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MARUAH Singapore J U N E 2012 DEFINED MARUAH FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK ignity is starving. It needs detainees to varying grades of Dattention. It needs activation. inhuman treatment. Dignity is inherent in the human In this inaugural issue of condition. We all want to live Dignity Defined, MARUAH’s e-news every day in dignity, with dignity magazine, we raise awareness on and hopefully also treat others human rights, human responsibilities with dignity. The challenge to and social justice through discussions realising dignity lies in the around Operation Spectrum. difficulty of conceptualising this I was a teacher when the quality. alleged Marxist Conspiracy broke Dignity - what does it entail, in 1987. I read the newspapers what values does it embody, intently and watched television what principles is it based on, hawkishly as the detentions and how do we hold it in the palm were unravelled. I unpicked and of our hands to own it. We at unpacked the presentations made MARUAH are committed to finding by the government, the Catholic WHAT’S INSIDE? some answers to visualising, Church and the detainees too when conceptualising and discussing they were paraded for television 3 From History.... Dignity. We believe that much confessions. Operation Spectrum of what we can do to activate I was sceptical then and today & the ISA on Dignity comes from a rights- I am still unconvinced that they Rizwan Ahmad based approach to self and to were a national threat. others. As such we premise much It was an awful time. I watched 4 The Internal Security of our work on the aspirations the 22 detainees being ferried Act and the “Marxist of the Universal Declaration of away, from view. I felt the silence Conspirators” - Why we Human Rights (UDHR) on which envelope them, drowning out should care 25 years on much of Singapore’s Constitution their voices. It was almost like Michael Hor too has been founded. nothing had happened. Perhaps Article 10 of the UDHR states it was just a blip on the screen. 6 The Past, Present and that “Everyone is entitled in full It was surreal. Future of the Internal equality to a fair and public hearing 22 men and women were Security Act by an independent and impartial detained yet there was little public Jack Tsen-Ta Lee tribunal, in the determination of outcry. The ‘blanking out’ over- his rights and obligations and of wrote little pockets of resistance, 10 For and Against the ISA any criminal charge against him”. primarily among the Catholic Additionally, article 5 states that community. The parading of the 12 Media and Parliamentary “No one shall be subjected to torture alleged Marxist Conspirators over Discussions or to cruel inhuman or degrading television struck fear as they all treatment or punishment”. looked like every man and every 16 The Law of Thus a person’s dignity is tied woman – pedestrian. They were Suspended Laws to ensuring that each person has folks from all accounts who were Norvin Chan an opportunity to speak their merely helping those in need, case when accused of wrong- making representations for them 19 Reflections doing and that no one is treated in court and discussing policy Norvin Chan in less than a human manner. reform for better outcomes for Yet in Singapore we have the the people. If that can get people 20 About the Authors and the Internal Security Act (ISA) that into real trouble then it is better Editorial Team takes away that right to an open to shut down. court hearing, which can subject The very few civil societies and 21 About MARUAH Singapore, www.maruah.org . June Edition 2012. An online publication brought to you by MARUAH activists that were involved in advocacy-oriented activities dived to operate below the radar for many Time for Commission years to come. Individuals who were speaking up from non-political party podiums just shut up. of Inquiry on Alleged The Law Society became more preoccupied with professional conduct as its wings were clipped. Schools that were more open to ideas, analysis Marxist Conspiracy From History….. and deconstruction withdrew into the safe and predictable. Petition. Operation Spectrum & ISA Much changed from that year as the people Rizwan Ahmad sector took a back seat. We need to call for a review of a dark This year – 2012 – as we mark the 25th anniversary episode in Singapore’s history. of this alleged Marxist Conspiracy, we need to own the discourse on this issue. Voices on thoughts on It has been 25 years since Operation this issue must be raised. We are grateful to the contributors on this Spectrum, when 22 persons were subject for opening up discussions on Operation detained for allegedly being Spectrum, the Internal Security Act (ISA) and “Marxist Conspirators”. PERATION SPECTRUM was launched on May the detention centre, he himself was detained by sharing personal reflections. O21, 1987 by the Internal Security Department the ISD and was not released for more than two Let the chatter begin in your heart, mind and Even then, there were doubts about the (ISD) using the Internal Security Act (ISA). During months. Also arrested was lawyer Patrick Seong, soul as you read their pieces. Much has to change accusations and whether these citizens the Operation spanning from May to June, 22 whom the government accused of having been a from the uncomfortable silence in 1987 to sensible should be detained without trial. 25 years people were arrested and detained under the ISA. “propagandist” in providing information to foreign chatter in 2012. This national wound must be re- later, these doubts continue to linger. The first batch of detainees were: correspondents during the 1987 detentions. Teo examined and treated to heal. Vincent Cheng Kim Chuan, Teo Soh Lung, Kevin Soh Lung was held until 1990. Vincent Cheng was For us Dignity Defined is about the dignity of the 22 individuals. Let's call for an independent Commission de Souza, Wong Souk Yee, Tang Lay Lee, Ng Bee released shortly after Teo Soh Lung. Please read. of Inquiry now! Leng, Jenny Chin Lai Ching, Kenneth Tsang Chi Please activate Dignity. Seng, Chung Lai Mei, Mah Lee Lin, Low Yit Leng, Sign MARUAH's petition to call for a Tan Tee Seng, Teresa Lim Li Kok, Chia Boon Tai, Commission of Inquiry on the alleged Tay Hong Seng and William Yap Hon Ngian. The Marxist Conspiracy at this link. last batch were Tang Fong Har, Chew Kheng Chuan, Chng Suan Tse, Fan Wan Peng, Ronnie Ng and Nur Featured Videos ------------------------------------ Effendi Sahid. They were accused of “being members of a dangerous Marxist conspiracy bent on subverting Title: Braema Mathi MARUAH needs 350, 000 signatures and it's not going to be possible without your the State Government by force, and replacing it Contemporarising the President of MARUAH “Marxist Conspiracy” help! Please share this petition link on with a Marxist state”. The government named Tan Wah Piow, a former University of Singapore Duration: 3 mins facebook, email it to your friends or even Link: Here tweet about it! Students’ Union president residing in England as the mastermind behind the plot and Vincent Cheng For more information on this issue, please as his key assistant. By December 1987, all the detainees had been Title: Teo Suh Long: visit our website at this link or watch a released except for Vincent Cheng. In April 1988, 23 Years On video compiled by volunteers to raise nine of the released detainees issued a joint Duration: 10 mins awareness on the gravity of this issue. statement accusing the government of ill treatment Link: Here and torture while under detention. They also denied involvement in any conspiracy and alleged that they were pressured to make the confessions. Eight of the nine were re-arrested and detained for Title: The Price of a second time. The ninth member, Tang escaped Freedom: BBC re-arrest as she was in the United Kingdom. Interview with They were later released on condition that they Francis Khoo sign statutory declarations denying everything they Duration: 14 mins Link: Here had said in their earlier press statement. Lawyer and former Solicitor General Francis Seow, stepped in to represent one of the detainees who had sought his legal assistance. When Seow arrived at 2 3 the advent of socio-political activism in the post how was it that the “conspirators” were alleged to GE and PE 2011 era, those who engage or who have crossed the line? One scours the Grounds of want to engage in this movement ought to know Detention and Allegations of Fact almost in vain. A what they can or cannot do. If the criminal law no particular allegation never fails to draw a chuckle longer performs the function of being the rules of from the modern reader – “ you were involved in … The Internal Security Act engagement, then it is incumbent on those who activities which included singing progressive songs would assume the powers of the ISA to tell us what and performing plays which exaggerated the plight and the “Marxist Conspirators” they are. of the poor and the inadequacies of the existing Why We Should Care 25 Years On The central claim against those targeted in system”. The only serious candidate emerges MICHAEL HOR 1987 was involvement in “a Marxist conspiracy to from a certain allegation against the alleged subvert the existing social and political system in “Mastermind” – “to build up a mass-based united Singapore, using communist united front tactics, front of grassroots organisations … to oppose the and with a view to establishing a Marxist state.” government, by violent means, if necessary”.
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