TR EMERITUS

From our Correspondent According to a Sunday Times report, there is an increase in the number of Singapore teenagers and pre-pubescent children having sex. (read report here) Youth counsellors and social workers have pinned the blame collectively on the internet for stirring the interest of children in sex and the widespread availability of pornographic sites which can be easily accessed with the click of mouse. The Singapore Children's Society said it has handled two cases of under-12s having sex this year, while the Andrew and Grace Home for troubled teenage girls reported two cases in the last two years. In one case, the child was only 10. Besides overseas pornographic sites offering explicit content for viewing, local chatrooms, blogs and advertising portals have played an increasingly important role in promoting promiscuous sexual activity in the young. The number 1 sex forum in Singapore - Sammyboyforum (SBF) has an online readership larger than Channel News Asia, Straits Times and TODAY - a testament to the enduring appeal of sex in Singapore. Forumers post their sexual experiences with their girlfriends, colleagues, strangers and prostitutes on the forum and exchanged contacts of "freelancers" with one another liberally. The "performance" of their sex partners are assessed with a standard template of FR or field report using abbreviations like HJ, BJ, FJ, AR etc with scores out of 10, typical ending with a "RTF" - or return to f**k, a positive answer being a ringing endorsement of the sexual experience. A SBF forumer by the name of Gary Ng stirred a furore recently when he uploaded videos of his sexual exploits to youtube and his blog. The short clips depicted him having sex with women from the age of 18 to 40. The youngest girl was his first cousin and the oldest was a beer woman in her 40s. Freelance prostitutes also made use of the forum to solicit customers, some of whom are models and undergraduates who demanded a "premium" for their services. A high-end escort will cost more than $500 a night while a student in one of Singapore's three universities more than $200. There are also housewives, peidu-mamas and foreign visitors on social visit pass advertising their services on the forum with links to their own personal blogs complete with field reports, statistics and raunchy photos. Nowadays, one need not go to a red-light district in order to satisfy one's sexual urge. A visit to Sammyboyforum will suffice to get some "contacts" who may turn out to be your neighbor next door. The rising cost of living might have contributed to the increase in the number of undergraduates taking up such "freelance" work to finance their studies though there were no academic research done on the subject, An article published on an international university journal,UPIU last year recounted the personal experience of Lynn, a third year economics major from the National University of Singapore who worked part-time as a social escort: "While most other undergraduates are asleep at night, Lynn trades her casual wear for a wardrobe of resplendent dresses and works as a social escort, a job scorned and labelled distasteful by most. From 8 p.m. to about 4 a.m. the next morning, she entertains male clients by attending functions with them, indulging them in a drink and chat, or by providing what she called “discreet services.” “It’s not exactly the most glamorous of jobs,” Lynn said. “I’m keeping it from my parents and most friends. But what to do? I have to eat my meals and pay my bills.” (Source: UPIU) The proliferation of online advertising portals such as ST701, Mocca, yahoo and sgads is a boon to freelancers plying their trade online. Just a few days ago, cyberspace was rocked by reports of a Singapore polytechnic student "Christine" prostituting herself online in order to pay for her mother's medical bills. The post was taken down after the sensational headlines hit tabloids in both Singapore and Malaysia. (read article here) [Christine's photo on ST707] In an article written by The Star Columnist Seah Chiang Nee, it was found in a lifestyle survey that 60 out of 1,000 students aged between 13 and 15 years were having sex. A sample of some recent headlines: * A woman says she is hoping to breed “beautiful mixed blood children” with a Caucasian man, saying: “I can bring the child up by myself if necessary.” * An 18 year-old student is openly selling worn-cum-unwashed thongs, panties and bras online, reports China Press. *TV and radio celebrity Jamie Yeo, 31, blogs about losing her virginity at 18, and telling the men it is their duty to romance women, “and don’t forget, you need us. We bear you children.” *A web advertisement on MediaCorp classifieds website mocca.com declares: “Female student escorts in 3-star hotel; 90 minutes for S$170.” In a weekend report headline: “Sharp rise in girls under 16 having sex”, The Sunday Times quoted the police as saying 310 girls below the age of 16 were caught having consensual underage sex last year, a 45% annual increase. “In most cases, the boys are also teenagers, though they are sometimes in their 20s or even 30s,” it said. Singapore may have one of the lowest birth rates in the world, but Singaporeans are definitely not sexually ignorant or inactive. The reason for our fertility may stem more from the reluctance of couples' to have children rather than low libido. Related articles: >> Gary Ng: I secretly filmed women in bed >> Gary Ng: I had sex with my first cousin >> PRC prostitutes solicit for customers on Singapore’s cyberspace >> Coping with a sexual revolution  Read More →

By Seah Chiang Nee from The Star CONSERVATIVE in upbringing and conditioned by strict laws, Singaporeans are moving into a sexual revolution that was unimaginable two decades ago. The Republic has no history-changing catalyst like Woodstock 1969, a three-day festival of Hippie music, unfettered drugs and free sex that redefined sexual values in the West. And after going through the details, I believe that such a mass display of sexual promiscuity and lawlessness in New York will unlikely happen in Asia, or be repeated in the US. But modern Singapore has a catalyst that is as influential as 100 Woodstocks in the form of the Internet, with its host of social networking sites as well as the latest mobile technology. Its influence has given rise to a new set of values that many Singaporeans may not even be aware of — a sexual revolution that was unimaginable to its founding fathers. One saving grace that is preventing a rapid aggravation is the rational approach to life of most Singaporeans. They are a generally hard-working people who take life and family seriously, and not given to excesses. The change has, however, put paid the puritan post-independent values envisaged by Mr Lee Kuan Yew. From pre-marital or extra-marital sex to nudity and liberal values, the people’s idea of what is sexually acceptable or not is being redefined outside the control of any central authority. Some 46% of Singaporean youths, for example, think it is okay to have sex before marriage. The biggest impact is felt among school and college students where 24% have admitted in a survey that they were sexually active. Some are as young as 13 or 14 years old, with a handful of pre-teens. The latest online fad that is catching on is sexting in which teenage girls are persuaded or are pressured into posing naked to be photographed or video-filmed. These are then posted online or transmitted to others by mobile-phone. Reporting the new trend, the Chinese-language daily Wan Bao said some students are doing it for fun or to gain popularity. For others, it is considered an attractive pickup line to get a date. “I think this is very cool”, replied a 22 years old local student when interviewed. A new graduate from an Australian university explained to me why she loved to pose in G-strings: “What is the point of having a great body if you can’t flaunt it. When you grow old, no one would even want to look at you.” At the same time, sending each other sexually suggestive content is also gaining fashion. In recent months, there are rising webcam cases of students, some of them in school uniforms, filmed in intimate public acts, oblivious of onlookers’ presence. Wives openly blog about their affairs with colleagues and couples have written about group sex activities. In March, a 32 year-old teacher was sentenced to 10 months jail and fined S$10,000 (RM24,370) for having sex with a minor, a 15 year-old student under her charge. This was the first such case in Singapore’s history. Two months later, a woman stall assistant was arrested for having sex on seven occasions with a 13 year-old boy. It was found in a lifestyle survey that 60 out of 1,000 students aged between 13 and 15 years were having sex. A sample of some recent headlines: * A woman says she is hoping to breed “beautiful mixed blood children” with a Caucasian man, saying: “I can bring the child up by myself if necessary.” * An 18 year-old student is openly selling worn-cum-unwashed thongs, panties and bras online, reports China Press. *TV and radio celebrity Jamie Yeo, 31, blogs about losing her virginity at 18, and telling the men it is their duty to romance women, “and don’t forget, you need us. We bear you children.” *A web advertisement on MediaCorp classifieds website mocca.com declares: “Female student escorts in 3-star hotel; 90 minutes for S$170 (RM414).” In a weekend report headline: “Sharp rise in girls under 16 having sex”, The Sunday Times quoted the police as saying 310 girls below the age of 16 were caught having consensual underage sex last year, a 45% annual increase. “In most cases, the boys are also teenagers, though they are sometimes in their 20s or even 30s,” it said. It often comes as a shock to parents to discover that instead of studying in their room, their children have, in fact, been indulging in online sexual activities. The political leaders have long rated social – particularly family – stability as important as economic well-being to Singapore’s future. The family is the basic building block of the nation, Lee often tells his people; if it is dysfunctional, the nation fails. To prevent cultural contamination, the Government has erected a protective shield around the island in the form of harsh censorship and controlled nightlife. That was before the arrival of the new technology, which is overriding many of Lee’s laws. What matters most these days will increasingly be dependent on the collective common sense of Singaporeans, rather than on regulations. A retired teacher in his 70s is optimism about the future generation: “When I was a boy, my parents used to cane me whenever I misbehaved which was often. Every generation worries about its ‘misbehaving’ but they almost always grow into fine parents.” What are evolving are cultural values. What is bad today may well be tomorrow’s norm. “Look at casino gambling or compensating to organ donors, once punishable by law, are now perfectly acceptable,” he added. Source: The Star  Read More →

Extracted from the Singapore Rebel by Martyn See Dr Lim Hock Siew Speaks from Singapore Prison (Date - 18.3.1972) (through his legal adviser) (Released by Dr Beatrice Chia, wife of Dr Lim Hock Siew) I and hundreds of others were arbitrarily arrested on the 2nd of February, 1963. Many are still in prison. Ever since that day, we were, and are, unjustly and arbitrarily detained in prison without any kind of trial whatsoever for over 9 years. We have gone through various kinds of persecution, struggles, hardships and difficulties during this very long period of over nine years of detention in prison. Recently an unusual development took place. On the 13th of January, 1972, I was taken to the Headquarters of the Special Branch at Robinson Road where I was detained for 40 days together with my brother, Lim Hock Koon. Two high-ranking special branch agents of the P.A.P. regime indicated to me that if I were to issue a public statement of repentance, I would be released. They told me that 9 years had passed since the date of my arrest and that it was time that my case be settled. They admitted that 9 years was a long time. I told them that it was pointless to remind me of this long period. A week after my transfer to the Special Branch Headquarters, the same two high-ranking employees spelt out the conditions of my release. They demanded from me two things. They are as follows: - (1) That I make an oral statement of my past political activities, that is to say, "A security statement." This was meant for the Special Branch records only, and not meant for publication. (2) That I must issue a public statement consisting of two points : - (a) That I am prepared to give up politics and devote to medical practice thereafter. (b) That I must express support for the Parliamentary democratic system. I shall now recall and recapitulate the conversation that took place between me and the same two high-ranking Special Branch agents during my detention at the Special Branch Headquarters. Special Branch - You need not have to condemn the Barisan Sosialis or any person. We admit that it is unjust to detain you so long. 9 years is a long time in a person's life; we are anxious to settle your case. Dr Lim Hock Siew - My case will be settled immediately if I am released unconditionally. I was not asked at the time of my arrest whether I ought to be arrested. Release me unconditionally and my case is settled. Special Branch - The key is in your hands. It is for you to open the door. Dr Lim Hock Siew - To say that the key is in my hands is the inverted logic of gangsters in which white is black and black is white. The victim is painted as the culprit and the culprit is made to look innocent. Four Gurkha soldiers were brought to my house to arrest me. I did not ask or seek arrest or the prolonged detention for over 9 years in prison without trial. Special Branch - You must concede something so that Lee Kuan Yew would be in a position to explain to the public why you had been detained so long. Mr Lee Kuan Yew must also preserve his face. If you were to be released unconditionally, he will lose face. Dr Lim Hock Siew - I am not interested in saving Lee Kuan Yew's face. This is not a question of pride but one of principle. My detention is completely unjustifiable and I will not lift a single finger to help Lee Kuan Yew to justify the unjustifiable. In the light of what you say, is it not very clear that I have lost my freedom all these long and bitter years just to save Lee Kuan Yew's face? Therefore the P.A.P. regime's allegation that I am a security risk is a sham cover and a facade to detain me unjustifiably for over 9 years. My stand on the Making of a Secret Oral Security Statement for the records of the Special Branch I cannot and will not make any statement to condemn my past political activities. My past political activities were absolutely legitimate and proper. Whatever I had done or said was in the interest of and in the service of the masses of our people and of our country. Even an accused person need not say anything to incriminate or to condemn himself. Why should I who am arbitrarily detained without any kind of trial for over 9 years be coerced to act as an agent to the Special Branch by making a secret deal behind the backs of the masses? I resolutely reject this demand. Furthermore, I have not the slightest obligation to account my past political activities to Lee Kuan Yew. A. My Stand on the Demand of Making a Public Statement I completely reject in principle the issuing of any public statement as a condition of my release. This is a form of public repentance. History has completely vindicated my position. I was arrested for opposing merger with "Malaysia" because I held the view that "Malaysia" was a British sponsored neo-colonialist product and the creation of "Malaysia", far from uniting our people and our country, would cause greater dis-unity and dissension among our people. I believe that the formation of Malaysia would be a step backward and not forward in our struggle for national unity. I have nothing to repent, to recant or to reform. If anything I have become more reinforced in my convictions, more reaffirmed in my views and more resolute to serve the people of Malaya fully and whole-heartedly. I have nothing to concede to Lee Kuan Yew. By right, he should make a public repentance to me and not I to him. B. My Stand on the Demand that I must give up Politics in Exchange for my Release I hold the view that these two demands are self-contradictory, because if there is democracy, I need not give up politics. The fact that I had been detained for over 9 years in order to coerce me to give up politics is proof enough that there is no parliamentary democracy. The question of taking part on politics is a fundamental right of the people. An indirect offer was made to me to leave Singapore for further studies. I have replied to the P.A.P. regime that if I had to leave the country at any time, it must be on my own free volition and not under coercion by the P.A.P regime. C. My Stand on the Demand for support for Parliamentary System I hold the view that to support the P.A.P. regime's so-called parliamentary system would mean giving the public and the masses a false impression that there exist today a genuine parliamentary democratic system in Singapore Island. It is an undeniable and unforgettable fact that comrade LEE TSE TONG who was elected by the people of Singapore in the 1963 General Elections, was arbitrarily arrested and detained without trial soon after he was elected. Subsequently, he was deprived of his citizenship and he is still under detention as a so-called "banishee" in prisoner's clothes in Queenstown prison. The arbitrary arrest and prolonged detention of Comrade Lee Tse Tong affords concrete proof that the so-called parliamentary democracy is a cruel mockery. It does not exist in Singapore Island. Giving support to such a sham parliamentary system means complete betrayal of the people. I will never betray the people of my country under any circumstance. Bitter sacrifice strengthens bold resolve. Parliamentary democracy does not mean merely casting of votes once in 5 years during election time. Far more important than this is the freedom of thought, the freedom of expression, the freedom of association, the freedom of organisation everyday during the 5 years period and continuously thereafter. I was arrested when the Barisan Sosialis was actively participating in the parliamentary system. For such participation, the colonial government, the Lee Kuan Yew and Rahman regimes had rewarded me with over 9 years of imprisonment. This again amply indicates the utter shamness of the so-called parliamentary democratic system. After over 9 years of detention, I am now asked to give support to their so-called parliamentary system in order to secure my release. I firmly refuse to give my support for the sham and illusory democracy in Singapore Island. My Stand on the Request by the Agents of the P.A.P. Regime to Concede something to save Lee Kuan Yew's Face Since history has fully vindicated my stand and my position, Lee Kuan Yew should openly and publicly repent to me and to all other political detainees, now unjustifiably detained in prison. By right a just and proper base for my release from my prolonged and unjustifiable detention (and this equally applies to all political detainees now under unjustifiable detention) should be : - (a) Our unconditional and immediate release from detention and the complete restoration of all our democratic and human rights. (b) Payment of adequate compensation to me and to all other political detainees for the prolonged and unjustifiable detention in prison. (c) The issuance of public apology by Lee Kuan Yew to me. We are willing and prepared to concede the last two conditions as listed above. We do not believe that an arrogant man like Lee Kuan Yew will apologise or to compensate us. On the first condition that is to say, our demand for unconditional and immediate release from detention, and for the complete restoration of all our democratic and human rights - we must resolutely say : WE WILL NEVER CONCEDE, BITTER SACRIFICE STRENGTHENS BOLD RESOLVE. Source: Singapore Rebel  Read More →