Excerpts from TODAY:
Call it the touch of the unusual in Singapore politics. He has been jailed six times, hauled to court for defaming Singapore’s top political leadership and has even taken his civil disobedience campaign to an American university — where the then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong was to receive an honorary degree — by attending a forum organised by those who had opposed the award.
And most recently, he publicly grilled two of Singapore’s most powerful men — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew — in a high-profile defamation case. The lawyer for the Lees described the defendants’ actions and statements in court as political theatre.
But what is it that drives this 46-year-old former Anglo Chinese School student with a doctorate from the University of Georgia to engage in a form of noisy political brinkmanship with civil-disobedience style resistance as the centrepiece of that struggle?
Click here for the full article.
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the most respect ful person of the year.
I don’t think Dr Chee has any game plan. He just need to bring awareness to the world and the public of how Kangaroo our court is if we question the court and its integrity in the light of LKY and his coffers. How can the court balantly declared its integrity and impartiality where in the beginning the court obviously side with LKY and his son ? So the coffers think that Singaporean is moronic and as dumb as before ?
Here is an interesting angle from the paper:
PAP’s Chong told Weekend Xtra that he is personally saddened to see Chee walk towards self-destruction through his “strange actions”.
“I always have some degree of sympathy for those who are abnormal or appear to be challenged in some way or another,” he added.
Looks like the PAP are going for a new line of attack. Branding Chee as “abnormal” or “challenged” — i.e. questioning his mental state.
So to the PAP, questioning the state == mental instability??
If you label CSJ a psychopath, then Mahatma Gandhi must have been the greatest serial killer of our time. I am more concern with the general public not able to see through any propaganda.
Tan Ah Kow,
I definitely do not think Dr Chee is strange or abnormal, but rather I think the Singaporeans are strange and abnormal beings knowing that they have face exploitation, PayAndPay and suffer from loss of getting CPF (Who knows if you even can get CPF especially LKY and coffers no longer around to be responsible ?) and yet still choose to suffer in silence and adaptable to the PAP’s policy and unjust law.
PAP is indeed bless to have such submissive and subservient citizen that they can easily exploit and profit from. Long live the King !
I think instead of asking: “What is Chee Soon Juan’s game plan?”, the better question to ask is: “What is the PAP govt’s game plan?”
Interesting to note:
Last week, during the defamation case in court, Lee Kuan Yew described CSJ as “near psychopath”.
Then, today, we have PAP MP Charles Chong digging up what Chiam See Tong said in the past about Chee – “a megalomaniac”.
And in the Straits Times today, Chua Lee Hoong (who never fails to jump in to support LKY), says Chee could be suffering from “antisocial personality disorder”.
Quite clear: Seems like the PAP’s new game plan to contain Chee is to make him into a mad man of sorts.
The thing is, all 3 who described Chee as having some kind of mental sickness are all non-doctors or experts in what they alleged.
Even sadder: That our govt has become so hopelessly pathetic that they’d need to go to such lengths to destroy someone. Indeed, we live in a ‘compassionate, gentle, tolerant”, ‘first world country’.
A City of Possibilities indeed – where it is totally possible for the govt to call you and describe you as anything they want, even if they themselves are no experts in what they accuse others of.
Sad. Really sad.
Andrew Loh ,
“The thing is, all 3 who described Chee as having some kind of mental sickness are all non-doctors or experts in what they alleged.”
No surprise, LKY even do it to Devan Nair, ex-president of Singapore
http://www.singapore-window.org/sw99/90329gm.htm
“In fact, the suit also took issue with defamatory allegations that Nair made against Lee, and Lee agreed to discontinue it only when two of Nair’s sons issued a statement, reported in the Globe and Mail on July 1, 2004, maintaining that Nair was no longer mentally competent to give evidence in court.”
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/12/22/opinion/edlet.php
The same tactics that used against Chia Thye Poh to force him to admit he is a communist so that PAP can justify detaining him for decades. But Chia did not concede. In the end, Chia rather maintain his innocence rather than to live with guilt to appease the regime. So for decades, MSM continues to publish the news that Chia is a communist. Now can we say that LKY not a liar ? Is he or is he not , the citizen will by now know better. By the way, what not LKY says that detaining Chia is a honest mistake (maybe the words not invent then)
http://www.singapore-window.org/sw00/001014mk.htm
What kind of abnormal and strange thing LKY can’t do ?
The Chee siblings have done their part and it is now up to the ordinary people in sheep city to take stock and let their votes do the talking. It will be a boost if the international community, especially the U.S and Europe find a way to convince the emperor that it is not a bad idea to have a large number of their representatives witness, report and provide full coverage on sheep city during elections. Opportunity for the emperor to showcase to the world that it is free and fair.
I don’t think Chee is anywhere near Gandhi or King. Have you ever wondered:
Why Chee has not received any Nobel Prize or Congressional Award unlike Aun San Suu Kyi?
Why the UN/US has never launched any sanctions against Singapore despite what has been exposed?
Show me the post that suggested Chee is comparable to Gandhi or King. Is it wrong for Chee or anyone else to take inspiration from such great men and try to make a “little” difference ? And are you suggesting that if a person has not won any significant award, he is not worthy to participate in politics in any capacity ? Have you ever wondered why there are so few men in this world that can measure up to those great men, and not just CSJ ? By the way, that includes the emperor of sheep city. Have you ever wondered why only a handful of men/women in this world have a chance to win a Nobel prize each year ? What about any of your political masters ? Do any of them even have a sniff of the awards mentioned ? The underhand politics in sheep city is insidious and the international community is aware. It will be a folly if concerned citizens waited for UN/US to apply sanctions before engaging the ruling party. It is important to show the rest of the world that we made an effort to help ourselves and PERHAPS they may decide that the people in sheep city are worth the while. So for the time being, can we all safely assume everything is just wonderful in sheep city , go about our work and leave the politics to your political masters ?
This is a classic case of David vs Goliath. I was the one who compared CSJ to Gandhi earlier. Gandhi was never a politician, he was more of a humanitarian. I guess that’s what we need here.
I don’t particularly support any opposition party in Singapore, simply because these parties or its members are too patronizing towards the ruling party, increasingly day by day (Yaw Shin Leong, LTK, CST). Is this behaviour a result of defamation suits? Of course!
Questions to Singapore voters: Do we really need the PAP’s endorsement before we choose the right opposition? Do you really think PAP wants a “whistle blower” anywhere near Parliament House?
This is a hypothetical question: Had people like CSJ or JBJ been parliament, would the COI readings by Wong Kan Seng been the same. Would we have settled then with what we were given? Would Wong Kan Seng accountability been at stake? We just have a weak opposition in parliament who fumble on their own words.
CSJ stands out because he stands up for his beliefs. He was never deterred despite being condemned by everyone including the general public or sued by the first world government. Is he suicidal? Maybe but you sure need guts to do it.
On the contrary to what Chua Lee Hoong says, I think Chee Soon Juan is more capable then we give him credit for.
Sadly though unlike CSJ, Gandhi & Martin Luther King had the support of their people.
If OBAMA wins the US presidency, our gahmen will be in a sticky situation. LKY do not like Democrats because it is against his plan all along. Dr Chee might be hoping for a OBAMA win and Democrats really are against Human Rights Abuse in any countries. Clinton never look at our gahmen favorably during his terms. The thing about OBAMA is he is a humble and resourceful leader and he knows ASIAN culture quite well. He might influence ASEAN to step up their human rights record further if he wins the presidency. By Jan 22, we will all know who is the next US president.
He is the new face of US politics that dont believe in patronage. Sometimes money just cant buy your soul not like in sinkapore.
Chua, got your soul back from the devil?
1965: LKY total power in Singapore. Why didn’t LBJ (of the US) attack Singapore? Too busy with Vietnam?
1980s: Marxist arrests. Why no big hoo-hah from the UN? The US/UK? too busy with the Soviet Threat?
Defamation Suits: Why no criticism from the US, UNHCR, other western promoters of Human Rights? Are cases like Zimbawe more critical to address?
1992: Why did the US choose Singapore as their Pacific logstics base, knowing that it is a dictatorial regime?
Again no one has answered: Why hasn’t Chee and Co. received any Peace Prize while the Dalai Lama and Aun San Suu Kyi are seen as promoters of freedom? Is Tibet and Myanmmar different from Singapore?
Broader picture: No SEA nation is fully democratic (not in the Western sense_ and there are so many cases of abuses of HR. Why no big international outcry against Singapore and its neighbours? Why no trade embargo?
You don’t censure an ally, do you?You don’t nag at your useful “friend, do you? Can close 2 eyes,close 2 eyes to make life a lot easier especially a friendly naval base and a strategic presence is at stake. Ms Claire C, you are naive. IIt’s all wayang and the world is a big stage for this wayang. US always plays the lead role and the supporting roles can go to any one. All those peace prizes or HR awards are manipulations to soothe and massage the ego of these people to get them on their side.. Outcry is selective, just like our outcry as long we don’t go over board. It is diplomatic wayang.
Could it be because of you, Claire? And people like you? :)
“I don’t think Chee is anywhere near Gandhi or King. Have you ever wondered:
Why Chee has not received any Nobel Prize or Congressional Award unlike Aun San Suu Kyi?”
The answer is simple. There is no sign of mass violence or death arising from the protest against the government in Singapore. The government does not resort to violence (at least as seen from public) to suppress protest (at least not now, hopefully not in the future eg LKY says that military will interfere due to freak result in election).”If I have to shoot 200,000 students to save China from another 100 years of disorder, so be it.” – Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew evoking the ghost of Deng Xiaoping whilst endorsing the Tiananmen Square massacre, Straits Times, Aug 17, 2004 http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Lee_Kuan_Yew
Note that those who achieve nobel prize put their own life before others, and usually the emotional and physical struggle to obtain the freedom against oppression touch those around the world so hard to warrant them of Nobel Prize. And Nobel Prize is not something that just give easily. This doesn’t mean that we should downplay those who did not achieve Nobel Prize for their effort.
Claire C ,
To my best of knowledge, there is none that able to achieve the Nobel Peace Prize if the person did not help in effort to seek peace settlement that could result in endless massive death.
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/
I do not think that Dr Chee will get a nobel prize not because he does not deserve it but because the situation does not warrant it.
The you all believe what GN siad. Singapore was and never is economically progressive. That means economists and politicians got the East Asian Miracle wrong.
How sad.
Claire C ,
“The you all believe what GN siad. Singapore was and never is economically progressive. That means economists and politicians got the East Asian Miracle wrong.”
as a Singaporean I could agree with you. I have been reading The Singapore Miracle and it reveals the shocking truth. Do I believe the book ? Why not ? After all it quotes source from MSM, well-known magazine, LKY, ministers, and more importantly, some of which can be seen it from the ground. If this book is rubbish, it will have been banned or sued by LKY, ministers. Rather it is available in Border and some Popular bookstores show how true it is.
Singapore is a great marketing story that very successful due its control of mainstream media. I live till 2000 believing the hype and deceit of the government, now I know they are all mainly for themselves. I believe Singapore will go far if it is politically opened but now I almost lost hope of it. The society created by the coffers has deteriorated due to its love of materialism and $$$, and the great influx of foreigner means it is going to go downstream further since Singapore doesn’t has a strong culture in the first place.
Surreal and pathetic, isn’t it ?
Dear Claire,
Must we be condemned or chastised by the international community before you think there is something wrong with us? reminds me of our colonial roots where we look to our “white” masters for orders and advice because we are “inferior”.
a wrong is a wrong. whether it is recognized or not change the fact that it is wrong. don’t you think something is wrong with singapore?
Tell your story to all the economists who got it wrong. There was no miracle story in the island or in Southeast Asia. East Asia never grew!!!
It is not about condemnation. it is about playing the political game. None of you have answered the question on why there is no harsh criticism of East Asian Human Rights since ther various countries independence. None of you have answered why save Vietnam and Cambodia, there was no US intervention.
East Asia never grew economically to all of you.
Claire C ,
“East Asia never grew economically to all of you.”
Perhaps Asia did grew economically albeit at expense of human right etc cheap labour, exploitative work hours and low wages.
“why there is no harsh criticism of East Asian Human Rights”
The history of Chinese and Asia traditional and culture might shred some light to it. Respect to the authority, obedient to senior, loyalty, no questioning of authority and senior etc have been passed down generation from generation, and education has been used to imbue such moral and practise.
Politically ? Yes, they are of the same musical chair.
I meant from the West Daniel.
Following suit, let’s take what GN said. Albania has a higher democratic ranking than a certain island. Does that mean Albanians are happy and free and have a better life that the city state islanders?
Infant mortality rate:
total: 19.31 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) (Of Albania from CIA world factbook)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$11.2 billion (2007 est.)
GDP – real growth rate:
5% (2007 est.)
GDP – per capita (PPP):
$5,500 (2007 est.) (Albania)
Vs:
Infant mortality rate:
total: 2.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 2.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$222.7 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$153.5 billion (2007 est.)
GDP – real growth rate:
7.5% (2007 est.)
GDP – per capita (PPP):
$48,900 (2007 est.)
(island)
Claire C, From your many posts , I have to conclude that you are out of sync with the netizens who provided you with reasonable explanations. Do you really understand what the rest of the netizens are getting at ? For example, What has winning a Nobel prize got to do with Chee who is standing up to the despot. Did Chee in anyway indicate that he aspires to win a Nobel prize ? Please read my previous post which clearly mentioned that Chee took inspiration from the great men, Gandhi, King, and is just trying his best to make a little difference for the people in sheep city. It does not matter if many do not agree with his way of doing things, because Chee has never advocated any form of violence or instigated widespread chaos. And again in my previous post I suggested that the US/UN try to convince our emperor to showcase to the world that the elections are free and fair. The netizens are thinking hard on solutions to level the playing field for future elections. Your question in one of your numerous posts implied that since the US/UN did not attack Singapore , then Singapore cannot be that bad under the present regime. Sanctions alone will be absolutely disastrous for Singapore and we do not need this type of intervention. The underhand politics that has been going on is insidious and I believe you are naive. Claire, you may feel comfortable with the political situation in Singapore , but there are many citizens who are not. The political system that has generated success for the country in the early years, is being abused by the emperor who created it in the first place. So I hope you will eventually understand that a strong alternative party is needed to provide the check and balance. Surely you are aware of the numerous policies screwing the people good and proper.
“1992: Why did the US choose Singapore as their Pacific logstics base, knowing that it is a dictatorial regime?”
The same reason why the US supports the Shah of Iran and Saddam Hussein of Iraq and the King of Saudi Arabia. Except that we do not have oil but a deep sea harbour.
who speak for and help the people of singapore ?? leaders of this country is always looking from a helicopter view and always wants the people to suffer and tighten our belt during bad times but when time for their accountability & pay rise, they just ignore us. At least CSJ speak up for us without fear of persecution. dear leader , come down from your helicopter view before yr helicopter crash during next election. anyway i wish it crash soon cos we are sick of the whole lot of u elite uncaring face. and to the MPs who agrees to their sickening pay rise with old man & son, u people only care for yourself. money is the best medicine for yr sick soul. just monkey see monkey do. leaders with no soul. go work for money then, don’t join PUBLIC SERVICE. join MONEY SERVICE like Judas.
Chee will never be a Gandhi or King. Aun San Suu Kyi is.
Curious88, the US has been experiencing a steady erosion of Constitutional rights for the last 7 years, and given the apathy of the average American who’s more worried about his job running away to China, and his kids who may never afford their own home.. it’s not that different in the end.
Strategic interests make the world go round..in this aspect, we’ve done pretty well to capitalise on our position.
“Chee will never be a Gandhi or King. Aun San Suu Kyi is”. Are you obsessed with this comparison ? A better comparison that you should take note, is that Chee will never be as despicable as your political masters. Do you know that the government of Singapore is a steadfast supporter of the Burmese junta, and your heroine Aun San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for umpteen years ? Seriously, you should write to her and ask what she thinks of the Singapore government . And I also suggest that you go to the most recent blog on Chee and post your comments there.
Clair C
Whether Chee can be a Gandhi, King & Aun San Suu Kyi. Only time will tell.
It will be the collective will of the people which is going to determine that – and not yours and mine alone. For every person like you who may disagree with Chee, there is always some other person who feels for him.
Chee has some situation that common people (not all of course) can relate to and you may have a situation that you can relate to with the system.
Nobel Prize can only be given once in a year in each of the different categories and I also cannot recall any of our leaders receiving any either.
If the system keeps on treating him like that and his case happens to be publicized to an outrageous level in the international areana at the right time / moment, he may well get nominated / selected one fine day. Fat hope? I would not want to count on that as life likes to throw out new surprises and you never know that the Nobel Prize committee may just give it to him just to drive some point across.
I’m sure outsiders know the truth about what’s happening here. If GN has placed us no different from Zimbawe or Myanmmar, what’s not stopping outsiders from being critical of the white clad leaders? As i said, why has East Asia never suffered the brunt of Human Rights criticisms from Western Nations.
I never said the rulers of any SEA country were democratic in principle. What i will say is that we have been spared the effects of neo-liberalism that has plagued Latin American and African Nations.
Or perhaps you all can believe GN that we never progressed economically.
Another question: Why couldn’t Ling How Dong, the SDP’s clear success story, hold on to his seat in parliment. Fault of the leadership again? or did he not have the grace of opponents washing hands?
It does not matter you have got flunked badly in your PSLE and GCE ‘O’ or ‘A’ level in your first attempt.
It also does not matter if you have achieved first rated (or 1st in your class or cohort) in your PSLE, GEO ‘O’ or ‘A’, university and holding a PHD.
It is not how you start the race. Results are measured on how you end the race.
All these achievements (indicative) are all history. It is the value or dis-value that your are bringing to the table now which is more important and each person has a different concept of value (or dis-value) in accordance with his own situation which may not coincide nicely as per the definition of our dear leaders .
” What is Chee Soon Juan’s game plan ? ” At his own expense, he ingeniously exposed the despicable system in sheep city and the ordinary people will find it almost impossible to ignore the recent events. The implication is very clear to everyone in sheep city and we seriously need to ask ourselves, is this the way to build a nation, bond with the people and move the country forward ? CSJ’s effort will not be in vain, if the people take stock, stay focused despite the expected distractions, and let their votes do the talking in 2011.