Ex-detainees fight back
SUNDAY, 06 JUNE 2010
Singapore Democrats
Activists call for the ISA to be abolished
Ex-detainee Mr Vincent Cheng has spoken out against his ban from
speaking at a seminar at the National Library (see here).
Mr Cheng who was detained for three years from 1987 to 1990 was
beaten and severely abused by police officers at the Internal
Security Department officers during his imprisonment.
No one has been held accountable for the terrible injustice and Mr
Cheng has kept silent all these years. "I still bear the scars," he
said in a letter to Ms Amy Gay, an official of the National Library
Board (NLB).
After banning him as a speaker at a forum entitled "Singapore
History: Who Writes The Script?" held last Friday, the NLB added
insult to injury and told Mr Cheng that he could attend as a
listener.
Thanks but no thanks. The ex-detainee said, "I will be staying away
from this event as a protest to the arbitrary suppression of my
right of free expression as a panel speaker in the spirit of the
Consitution of Singapore." (Clickhere for
to read the exchange of letters between Mr Cheng and Ms Gay).
In 1987, the Government arrested Mr Cheng and 21 other social
activists and church workers for conspiring to violently stage a
coup. Few believed the PAP's story but could do little because of
the Government's use of raw power to silenced the entire
population.
Another detainee, Ms Teo Soh Lung, who was accused with Mr Cheng
and severely abused under detention for two years has yet to reveal
her experience of the cruelty she suffered. With the Internet,
however, the truth is beginning to bubble up. The PAP cannot keep
the lid sealed any more.
Mr Cheng and some of the other detainees have begun to publish
their side of the stories. Earlier detainees such as Dr Lim Hock
Siew and Mr Said Zahari have also spoken out. The two opposition
leaders were detained for 20 and 17 years respectively in 1963 with
the help of the Brtitish colonial government.
Dr Lim has called for Mr Lee Kuan Yew to apologise to him while Mr
Zahari has written his memoirs and recorded an interview where he
recounted the 17 years of abuse he suffered at the hands of Mr
Lee.
Another long-term ISA detainee, Mr Michael Fernandez, is working on
a book relating how he had suffered under the PAP regime. (Watch
video here).
The ISA has been wielded by the PAP to crush dissent it Singapore
and rob Singaporeans of the democratic system we were promised at
the birth of our Republic.
The SDP has steadfastly called for the abolition of the ISA. Such a
law that is so egregiously abused by the ruling party has no place
in modern Singapore. In addition, there must be an accounting of
the abuse. Justice must prevail.
Read also:
Francis Seow: A day of ignominy
Watch videos:
Ex-political prisoner
speaks out in Singapore (Dr Lim Hock Siew)
http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/3794-ex-detainees-fight-back