The following article was first published on Martyn See’s blog, Singapore Rebel. The Online Citizen thanks Martyn See for allowing us to reproduce it here in full.
By Martyn See
Five years ago in the police station, I was interrogated by the police over the making of my documentary Singapore Rebel. Photographs and minutes of the Singapore Democratic Party’s (SDP) meetings and activities were produced in front me, and I was asked to identify faces in those snapshots. How did the photographs and minutes end up with the police? Did the police have moles planted in the opposition? Is Lee Kuan Yew an autocrat? You go figure.
What was unmistakable to me at that time was that there was a concerted attempt by the Government and the police to create a spectre of criminalization around Dr Chee Soon Juan and anything/anybody that he engages. The agenda couldn’t have been more plain : Isolate Chee, pick him off, and like Lee himself said many years ago as an opposition MP, the outcome would be that miraculously everything will be tranquil on the surface.
Last night, SDP held its 30th Anniversary bash at the Concorde Hotel. Amid the pomp and pageantry were about a hundred guests, including foreign diplomats, civil society activists and members of the opposition. Noticeably absent, and perhaps an indication that the Government’s decade-and-a-half campaign to marginalize Chee is still holding sway, is the no show from the entire Workers’ Party, including Low Thia Khiang and Sylvia Lim, and the founder of SDP himself, Chiam See Tong, now with the SPP. Strikingly, all three are currently the only opposition members of Singapore’s Parliament. Surprisingly, joining the list of absentees was a new kid of the opposition block, Kenneth Jeyaretnam of the Reform Party.
But having witnessed the trajectory of Chee’s political career – from the toil of libel suits, bankruptcy and relentless criticisms to the merrymaking last night – it was a kind of a miracle to behold. Not the tranquil kind that Lee alluded to, but of a coming around – For Chee, his party and the people who now saw no fear to be seen fraternizing with the Government’s favourite whipping boy.
There is also a coming around of sorts with the authorities. Two years ago, Government censors showed up with the police to seize a dvd of a film premiere organized by the SDP. (see video here and here). Last night, videos of congratulatory messages were blasted without interruptions.
Then this morning, the most glaring coming around happened. The mainstream press, a longtime accessory of the Government’s character assassination campaign against Chee and SDP, suddenly saw fit to publish a review of the anniversary dinner and an almost full page interview with Chee himself.
When did you last see a smiling Chee Soon Juan in the newspapers? And the group photo in the Sunday Times looks fit for a propaganda piece for the PAP, except that the uniforms are red, not white. What gave rise to the Sunday Times and Zaobao’s sudden habit-breaking behavioural switch to feature Chee Soon Juan and SDP in their pages? And without the usual demonization too?
Perhaps there is a tacit recognition that a bankrupted Chee is already a spent force and thus not a political threat? Perhaps Lee Kuan Yew, after clashing with the Chee siblings in court, saw for himself horns didn’t grow out of their skulls? Perhaps the political desks of ST and Zaobao needed to fill their quotas of articles per month?
Whatever the motivations are, one thing is certain – Chee Soon Juan and the Singapore Democratic Party are not the sort to crave for mainstream media coverage. Anybody who knows Chee can attest that there isn’t one Singaporean who distrusts the MSM more. In recent years, the party has resigned itself to the use of the internet and street hawking of publications to engage the citizenry.
That the MSM has now come knocking on Chee’s door, despite his open criticisms of them, is something of a revelation. More interesting to me, are how the dynamics in opposition politics have suddenly shifted. Now that the press has nudged SDP closer to the mainstream, will it then follow that the absentees of the night’s function will be less afraid to associate themselves with Chee and SDP?
One of my principal aims when making Singapore Rebel was to inspire a rethink of perceptions, but now ironically, the mainstream press has done what I set out to do five years ago. Perhaps I need to look for another subject to break perceptions and taboos with..
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To be bankrupted and still stand in the face of political persecution, CSJ has won my admiration. I believe this man is guided by is political beliefs and principles. He has worked hard over the years to bring awareness to Singaporeans about their political rights and freedom. I salute him for his unwavering conviction.
Very well written piece. Thanks for the enlightenment!
Matt tan, why single out CSJ ?
Social disobedient is not uncommon and well, who causes it ?
If PAP govt follow constitution that allows protest and strike, why would CSJ behave as that ?
Let’s ask how many people got the nerve to go in and out of prison like CSJ, would you ?
We have not seen how CSJ has lower Singapore’s reputation, but we have seen our million $ leaders and World Class Govt givern Sg with iron fists,
You may not have born yet, but you must know LKY started by reoresenting workers on strike, and LKY rode to power on protest, human right but tiday the govt is the enmey of democracy …
Lastly, have you prepare $16,000 as deposit to stand for election ?
and CSJ can’t sand for election as he has been made bankrupt by govt
Why stone a dog drowning in water ?
Have mercy, if you dont like him, leave him alone, he does not harm you and Singaporean
Matthew Tan, I will fully support you if you stand as an independent candidate for the next GE. I will activate all my friends to your rally and probably give you a banner. Be prepared to receive rotten eggs being thrown at you!
Who the hell you think you are to make such scurrilous attack on Dr CSJ & SDP? How much are you being paid from your psychopath master for posting such derogatory comments on this website?
Do you still f**king have any conscience in you? I reckon there’s no need for me to be kind in my words speaking to dogs like you! Go stand in the coming GE. Wherever you stand, I’ll be there, and be there to ‘receive’ you.
Go f**king rot…….
Singapore Tea Party
Mar 6, 2010 23:15
Naive thinking!!! In politics, there is no right or wrong. But….
I support Dr Chee Soon Juan.
cbl, naive or not, i wish not to argue with you
Well, everything is possible in politics, BUT it is an insult to take part in election for blocking someone who is already beaten out of shape — CSJ.
Election is about the voice of people being heard by electing true people’s leaders. It is not about finding personal grievences, if you still think yes, you are not naive but rather im-matured.
By the way, I already said, I m not fan of CSJ but what he can do to harm Sg ? He can’t leave Sg, he can’t run for public office, he is not teaching in institution to influnce anyone … leave him alone, be kinder.
The victorious Lee’s faction has been merciless even towards their former comrades who broke away from PAP to form Barisan Nasional, decades long of detention w/o trial set records close to Nelson Mendela’s 26 years’.
CSJ is one that head-on with PAP, but with JBJ’s demise, who else in Sg has got the gut to do similar ?
Hopefully the new breeds of opposition candidates are more tactical and careful, but to challenge the ruling party, one needs steelness in spine too.
1. In Feb of 1963, 111 people in Singapore were arrested under the ISA in a pre-dawn swoop now known as Operation Coldstore. The arrests were ordered after a meeting in Malaysia between PAP leaders, the British and Federation. Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Keng Swee and Ong Pang Boon were in the meeting.
2. Amongst those arrested were Lim Chin Siong and James Fu (who later became LKY’s Press Secretary). Lim was the leader of the opposition at the time. Operation Coldstore destroyed all chances of Singapore having a two-party democratic system.
3. In 1963, LKY actually lost the general elections against major rival Barisan Sosialist. Despite the arrests and jailing without trial of most of Barisan’s leaders, the Barisan was leading in 43 out of the 51 constituencies when LKY switched off electrcity for a 6-hour power blackout around the City Hall vote counting centre during which LKY changed the votes to cheat himself into a landslide victory instead of the real landslide defeat. But Chia Thye Poh was elected MP of Jurong.
4. Between 1965 to 1966, PAP refused to convene Parliament for many months, leading Barisan to boycott Parliament altogether.
5. Chia Thye Poh was arrested on Oct 1966 at the Barisan office. S’poreans were never to see Chia again until he was marooned to Sentosa in 1989, making him the longest jailed [without any charge or court appearance or sanction] political prisoner in the world. He was eventually freed in 1998. Till today, Chia Thye Poh’s detention acts as psychological deterrent against anyone who wishes to sign up for the opposition. The ISA is still in use.
6. In the 1968 GE, opposition decided to boycott the elections. This election
marked the start of PAP walkovers. Only 7 seats were contested, mostly by
Independents against the PAP. PAP won all.
7. PAP again won clean sweeps in 72, 76 and 80 until JBJ won a seat in the Anson by-election. During this period, the ISA continue to be used against political opponents. Dr Poh Soo Kai, who was detained in 1963 and released in 1972, was detained again in 1976.
8. When JBJ regained his seat in 1984, Lee Kuan Yew stepped up his attacks. JBJ served jail time for allegedly misdeclaring party funds and was eventually
disqualified in 1986 after a libel suit. He was not to contest again until 1997 where he won a NCMP seat. The truth is, JBJ and his 4 other election
candidates were cheated out of an outright election victory in the 5-member Cheng San GRC ward, the 1997 Cheng San GRC election was suspected to have been rigged. JBJ was again booted out of Parliament in 2001 when he was declared bankrupt.
9. In 1987, 22 young professionals were arrested under the ISA in a “marxist conspiracy.” Truth is : many of the detainees were non-member activists working with the Workers Party. Some of them were re-arrested in 1988 after they alleged mistreatment by ISD. Vincent Cheng and Teo Soh Lung served close to two years in jail. Lawyer Francis Seow was also detained and upon release, stood for elections and almost won a seat. He was subsequently charged with income tax evasion and a arrest warrant has since been issued against him.
10. In 1997, Tang Liang Hong burst into the political scene with fire and fury. He stood with JBJ in Cheng San and lost narrowly, through suspected irregularities in the Cheng San GRC ward ballot counting; Tang was
subsequently sued by 13 PAP ministers and declared a bankrupt. An arrest warrant has also been issued.
11. After 1997, more restrictions were put in place to castrate the opposition.
Gerrymandering, Political Donations Act, increased election deposits,
clampdown on internet campaigning etc. Every fair and foul means were committed to make campaigning and winning by the tiny and fragmented Opposition impossible.
Under such circumstances, even the most popular and well-loved opposition politician would be crushed by such a system. One need look no furher than JB Jeyaretnam. The remaining opposition would be silly to attempt anything that would upset Lee’s hold on power. At about $13,000 a month salary, Chiam See Tong and Low Thia Kiang knows which side of their bread is buttered. Anyone who goes the way of Chee Soon Juan will be crushed.
Singaporeans need to realise that it is the elections system that needs
reforming, not the opposition. And this can only be achieved through
extra-parliamentary measures like civil action, public protests and
international pressure.
OBM gives the true story of suppression and underhand authoritarian means to get the opposition out of the way. PAP took the law in their own hands and abused the very power that they hold. A good chronicle of all the dirty events unfolding perpetuated by the PAP through the years. Evil in darkness. Even the sighted cannot see. An uncanny cover-up .
To these day PAP knows their conscience is tainted, but still professes to be the saviour of Singapore. How can we find proof of PAP’s misdeeds? It is near impossible with their absolute power and control.
Time is pressing for a drastic change. We cannot let PAP take total control of S’pore forever.
We have the right to a better life in autocratic S’pore where true citizens have become second class to foreign import. Please look back the sweeping changes to the S’pore landscape and quality of life. Many of us are sandwiched to suffocation.
WITH A STRONG SENTIMENTS ON THE GROUND, THIS IS THE MOMENT TO VOTE
MORE OPPOSITION INTO PARLIAMENT. PLEASE TAKE THIS STEP TO LIBERATION.
PAP KNOWS TOO WELL THE DISSENT ON GROUND LEVEL. THEY ARE TRYING ALL WAYS AND MEANS TO PACIFY US NOW. IT MAY BE TOO LATE. MANY OF US HAVE DECIDED TO VOTE FOR TRUE DEMOCRACY NOT AUTHORITARIAN RULE.
OBM, very well said.
unfortunately, not many younger Singaporeans know the dirty history of PAP, and the history of the old man that just wont die. they were also poisoned by PAP’s propaganda and view them as gods, and take in more poison everyday, with the deliberate dumbing down of the people and/or making them apathetic to politics.
without educating the people of the REAL history of Singapore, they will still vote for PAP to let the PAP government suck Singaporeans dry. they will then bitch about it, but will ultimately still vote for their masters.
maybe TOC should do a piece on this subject. if it hasn’t done so already.
CSJ is like the City Harvest of opposition: charismatic and sensationalist. In other words, you either love him or you think he’s a joke.
Objectively speaking, MSM is willing to give him coverage because it knows that he doesn’t sit well with moderates who want results and ideas, not empty talk.