a) the author claims that it is the Burmese fault that they never asked. But that would be the same as an educated lawyer going to places with ignorant villagers and asking the villagers to trade their land for a radio player. Technically, the lawyer is not cheating the villagers. It is an equal exchange between two adults with all the 4 basic elements of a contract available. Perhap, its just the fault of the villagers who never asked about the price. Perhaps the lawyer just said that it was fairly expensive. No one is lying and everyone feels good. I’m sure the author thinks so too.

Had Mr Chee got the petition simply for the plight of the Burmese, who would have despised his actions? The Singapore Goverment might even have paid for an air ticket for him. Though for pragmatic reason or concern for their fellow asians, I wouldn’t be able to tell.

No politician is ever fully committed to the greater good, there is always something at stake personally, whether out of Pride or Sense of Accomplishment. But as long as the law is followed, no one can argue that something is wrong. Its just a simple matter of something we called Ethics that’s bothering those who are complaining.

To make it more simple, think of someone who is collecting money for the needy. Singaporeans who are Poor!!! Orphans!!! And they show you pictures of adorable young children.

3 months later, you find out that its for poor adults in their early 20s who are technically an orphan because both their parents are dead and the picture was them when they were young. How would you feel?

http://whatotherssay.wordpress.com/2007/10/07/one-world-one-understanding-one-heart-but-please-keep-your-problems-to-yourself/

That is the only reason I can think of to explain his ignorance in his content – and his accusation.

Having been at the embassy several times (5, if I recall correctly), I can tell you that those who went up to the table to sign the petition were told and explained what the two petitions were for.

Yes, it is explained to them that one is for the Burmese ambassador and the other is to be sent to the PM of S’pore.

MM Aung’s letter is clearly written without any verification of the truth.

What is more appalling to me is that the Straits Times would allow such a letter to be published – and then refuse to publish Dr Chee’s reply letter.

And MM Lee had the gall to, just a few days, say that our media is “credible”?

Makes me laugh, really.

http://bacts.blogspot.com/2007/10/world-effort-has-made-difference-for.html

Would you expect PAP (=gov?) or any other APs (besides SDP) to do anything FOR THE BURMESE people on the ground? At least, someone did. Dr Chee did whatever is possible. Let’s be honest here, most of us would not like to be the ones standing at the embassy.

If you are waiting for the SG government to do something for the Burmese people here, your wait is over. They talked, talked and still talking.

I went down to sign the petition. There were two letters placed next to the petition that Chee Siok Chin told me were the letters to be sent out. The first was addressed to the Myanmar ambassador to Singapore telling him to tell his government to stop killing their people. The second was addressed to PM Lee telling him to stop arms sales to Myanmar. I read both of them carefully. Only after being satisfied that it wasn’t exploitative of the situation did I sign it.

So it’s not “innocent people” who did not know that the petition was also directed at the Singapore Government. It was careless people (if any) who did not bother to read what they were signing off on.

At least CSJ took some form of action and brought more awareness and publicity to this issue.

Clearly that is not the case.