Main Stories, Top Story - Written on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 21:33 - 18 Comments
Operation Spectrum forum: breaking the ice after 22 years
Tng Ying Hui
Forty people comprising of social activists and members of the public gathered at the Diamond Room of Quality Hotel on Sunday June 28 to revisit Operation Spectrum.
22 years ago, in 1987, the government of then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew detained 22 Singaporeans under the Internal Security Act. They were accused of being involved in a Marxist plot to destabilize Singapore politically and socially. They were never charged in court.
As Mr Martyn See, organiser, social-activist and filmmaker, read excerpts from various books relating to the incident, those present were reminded of the torture, beatings and psychological manipulations that were inflicted on the detainees.
Without a designated speaker, the forum attendees took to the floor to share their opinions for three and a half hours.
“Ghost of ’87 is still very much lurking everywhere”
Ms Sylvia, who is in her early 50s, shared her experience of how students at the Catholic Student Association in the National University of Singapore (NUS) “had concerns about the 80s”. She was helping with the association’s 60th anniversary celebration then.
As the local Catholic Church had played a significant role in Operation Spectrum, the Church’s method of handling the issue was controversial.
“History haunts us,” Ms Sylvia said.
“Victims of injustice should not let live”
Mr Michael Fernandez, an ex-detainee, not of Operation Spectrum however, captivated the audience with his personal experience.
Mr Fernandez was a student in the University then, and a member of a socialist club which supported the ideas of Marxism for Singapore and Malaysia. He later joined the Naval Base Union to help workers obtain economic benefits, such as increase in pay, annual leave and medical leave. As previous negotiations were futile, they went on strike on October 7 1964. The government called his effort a “political issue” and detained him in Changi prison for 9 years.
“I paid a price for the views I held. No regrets,” said Mr Fernandez as he smiled and spoke of his past.
His experience raised questions of the government’s bona fide intentions in Operation Spectrum.
Mr Russell Heng, former Senior Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, said it was nearing the demise of the cold war, and therefore “in 1987 for a government to come out to say people are Marxist is shocking.”
“It is odd to fashion a whole internal detention on claims that are so flimsy and irrational, when Singapore’s government always pride themselves on being rational,” Mr Heng said.
“Capture the imagination of the public”
Beneath Mr See’s agenda of “breaking the ice on a taboo subject” hid complications of the silenced history. The question, “What were the detainees doing before going to prison?” asked by Mr Alex Au, social activist, was left unanswered, and perhaps lingered in the minds of many who had hoped that the detainees would be present to provide their personal experiences.
Mr Au asked for the counter narrative to the government’s story to be told in ways that would capture the imagination of the public. He also urged Singaporeans to break the boundaries and think of imaginative ways to speak up.
“[People] often play by the rules, think and act in linear ways rather than explore new continents,” he said.
Despite the importance of speaking up and thinking out of the box, the nagging suspicion of whether there is space for them to do so lingers. Without it, to be able to think freely becomes questionable.
To this Mr See said: “Our role as bloggers is to lessen the climate of fear and think freely.”
“What I can do as an individual?”
Singapore Democratic Party’s (SDP) Ms Chee Siok Chin raised this question while advocating for togetherness, personal commitment and conviction against PAP’s “divide and conquer” style, which denies the public a platform to challenge policies.
In furthering this point, Mr John Tan, Assistant Secretary General of the SDP, said that in order for Singapore to be a vibrant democracy, civil participation was needed. His suggestion to abolish the ISA did not materialize into a call to action when the forum ended, however. Despite being disappointed, he is not discouraged as the forum is “definitely a step forward”, he said.
With the availability of the internet, the government has to relinquish its grip on civil society. The incremental progression however, is considered “too slow” by Mr See.
In the future
The mood on the whole was not dampened by the absence of the detainees. Although two of them were scheduled to be present at the forum, they could not make it due to last minute changes in the date. There were a few, however, who expressed disappointment.
Mr Terence Teo, 26, a member of the audience, said, “[The event] would have been better if there were some detainees there to shed light on the whole issue. Or else it’s just speculation.”
Mr See intends to hold another forum to commemmorate Operation Coldstore which saw hundreds detained in 1963. He hopes to hold the event in February next year, this time with at least a designated speaker.
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For more on Operation Spectrum, read The Online Citizen’s special focus: Truth or Government Propaganda?
Also: Visit Martyn See’s blog here.
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18 Comments
#Strategy of winning…..
….sorry to spoil your party….
The US FTA will be down the drain soon……
LKY throwing names of Larry Summers won’t help too….
No White House admin is gonna give audience to your strategist…..
Going down the drain….or change will be the best strategy for the PAP….
Singaporeans will learn it soon….it is already hitting….. since, numbers don’t spike up by 123%……hahaha….
#1
Biggest blunder.
The ord S’porean found it hard to believe the govmin that they were Marxists who wanted to overthrow the state.
So the default mode of many of us- trusting the govmin – was lost.
Detainees, maybe you can find meaning for the troubles you went thru: Because of you, S’poreans learnt that the autocracy of the PAP was not as benign as they had tot.
#1
While I do agree that the PAP has done a good job during the 1980s in ensuring political stability and economical viability, in the 21st century it has failed to adapt to the changing needs and views of the new society. Instead, it has been imposing its concervative views on us.
And given how most of the educated community largely do not agree with PAP’s ways (no statistics, just personal observation), I wouldn’t be surprise if the PAP falls within the next few elections.
GRCs first introduced in the 1988 election, are a few of the key reasons why the PAP has 50% walkovers, 66% mandate and 90 over % seats at every election since then -> End of the day, who were the voters? We keep blaming PAP for their strategies, how about the end users who voted for them? Whatever the reasons, it is the citizens who decided whether they are for fear or personal gains.
PAP has up the ante with 9 NCMP scheme, they probably had done a lot of homework and survey to push for this. If they are not confident of winning, they wont risk. Kiasu and kiasu are their traits.
Why not someone form a formidable team and contest AMK GRC. Once and for all, the people can choose to decide if they want that family to continue to rule and pass on its leadership to their grandson and descendants.
#5 IMS….
Why can’t AMK become a few SMCs and contest……why is the PAP scared….
if they know and think that they are doing the right things for the people….any leader will take on his opponent…..
One of the main reason for Singapore to be in such downturns very so often is because we don’t have COMPETITION in politics,
to challenge views and debate on matters….
If the PAP still insist on curtailing competition in politics….then adious to them and Singapore…
So many things would have been different if political competition in the 80s had been allowed……we still would end up winners but with a bigger heart….
22 years after May 21st and June 20th 1987 « Jacob 69er
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Nice to know that you quoted what SDP members said as well. The mainstream media dehumanizes and smears them way too much.
# 6) prettyplace
yes they are damn scared of losing, what can you do? they dont want any opposition full stop. so what are you going to do abt it? dont expect them to give concession, just ask those voters on what they are going to do.
No detainees present?
Is it because they are under any restrictive order?
Fear of being detained again?
The Papies really know how to silence opposition.
one up for martyn see .. for re-visiting a past that e pap government had yet to justify.
thank you and god bless.
#11 Overseas Uncle
Have you ever been detained for 1 day? You are talking to people who were mistreated and tortured for months and years before they were released like fishes into the point. Who can persevere like Aung San Suyi?
And you expect the fishes to swim back to test water? You must be kidding.
Look like this incident is coming back to haunt LKY, PAP and those who are responsible. In future who knows this may even be included in our school’s history text books?
#5) IMS
‘Why not someone form a formidable team and contest AMK GRC.’
…………………………………………..
Why not you form a formidable team and contest AMK GRC?
I will not repeat what Tan K L & KopitiamApek had mentioned in TOC about expecting other people to come forward to fight against the mighty PAP.
FEAR of voting against the PAP is still in the air. FEAR of standing against the PAP in the GE is even greater. We must praise Mr Martyn See, organiser, social-activist and filmmaker for his bravery.
LKY was only worried of a freak GE result in a 1 to 1 contest. That is why he invented the GRCs and later reduced the orignal 45 SMCs to 9. Next GE it will be increased to 12. The PAP will win, 99.9% the next GE.
Interestingly, this event was report by The New Paper:
http://tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,206472,00.html
Will its editor get the rap from you know who?
We will wait and see.
To #16:
The TNP is unlikely to get a rap on the knuckles.If you look at the way the story is written, you will note the negative slant — that the event was perhaps an exercise in futility.
In other words, the general populace did not care too much about Operation Spectrum and all that it generated.
The TNP report can, in fact, be seen as an accurate reflection of what Singapore society is like today – politically apathetic, kiasu and probably more concerned about where to get the biggest BK in town.
So far from getting a rap, TNP might be hailed for accurately reflecting how contented our people are with the PAP at the helm, the injustices of Operation Spectrum notwithstanding.
17) GABRIEL
Maybe it is a bit a sweeping statement to brand the 4 million minus 40 people as “politically apathetic, kiasu and probably more concerned about where to get the biggest BK in town” just for not attending that event.
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Uncategorized - Jan 15, 2010 10:12 - 124 Comments
It is affordable – Mah Bow Tan
More In Uncategorized
- Rebutting Law Minister K Shanmugam
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Uncategorized - Jan 15, 2010 10:12 - 124 Comments
It is affordable – Mah Bow Tan
More In Uncategorized
- Rebutting Law Minister K Shanmugam
- Challenge of communication
- TOC & Talk Politics hold successful Year in Review forum
- “Live” from Post Museum – TOC’s Year End Review
- The Fajar Generation
I think Operation Spectrum, together with GRCs first introduced in the 1988 election, are a few of the key reasons why the PAP has 50% walkovers, 66% mandate and 90 over % seats at every election since then.
PAP had made brilliant strategic moves in 1987 and 1988. Of course also helped that the economy is doing OK or even well most of the time during those years.
And even if the economy is not doing well now, I believe these strategies has and will continue to pay off on the political front now for the next election.
Well done PAP.