A detainee remembers
BY Tang Fong Har, one of the 22 people held in 1987 for
"communist conspiracy to overthrow the Singapore government." In
April that year the author, a lawyer aged then 31, with eight other
former detainees issued a declaration of innocence. All were at
once rearrested, except Tang Fong Har, who was out of the
country.
IT was Saturday, June 20, I had finished two office files in
preparation for Monday. It was almost 12.30 am and Peter, my
husband, was already asleep.
We were saying in a semi-detached single-storey house that belonged
to a friend. We were both very tired and tense. We had been since
May 20 when the first 16 people were arrested.
I had met lawyer and opposition leader Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam for tea
at the Subordinate Courts canteen on Wednesday, June 17. I had met
two Amnesty Internal officials on Thursday evening, June 18, and I
just had dinner with two friends on the night of 19 June.
I went to bed at about 1 am. At slightly before 2 am, very loud
banging on the glass door woke me. Still half asleep, I thought the
noise might go away, but I heard it again, and some noises outside
the house. I woke Peter and he went to the door.
I saw flashing lights and some people outside. One of them said
that they were searching for illegal immigrants and showed his
badge. He also said that he was from Joo Chiat Police Station. I
felt fear and knew that they were Internal Security Department
(ISD) officers.
Peter opened the door and let in the four officers, three Chinese
males and one female. He carried a sack. Once inside, a Chinese in
his early 40s asked whether I was Tang Fong Har. I nodded yes, and
he told me that I was under arrest under the Internal Security
Act.
Though it was not totally unexpected, I was nevertheless stunned
and speechless. He warned us not to move, and the others then
systematically searched the house - the bedrooms, the bathrooms,
the kitchen and the living room. I did not see them searching the
garden.
The man who had spoken to us stood near us all the while. Peter
asked him, "Doesn't she have any rights?" He looked at Peter in a
funny way and the rest laughed cynically. The search took some 40
minutes. They seized my address-book, file of cuttings and articles
on the May 20 arrests, some copies of minutes of the Law Society
Criminal Legal Aid Scheme and AWARE (Association of Women for
Action and Research) meetings.
When the time came for me to be taken away, I told Peter not to
worry about me and to contact my family and lawyer. His face was
expressionless. He did not raise his voice at all, and neither did
I. I was led to a car, my glasses were removed and I was
blindfolded. We drove off.
When the car stopped, my blindfold was removed and my glasses were
handed to me, and I realised that I was in the carpark of the block
of flats my parents lived in. They escorted me to my parents' flat
and conducted another search. I pleaded with them not to disturb my
family, in particular my parents. My pleas fell on deaf ears.
The search was futile, and I could see that my family was in a
panic and feeling angry, bewildered and helpless. Then I was again
led to the car, my glasses were removed and I was blindfolded. The
reaction of my family members had affected me.
When I reached the Whitley Road Detention Centre (I found out where
I was only during my lawyer's visit), my blindfold was removed, but
my glasses were not returned to me. I kept telling myself - do not
panic, do not worry, but what's happening, where am I, what is this
place, where are the others and how are they, how are my husband,
my parents, my siblings and friends?
I was then ordered by the female Chinese officer to remove my
clothes, underwear and shoes and put on a set of prison clothes.
After that, I was led into another room where a male Chinese took
fours sets of my fingerprints.
My glasses were returned to me and I was ordered to sit on a chair
while two photographers took about six shots of me. It was like
something out of the film Midnight Express. I felt I was a
condemned criminal.
The female Chinese and a Gurkha guard then escorted me to what
looked like a poorly equipped medical room, where I was ordered to
lie on the bed; and a male Sikh (after my release I found out he
was Dr Naranjin Singh, the head of the Prison Medical Unit). He
examined me, took my pulse, looked at my tongue and eyes, and asked
whether I had any medical problems, had been to the hospital or was
pregnant. I replied in the negative very vigorously as I was
worried that he might inject some drugs or prescribe some medicine,
which would affect my mental and/r physical faculties
adversely.
INTERROGATION:
I FELT really frightened, cold, angry and sleepy. It was the
longest night in my life. After my 'medical' examination, I was led
out of the room and down a passage. After some turns, I reached a
door, which opened onto a flight of stairs leading to the
basement.
As I walked, without my glasses, I heard noises everywhere. I was
approached several times by different men, each of whom said in a
haughty manner, "So you are Tang Fong Har'" and then walked off.
The basement was pitch-black except for the glaring lights. I was
led into a room.
It was very dark except for the two spotlights, and it was
filled with cigarette smoke - there seemed to be about seven or
eight people there. The air-conditioning was very strong, and the
floor was bare concrete. I felt cold and fearful.
After what seemed an eternity of eerie of silence, a voice boomed -
"So, Tang Fong Har, at last you are here.' Then there began a
series of questions and outrageous allegations. I could not hear
properly as I was disoriented and I was not allowed to wear my
glasses.
The hurling of questions, allegations, and loud noises went on for
some time. I was so stupefied that I kept quiet. When I felt that I
could not keep quiet anymore, I told them I needed my glasses as
they affected my hearing.
My glasses were then returned. I saw four people seated at the
table, which I was standing fairly near. Two or three other people
were standing nearby in sports jackets, shoes and socks. Barefoot
and in prison garb, I felt humiliated and very cold. I was
shivering and I tried very hard to stop my teeth from chattering
but I could not, and the interrogators just watched me as I was in
near-spasms trying to control the cold.
At one point during the interrogation I was threatened with
indefinite detention and asked whether I intended to emulate Chia
Thye Poh. They warned me that if I chose to remain quiet, they
could wait for 20 years or more, just as they had waited for Chia
Thye Poh.
I refused to believe it but somehow my heart went cold. I felt I
could not stay in this place for another minute, let alone 20
years. I also felt immense admiration for Chia Thye Poh. The male
interrogator throughout made snide remarks about lawyers and the
legal profession and belittled my work in the Law Society.
In the midst of the accusations being hurled at me, I retorted
"Now, look here..." or words to that effect. I never completed my
sentence: one of the interrogators slapped me across my left cheek,
not with a flick of his wrist but with the full force of his
body.
I fell to the ground and my glasses landed on my chest. I was
completely shocked by the assault and wished that I could faint as
I felt that I could not take any more. I had never felt more
humiliated in my life.
The female Chinese then made a show of helping me to stand and said
something like "It's ok. Take it easy. Why don't you co-operate?" I
can't remember whether the interrogator who slapped me remained in
the room after this. However, I remembered his face and
subsequently I came to know his name: S. K. Tan.
I was then questioned on my 'escape' from Singapore on May 21 and
my whereabouts from then until my return on June 8. I also had to
account for my movements since my return. They assured me that I
had not been arrested because of my work in the Law Society or for
helping Mr Corera, the Workers Party candidate for the Alexandria
constituency in the 1984 general election.
However, I was not informed about the allegations and charges
against me until the detention order was served on me. The circle
of questions/statements/allegations went on for some hours. Every
time I went to the lavatory, I vomited and I felt even colder when
I returned. I had looked at myself in the toilet mirror and I was a
ghastly sight.
This was the first time in public that I was bra-less and I stooped
whenever I walked so as to hide my breasts. My posture was a
semi-permanent curve soon after. I could not stop the trembling. I
vomited countless times, and by the morning of the third day I had
my period and I stained the prison pants.
I continued vomiting until the fourth day, by which time I felt
quite famished. I had never felt more terrible in my life. Some 10
hours later, I was led out of the basement and into one of the
rooms off the passage, and was given a chair.
My case officer, David Ng, sat opposite me and we started talking.
While we discussed my statements, other officers like S. K. Tan, a
Benny (allegedly number 3 in the ISD), Lim Poh Kui and Sim Poh Heng
would walk in individually at different times to 'clarify' certain
points.
Before my arrest, I had settled in my mind that statements
extracted from me or any other detainee in this farcical operation
were invalid and of no probative value. They could never stand up
to scrutiny in a court of law. I had done nothing subversive and I
was not disloyal to Singapore. It is as much my country as it was
the rulers'.
Should I keep quiet and let them deal with me as they wished? I
decided to write; but I feel, with hindsight, that I was sometimes
careless in describing events and people and what I wrote was
twisted - and I 'incriminated' people, those already detained and
those not yet arrested, in my efforts to protect them.
I was never given the chance to write the statements my own way.
When I first started, I had barely finished two pages when my case
officer looked through them and said, "That won't do, Fong Har, you
are describing one activity after another. The flavour doesn't come
out, Fong Har, you understand?"
I understood perfectly and I learnt to take the cue from him. I
started writing only when he was satisfied. The writing drained me.
I felt very exhausted and I just wanted to finish with it, the
sooner the better. I was then told about the TV appearance.
Initially,
I refused to appear; but I was told that Chew Kheng Chuan (KC), a
printer and one of the six detained on 20 June 1987 and Chng Suan
Tze, a lecturer at the Singapore Polytechnic, also one of the six
detained on June 20, 1987, would appear, and so I agreed.
Some three days before it, my case officer typed out a summary of
what I had to say and made me memorise it. On the day, when we
reached the ISD bungalow near Tanglin Park, my case officer took
away my summary. The filming took about 90 minutes.
Khamaruddin, the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation interviewer,
only asked me one question and I rattled on. When I had finished,
he looked at me and asked how I felt now. This question was
unexpected and I was at a complete loss for words.
There was a pregnant pause; and I ended up by saying that if
unwittingly I had done a disservice to Singapore, I felt bad about
it. I heaved a sigh of relief when the microphone was removed. My
dress was drenched with perspiration.
I then remembered that I had not talked about the Third Stage (a
theatre group accused of subversion). My case officer presumably
had studied the summary and realised the omission, too, and I then
had to talk about the Third Stage.
Suan joined me. I felt so happy to see a friend that I hugged
her. Then KC joined us. I was delighted to see him too. We were
made to sit together with Khamaruddin and 'donkey shots' were taken
of us to give the impression to the public that Khamaruddin had
conducted the interview with the three of us together.
We were allowed to talk to each other, and ISD officers (Benny
and KC's officer) joined us. Before they joined us, Suan told us
that she would be detained for two years at least, as she had told
Khamaruddin that she did not believe in the alleged Marxist
conspiracy before her arrest, and after her arrest she had found it
even more difficult to believe.
After they joined us, KC told Benny about it and asked if Suan
could re-do that part. Benny assured her that it was all right if
that what she believed. He also said that it would not affect her
chances of release in any way. We were brought back to the
detention centre in different cars.
They used a variety of methods to intimidate me and to make me feel
guilty. I was made to feel ashamed of my past and consequently,
ashamed of my present lifestyle.
PRISONER:
AFTER my return to the detention centre from the TV filming, I was
more psychologically prepared for my detention, yet I hoped against
hope that I would be released after 30 days.
Alas, it was not to be. On July 19, at 9 pm, I was led out of my
cell. My heart thumped wildly. My case officer, in a most officious
manner, served the copy of the allegations and the detention order
on me.
I read the allegations and almost had to suppress my mirthless
laughter. I told my case officer that I was not a security threat
and that they had no reason to detain me for 30 days, let alone a
year. I was informed of my right to make representations.
I signed the form stating that I wanted to do so. The air was
charged with tension. My case officer asked whether there was
anything I wanted. I told him that I wanted to return to my
cell.
And so I sought refuge in my empty and dead cell. I cried a
little that night. After my statements were written, I saw no
reason to engage in polite conversation with them. I spoke
relatively little, and on those occasions we touched on
inconsequential topics.
Sometimes, my case officer was absent and the female guard would
stay with me in the room for some four hours; and then I would be
sent back to my cell. I also played Scrabble and Uno and had a
compendium of games.
I am a gregarious and sociable creature. I had always been
surrounded by family and friends and had known nothing but love,
warmth and friendship. Needless to say, solitary confinement was a
terrible affliction.
I received fairly frequent visits from some officers, notably S. K.
Tan. He tried to engage me in conversation and tried to probe my
reasons for filing representations before the Advisory Board,
scheduled for hearing on August 15.
I refused to be provoked into commenting on the case or into
revealing what transpired between my lawyer, Soh Gim Chuan, and
myself during our meetings.
They also probed into the nature of his practice and whether he
charged me any professional fees. S.K. Tan has now turned into a
welfare officer and was most concerned that my stay should be as
cosy as possible within ISD's limits.
I was enticed with my favourite foods and was allowed to watch TV
programmes, as selected by them. I responded negatively to their
overtures.
On one occasion, I asked S. K. Tan why he had slapped during the
interrogation. He told me that I was mistaken. I had moved back and
lost my balance. I said nothing, but my eyes told him that what he
had said was balderdash.
Days became weeks and I sang whatever came into my mind and I sang
loudly. The warden on duty ticked me off several times. I read
books and, being a fast reader, I would finish the five books,
which Peter brought each week. I sometimes read them three
times.
I tried to keep myself busy by scrubbing the cell walls and floor.
I also became acutely aware of God's little creatures (ants,
mosquitoes, centipedes, lizards, cockroaches, spiders etc), the
sun, moon and the tree in front of my cell.
They tried to rehabilitate me with pep talks laced with threats.
They kept saying that I could start life anew with Peter and put
everything behind me. I refused to be indoctrinated by them.
Until my representations were over, I was very tense and the stress
and strain accumulated in my neck, which became very stiff. The day
of the hearing of the representations arrived.
The High Court judge, Justice Sinnathuray, together with two
Chinese males in their late 40s or early 50s, presided over the
hearing, which was held in the judges' chambers. The other two did
not introduce themselves and barely spoke or moved throughout the
whole proceedings.
A case officer, Lim Poh Kui, a female police guard and the driver
of the car accompanied me. The judge was cordial to me. He hardly
interrupted my lawyer when he went through my representations. He
seemed exasperated only at one point.
When queried on my future plans, I told him that I would get a job
and continue my flat hunting and, if I was free, interested and
approached, help in the election campaign of opposition candidates.
He told me that that was what had got me into trouble in the first
place and that politics should be left to the politicians.
He again questioned me on my future plans and turned to look at my
lawyer. My lawyer then submitted that further representations would
be made on this point by Monday, August 17.
I could not gauge the outcome of the hearing but somehow it did not
matter too much now. My stiff neck disappeared and I felt the
tension roll away from me.
Psychologically and emotionally, I then coped better with detention
in solitary confinement. Life took on a 'more pleasant' turn. I
started my Chinese lessons. I would also sing for about an hour at
least twice a day.
My audience comprised God's little creatures, the warden on duty
and, definitely, my immediate neighbours, - Wong Souk Yee
(president of the Third Stage, detained in May 1987) and Low Yit
Leng (manager of a printing firm, also detained in May 1987). My
reading continued.
At other times, I would be let out of my cell for 'rehabilitation'
sessions during which the female police guard on duty would while
away the time discussing such weighty matters as skin-care, make-up
and the like. We also indulged in healthy gossip.
Some days I would be left in my cell - once, for four days. I would
usually read till I felt drowsy and fall asleep while reading. It
was unbearably hot in the afternoons - the cell was like a furnace
and I practically oozed perspiration.
I could not wait for the afternoon to end each day. I tried to
reduce the temperature by dousing the cell with water at noon. I
had dreams but I could not remember them. I exercised regularly.
Once in a while, I would execute a judo-like kick on the
walls.
One fine day, I was told that Suan would be my cellmate. I had
become accustomed to living on my own, but when she came, I began
to enjoy my meals more. We became keener students in our study of
Chinese. Since she was more proficient than me, I consulted her
frequently. We sang more and our repertoire increased.
Life was certainly "bearable" with the exception of the three
square meals dished out to us each day.
"FREEDOM":
ON September 11, at 9 pm, I was called out of our cell alone. We
were adamant that we should leave the cell together, but it was not
to be. I was taken to the 'rehabilitation' room; my case officer
was the purveyor of the 'good news'.
He impressed upon me that I had been treated fairly, if not well. I
stuck to my position that if I talked to the press, I would say 'no
comment' to their queries.
Various people came in at different times. They repeated my case
officer's words, adding that I had to be very careful what I said
to the press as this would affect the release of those still
inside. They told me that they were sure that I would not want to
jeopardise the release of the remaining detainees.
They also threatened that if I did not keep out of trouble, they
would not hesitate to take me in again, and next time they would
let me rot. I was not allowed to consult my lawyer and family in
respect of the three conditions attached to the Suspension
Direction.
These pep talks interspersed with threats went on for some time,
and I was then allowed to return to the cell. I literally stank of
smoke and Suan guessed that I had met top ISD officers.
Although I was not told when I would be released, it was the next
day that I left. Suan and I were sad to leave each other. They
refused to say anything about her release or that of the others,
and my request to see them was also rejected. Suan sang a farewell
song to me and I yelled goodbye to my neighbours.
After Suan and I hugged each other, I walked out of the detention
centre with Peter and my parents. It was 4 pm on September 12. I
had been detained for 85 days.
I felt happy to see my loved ones, but my steps out of the blue
gate were not brisk. I had left a part of me inside. I have learnt
to treasure justice and freedom even more.
I shall not rest until they are our entrenched rights and not
mere privileges, removable at the arbitrary whims and fancies of
the powers-that-be.
* This is an abridged version of the article which was published in
the August 1989 issue of Index on Censorship, a UK-based NGO.
http://www.singapore-window.org/tfhmemo.htm
