of bhikkhus, that not even one bhikkhu is in doubt or perplexity as to the Buddha, the Dhamma, or the Sangha, the path or the practice." The Buddha replied: "Out of faith, Ananda, you speak thus. But here, Ananda, the Tathagata (Buddha) knows for certain that among this community of bhikkhus there is not even one bhikkhu who is in doubt or perplexity as to the Buddha, the Dhamma (Buddha's teachings), or the Sangha (community of monks), the path or the practice. For, Ananda, among these five hundred bhikkhus even the lowest is a stream-enterer, secure from downfall, assured, and bound for enlightenment." And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: "Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you:  Transient are all compounded things, strive on with diligence!" These were the last words of the Buddha. Addendum: [1]: There are two major schools of Buddhism today - Theravada and Mahayana. [2]: Nibbana is also known as Nirvana in Sanskrit. EDITORS' NOTE: If you encounter the "duplicate post" error when posting comments on our site, post again by clicking on the "submit" button and hold it for at least 5 seconds. We are still working to resolve the problem and we appeal for your kind understanding and patience.  Read More →

Press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore, 11 February 2010 In response to media queries on developments in the two hit-and-run traffic accidents on 15 December 2009 that involved the Romanian Embassy vehicle S3401CD, the MFA spokesman said: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned HE Aurelian Neagu, the Romanian Ambassador to Singapore (who is based in Tokyo), to MFA on 11 February 2010 on the matter of the two hit-and-run traffic accidents on 15 December 2009 that involved the Romanian Embassy vehicle S3401CD. MFA stressed to Ambassador Neagu that the matter is of the highest concern to the Singapore Government and yet again reiterated that it was most important that the Romanian Embassy cooperate fully with the Singapore authorities on this matter. MFA informed Ambassador Neagu that the Coroner's Inquiry into the death of Mr Tong Kok Wai will be held from 3 to 10 March 2010. It was explained to the Ambassador that the Inquiry is not a trial, but a fact-finding inquiry to establish the facts where there has been an unnatural death. MFA handed Ambassador Neagu a diplomatic note seeking the Romanian Embassy's assistance in requesting Dr Ionescu to return to Singapore to attend the Coroner's Inquiry. MFA noted that it would appear from Romanian media reports that Dr Ionescu was still maintaining that the car had been stolen and that he was not the driver at the time of the two accidents. MFA pointed out that if Dr Ionescu was maintaining that he was not responsible, it was all the more reason why he should come back to Singapore to give his version at the Coroner's Inquiry. This will help the State Coroner to ascertain the facts relating to the two accidents. At the Coroner's Inquiry, Dr Ionescu can also question the witnesses. MFA also pointed out to Ambassador Neagu that Dr Ionescu was welcome to engage a local lawyer to examine the witnesses and put forth his version of the events at the Inquiry. Alternatively, the Romanian Embassy could engage a local lawyer on Dr Ionescu's behalf. Noting media reports of Dr Ionescu's claim in a recent Romanian television interview that there was a witness who could exonerate him, MFA asked the Romanian Embassy to request Dr Ionescu to give the Singapore authorities details concerning the identity of this witness. The witness can then be required to give evidence at the Coroner's Inquiry. MFA also handed Ambassador Neagu a second diplomatic note informing the Romanian Embassy that the State Coroner has issued a witness summons for Mr Marius Trusca, Administrative Officer at the Embassy, to give evidence at the Inquiry and assist the State Coroner in establishing the true circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Tong Kok Wai. The witness summons was issued because Mr Trusca's evidence is directly relevant for the Coroner's Inquiry. MFA noted that under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Mr Trusca is not obliged to give evidence as a witness. MFA therefore requested the Embassy to let Mr Trusca's immunity be waived so that the witness summons may be served on Mr Trusca. MFA referred Ambassador Neagu to Romanian media reports that in his recent interview by a Romanian television station, Dr Ionescu had also alleged that this was a case of a "set-up" by the Singapore Government because he had been reporting on political activities in Singapore. Dr Ionescu had alleged that there had been a similar case in 2007, when he was also accused of being the driver in a hit-and-run accident, but was eventually let off as he had an alibi at that time. MFA told Ambassador Neagu that if these media reports had accurately quoted Dr Ionescu, then he had made very serious allegations against the integrity of the Singapore Government which MFA categorically rejected as lacking any basis in fact. These allegations were also a gross insult to the victims of the two accidents. Dr Ionescu's claim that he had been accused of being the driver in a hit-and-run accident in 2007 is entirely false. Our records show that the Romanian Embassy vehicle S3401CD was involved in two traffic accidents in 2007. The first was a minor non-injury accident where the driver was not Dr Ionescu and the other driver did not wish to pursue the matter. In the second case, it was established then that Dr Ionescu, who was the driver, was not at fault and action was taken against the other driver involved in the accident. These facts clearly show that Dr Ionescu's claims are fictitious and at no time was he ever accused by the Police of being the driver in a hit-and-run accident in 2007. MFA also asked Ambassador Neagu for more information on the status of the criminal proceedings in Romania against Dr Ionescu, and on the Romanian system of investigations and prosecutions. The next step will depend on the Romanian Government's response to our requests and the outcome of the Coroner's Inquiry." . . . . . MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SINGAPORE 11 FEBRUARY 2010 Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore  Read More →