Y Francis Seow e only lawyer arrested for Marxist conspirato

last SG · 2009-05-23T13:55:18+00:00

The Middle East has been in chaos for decades with a lot of US interference. Except for disposing the Shah of Iran, I disagree that the US has been interfer...

lionnoisy SG

Why Francis Seow was the only defense lawyer of Marxist conspirators arrested?

There were at least 9 lawyers representing Marxist conspirators

in the ISD closed door hearings.

Why only Seow was arrested?Pl tell me have other defense lawyers

been arrested?

The real reason was Seow drank coffee with First Secretary of US Embassy

in Singapore.

Purposes----Seow wanted to turn Singapore into the 51 st state

of USA!!

Caution---Seow sons,a lawyer,still stay in SG.

read---many lawyers were there.

www.pmo.gov.sg,

no more archive image.

http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/330910

Who says Francis Seow got fixed cos defending ISA detainee?

lionnoisy SG

In 1987,SG just suffered one of the worst recession since Independence.

It would be crazy if LKY wanted to up set USA by frame up the First Secretary.

Sg was then depending much on USA trade .

However,SG was,and still is, to up set any country,if others want to

interfere with SG domestic politics.

U can read history that USA have helped to promote democracy in many

countries.At the end,yankees gained the power in that country.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG AT THE INTERNAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT 60TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER, 30 AUGUST 2008, 8.15PM AT THE ISTANA

Prime Minister's Office - Speech by PM Lee at the Internal ...

... A US diplomat stationed here, Hank Hendrickson, had been interfering in Singapore politics, acting through Francis Seow, who was then President of the Law ...

www.pmo.gov.sg/.../Speech+by+PM+Lee+at+the+Internal+Security+Department+60th+Anniversary+Dinner.htm

''Against Foreign Clandestine Influence in Domestic Politics

7. The investigations into the Marxist conspirators led to an unexpected discovery. A US diplomat stationed here, Hank Hendrickson, had been interfering in Singapore politics, acting through Francis Seow, who was then President of the Law Society. Hendrickson had asked Seow to lead a group of lawyers to contest elections against the PAP. In a sworn affidavit, Seow admitted that he had been to Washington to meet Hendrickson’s superior in the US State Department, who had assured him of refuge in America were he to run into difficulties with the government. And so they did, when Seow’s secret collusion came to light.

8. Such foreign clandestine operations are part and parcel of “the Great Game” between countries, even friendly ones. More such cases are documented in the ISD Heritage Centre. When the Centre receives foreign visitors, it often has to hide away the relevant displays temporarily, out of consideration for our guests. These episodes taught us that it was just as important to monitor our friends as we do our enemies.''

lionnoisy SG

reda more abt Francis Seow discussed here

http://www.sgforums.com/topics/search?q=Francis+Seow&commit=Go&type=topics

deepak.c SG

Simple and logical explanation, it's because Francis Seow (Former Harvard Professor) is more capable than LKY, the old man fears that his position is in jeopardy, that's why arrested him and threw him in jail.

Of all the "ficticious" crimes Francis Seow was "accused" of, was he convicted of any?

The only crime that the old man can muster up against him was tax evasion (convicted in absentia, with his prosecutors, judge and jury).

Seriously, it is possible to convict even the most prudent of tax payers. If you pick up $1 on the streets (income sourced in Singapore) and did not declare it in your tax returns, it is possible to convict you of tax evasion.

It's a matter of whether the old man deem you a threat so as to take such extreme measures to secure his power.

Also, are those other lawyers (representing the so called "Marxist" conspirators) you mentioned in politics like Francis Seow?

Francis Seow wanted to change Singapore political scene to a more democratic one, that's like going against the grain of LKY's authoritarian ideology.

deepak.c SG

There are also some self contradictions in statement No.7, mixing Marxism and USA is tantamount to mixing glycerin to potassium permaganate. If you don't know what is the reaction, mix it together and hold the test tube in your hands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWzZoaAOE3Y

Atobe SG

The following is a review of the book - "To Catch a Tartar : A Dissident in Lee Kuan Yew's Prison" that was written by Francis Seow - it included his experience in the ISD facilities and the interrogation that was meted out on him.

Friday, July 09, 2004

To Catch A Tartar: A Dissident In Lee Kuan Yew’s Prison is an excellent study of the conceit and deceit of a man many Singaporeans thought they knew. The author, Francis Seow, is a former solicitor general and president of the Law Society in Singapore. This is his first-hand account of how he has suffered under the PAP government’s use of biased legislation and media manipulation to maintain political hegemony.

In Devan Nair’s words, Seow’s book is an eye-opener, “for those whose eyes still require to be opened”. The former president of Singapore, who incurred the “implacable wrath of a political genius gone awry” [referring to Lee Kuan Yew] for his public defence of Francis Seow, was labelled an alcoholic in a White Paper tabled before the Parliament.

Despite that, Nair traded blows with the government in several hard-hitting press statements and included a scathing attack on Lee in the foreword of this book: “Today, Lee no longer deals with his equals, but with his chosen appointees, who did not earn power the hard way, but had it conferred on them. They are highly qualified men, no doubt, but nobody expects them to possess the gumption to talk back to the increasingly self-righteous know-all that Lee has become. Further, the bread of those who conform is handsomely buttered. Keep your head down and you could enjoy one of the highest living standards in Asia. Raise it and you could lose a job, a home, and be harassed by the Internal Security Department or the Inland Revenue Department, or by both, as happened to Francis Seow.”

Such unsavoury opinion of Lee was shared by Seow, who wrote: “The passage of years, far from mellowing the prime minister, has made him more imperiously intolerant of the common man. His abrasive, intrusive style of governance has not changed, and is best exemplified by this statement, brimming with his customary, boastful insensibility, in the Straits Times of 20 April 1987: ‘I am often accused of interfering in the private lives of citizens. Yes, if I did not, had I not done that, we wouldn’t be here today. And I say without the slightest remorse, that we wouldn’t be here, we would not have made economic progress, if we had not intervened on very personal matters – who your neighbour is, how you live, the noise you make, how you spit, or what language you use. We decide what is right. Never mind what the people think.’”

Referring to Lee’s brutal treatment of Nair, Seow lamented “there are, regrettably, very few Singaporeans with that rare courage and intellectual, let alone political, honesty to call a spade a spade”.

On his part, Seow’s account of the horrendous process of interrogation he underwent at the Whitley Detention Centre includes disturbing dialogues like the following utterance by an Internal Security Department (ISD) officer: “Look, cut out all your court English. This is not a court of law. The rules of evidence do not apply here. We make the rules here. This is a kangaroo court. No one can help you, no one. All the human rights organisations can do is make a little noise, but how long can they keep it up? After a while, you will be forgotten.”

This devious way of thinking was also evident at the press conference following the arrest of the supposedly Marxist conspirators, which triggered off a chain of events leading to Seow’s subsequent detention. When asked by Archbishop Gregory Yong for proof of the involvement of Vincent Cheng, et al, in clandestine communist activities, Lee interjected with a sharp disclaimer, “I have never said that I was going to prove anything in a court of law”, which left his audience stunned. He continued: “It is not the practice nor will I allow subversives to get away by insisting that I [have] got to prove everything against them in a court of law or evidence that will stand up to the strict rules of evidence of a court of law.”

Contrast this to what Lee said during the Legislative Assembly Debate on 15 September 1955: “If it is not totalitarian to arrest a man and detain him, when you cannot charge him with any offence against any written law – if that is not what we always cried out against in Fascist states – then what is it?”

This, and several other quotes of Lee’s speeches in the 1950s and 1960s, were cleverly used by Seow throughout the book to show how Lee has become almost everything he used to be against since he came into power.

Seow also quoted to potent effect a comment by Jerome A. Cohen, a prominent legal representative of Asia Watch, who found deeply disturbing both the use of psychological torture and what he called a pervasive Singaporean, if not Asia view that “if you haven’t hit somebody, it isn’t torture”.

Seow’s description of his harrowing experience during detention seemed to have confirmed Cohen’s observation: “He [an ISD officer] swung his hand at me. I braced myself for the blow. But his fist stopped short just inches from my face. He looked like a thug. He behaved like a thug. He was a thug. …. Amidst deafening obscenities, he swaggered up to me and repeatedly blew thick clouds of cigarette smoke into my face. … Venting his frustration at my continued silence, he demanded that I take off my shirt leaving my upper body bare under the air-conditioner duct. No one stopped him. I reluctantly complied. It was cold. Very cold. Very very cold.”

Later in the book, Seow described the ISD’s tactics as such: “The word ‘torture’ normally evokes visions of medieval cruelty and violence, of racks, thumbscrews, and other exquisite instruments of pain and suffering. But the prime minister’s version of the Spanish Inquisition is more subtle and no less effective. A detainee can be made to admit anything by the simple expedience of prolonged deprivation of his sleep – a most effective weapon in the ISD armoury of persuasions, which is its standard procedure.”

The author also highlighted some of the dirty tricks used by the ISD: “For years, the conference room of the Barisan Sosialis headquarters was wiretapped without the leaders being aware of it. And the bugging of the residence of Barisan Sosialis’ chairman, [the late] Dr. Lee Siew Choh, was only discovered when workmen accidentally found the bugging device above the ceiling of the dining room whilst making repairs in his home.”

Seow further opined that the so-called Marxist conspirators were really just a group of young, intelligent, and idealistic graduates who could give the Worker’s Party credibility and status if they were to enrol as members. But, according to Seow, it was crucial, using officialdom’s favourite metaphor, to “nip them in the bud” before the flowers could bloom and contend.

To Catch A Tartar is thus a sober reminder that power, if left unchecked, can have dire consequences. Make sure you read Nair’s open letter to Lee at the back of the book for an intriguing insight into some historical events in Singapore.

Conclusion: A gripping tale of how Lee Kuan Yew systematically and ruthlessly roots out and destroys any form of dissent in Singapore. Viewed in that perspective, the plight of Ryan Goh, the SIA pilot who was evicted from Singapore over the Alpa-S incident, is hardly surprising.

Atobe SG

The creativity of the PAP to tarnish is without any ethical principles or honesty.

CSJ was charged for dishonesty for "over-claiming" a taxi fare by something like an insignificant sum of "S$1.40" - when the charges for the route taken by the taxi from NUS to his place of destination (a kindergarten) can be some variance depending on the traffic conditions at different times of the day, or different days of the week, or different week of the month, or the year when the month has school holidays.

Without any charges to tar CSJ - his NUS Faculty Head (who is a PAP Henchman) pulled out the travel claims that were approved more then a year before CSJ decided to ignore the invitation to join the PAP, and prefer to allow himself to be nominated as a SDP candidate.

Further charges of dishonesty involved postage stamps that CSJ claimed for sending his research papers to a US University for assessment, and with his research papers also including the research works from his wife that was accepted by the university in the USA. This matter of his wife's research work being included was also declared by CSJ in the list of contents declared in his postage claims, and was approved with payment settled prior to CSJ's election campaign.

These administrative papers in the NUS were extracted and used by the PAP to tar CSJ so as to neutralize his popularity when he first entered politics - as it was more then 30 years since a tertiary educated person had joined the Alternative Parties.

Can higher standards of politics be expected in Singapore when it is run by desperate politicians insisting to impose their self-serving double standard rules set for everyone - while they remain outside the same rules that are only made to impinge on members of the Alternative Parties ?

Only a noisy pussy will go around hawking old wares to discredit the good names of Singaporeans who dare to stand their ground to confront the PAP.

Ah Chia SG

There are also some self contradictions in statement No.7, mixing Marxism and USA is tantamount to mixing glycerin to potassium permaganate.

Good observation.

Usually when we talk about marxists plots the natural link should be USSR, but here in Singapore, marxists plots are linked to USA.

1987 marxist plot?

Deng Xiaoping already reforming the system and going down the path of capitalism, USSR going for glasnost and perestroika.

But in Singapore there are still die hard communists.

These are the type of filth that we are fed with.

Fantagf SG

noisy lion much ado about nothing

deepak.c SG

noisy lion much ado about nothing

It's more like taming of the screwed.

Fantagf SG

It's more like taming of the screwed.

Atobe SG

Good observation.

Usually when we talk about marxists plots the natural link should be USSR, but here in Singapore, marxists plots are linked to USA.

1987 marxist plot?

Deng Xiaoping already reforming the system and going down the path of capitalism, USSR going for glasnost and perestroika.

But in Singapore there are still die hard communists.

These are the type of filth that we are fed with.

The only Communist in Singapore is found in the Ruling Party - with the larger than life Communist figure in MM LKY who rule with an iron fist that is as hard as Stalin.

The insistence in the dominance of the Party over all political life in Singapore can only parallel that of the Communist Party in Soviet Russia, China and Vietnam.

The existence of minority political parties is simply to put on a show of democracy for the sake of keeping the image for maintaining relations with the larger Western audience whose relationship LKY cannot dare to cut off.

The manipulating of political succession within the First Family is identical to the ways of North Korea's KIM IL SUNG ensuring the ascension of his son KIM JONG IL.

After 52 years in power, the true Singapore Communist finally surfaced after the long period of surreptitious nurturing of political strength and preparing the ground work.

The basic foundations of the present PAP structure was learnt from the 1950s working with fellow-travelers whom LKY had full knowledge as being leftist leaning, and through membership with Socialist Internationale formed by countries subscribing to Democratic Socialism.

Unfortunately for Singapore, despite the fact that LKY brought Singapore into Socialist Internationale - he does not subscribe to "democracy" nor to "socialist welfare" that is a hallmark of "socialism".

This led to Singapore being evicted by the members of Socialist Internationale - as LKY's model for Singapore was already seen to be a model of Communism more then being a democracy - let alone being socialistic in any way.

Fantagf SG

The only Communist in Singapore is found in the Ruling Party - with the larger than life Communist figure in MM LKY who rule with an iron fist that is as hard as Stalin.

The insistence in the dominance of the Party over all political life in Singapore can only parallel that of the Communist Party in Soviet Russia, China and Vietnam.

The manipulating of political succession within the First Family is identical to the ways of North Korea's KIM IL SUNG ensuring the ascension of his son KIM JONG IL.

After 52 years in power, the true Singapore Communist finally surfaced after the long period of surreptitious nurturing of political strength and preparing the ground work.

Well said.

LKY can't afford democracy as it stands in his way.

Miracles&Prophecies SG

This is how some people in Singapore view themselves, with the help of a police officer mouth:

Gary: He said to me at the lift lobby 90% of the exact words – ”Mr Tan,if you walk out of here tomorrow,you might get killed.You might meet with a mysterious accident,you might disappear and nobody will know what happened to you! Mr Tan, some things and people in this country you cannot offend! Some people are above all things! You better make sure you know this! Mr Tan,we can arrange for things to happen to you.You understand or not!”

lionnoisy SG

Of all the "ficticious" crimes Francis Seow was "accused" of, was he convicted of any?

The only crime that the old man can muster up against him was tax evasion (convicted in absentia, with his prosecutors, judge and jury).

It's a matter of whether the old man deem you a threat so as to take such extreme measures to secure his power.

Also, are those other lawyers (representing the so called "Marxist" conspirators) you mentioned in politics like Francis Seow?

Francis Seow wanted to change Singapore political scene to a more democratic one, that's like going against the grain of LKY's authoritarian ideology.

He went to USA for medical treatment,at the mercy of SG gavaman.

But he never comes back,at the hostabitlity of US state department or CIA.

HE IS NOT A PROFESSOR.The most is a visting fellow.

u can read here.

Who says Francis Seow got fixed cos defending ISA detainee?

Has Francis Seow been a Fellow in Harvard Laws School?

I read a letter from then SG Ambassdor to US,SR Nathan,

wrote to US press (Nathan currently SG President),

that Seow was not a Fellow in Harvard Laws School.

So,can u guys,Friends of Francis Seow ,tell me when did

Seow get appointed as Fellow or other post in Harvard?

Here is his answer in 2003.

http://www.singapore-window.org/sw03/031019fs.htm

Q. Are you attached to any organisation?

A. I am not quite sure to what you are referring. If you mean whether I am still with Harvard Law School, the answer is no.

Finally they can't find any crimes to prosecute him, they conjured up some tax evasion charge and convicted him in absentia.

Francis Seow is a Singapore-born political dissident who is in exile from Singapore after lawsuits by the former Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yew. He was educated at Saint Joseph's Institution in Singapore and at the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in London. Seow is currently a United States citizen, and a University Fellow based in the Department of Asian Studies at Harvard University.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Seow

Where is this Department of Asian Studies at Harvard University.?

i am only able to get East Asian Legal Studies,Harvard Law School.

Sorry i am very strict in details and facts.

Manu of u wrote without vertifying.Materials appear in English

and from famous U dunt gurantee true.

oh i think i get it.

If it is true:

http://www.singapore-window.org/ftsview.htm

Francis T. Seow,
Visiting Fellow, East Asian Legal Studies
Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. USA

http://www.law.harvard.edu/programs/eals/

http://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/f.html

can u give me evidences that HE was there.

I still remember SR Nathan ,then Ambassdor to US,

wrote to US press that Seow

was not a Visiting Fellow in Harvard Law School.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Once Chee Soon Juan refer one ang moh as a professor.

I found out that the guy is a Reader,not a professor.

gigabyte14 SG

this is retarded

lionnoisy SG

so do u think USA shall be ran by a Harvad Econ Professor?

Seow wanted to get help from Yankees to get the power.

THIS IS THE ONLY REASON HE GOT ARRESTED.

How about i get support from Beijing,u get fr Washington,he get fr KL,

they get from....Wat a mess to ruin Singapore!!

There is only 11 players.the 12 th player is not welcome.

Have LKY got foreign support to get power?

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@2

Singapore ISA detainees under ISD get closed door hearing,

while detainees in Gutanamo did not get any hearing.

Do u know u can hire a lawyer to defend for u in the closed door hearing

under ISA?u can read from opening post .

lionnoisy SG

this is retarded

i think u refer to him.Right?

Once Chee Soon Juan refer one ang moh as a professor.

I found out that the guy is a Reader,not a professor.

lionnoisy SG

Pl share edvidence that Seow was a professor or a visiting fellow of Harvard.

I doubt his title.

Read S.R Nathan,then Ambassador at large, challenged the status of Seow

in Visiting Fellow at the Harvard Law School in the United States.

This is a letter to Forum of Strait Times.

eee

lionnoisy SG

the scholastic output --lion note ,few of coffee table books.
This is anothe Reader v Professor case.Ha ha.

Ladies and gentlemen,bro and sis,
pl share here what are Francis Seow scholastic output.
Full details pl.So i can quote his great jobs when i study my
Ph.D,in Chinese!!