TAIPEI - On June 10, 7:40 a.m., Nie Shuwen from Taiwan boarded
an airplane bound for Singapore. Upon arrival, Nie was denied entry
and forced to deport. At the same time, a box of books titled Nine
Commentaries on the Communist Party that was being carried by her
traveling companion got confiscated. On that same day, Nie boarded
an Eva Airlines Flight BR226 back to Taiwan. Upon arrival at Jiang
Kai Shek International Airport in Taiwan at 5:30 p.m., a press
conference was immediately held. Nie said it was unacceptable for
Singapore to violate human rights and called upon the Singapore
government not to concede to pressure exerted by the Chinese
Communist Party (CCP).
Nie stated that the reason for her trip to Singapore was to
participate in an experience sharing conference for Falun Gong
practitioners. Just as she was about to go through customs, an
officer checked her passport and said, Weve already been notified
by Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). You do not meet
the regulations so are not allowed entry. The officer could not
give a precise explanation as to which regulations were not met.
Nie said that after continuous questioning, the officer then
stated, Im not allowed to tell you the reason. Im just following
orders sent by the ICA.
When Nies traveling companion questioned the officer if it was
because of her practicing Falun Gong that the Singapore government
would not grant her entry, this officer did not deny it at the
time.
Nie stated that when the officer who was responsible for her
deportation found out that the Singapore government seemed to have
denied her entry just because she was a Falun Gong practitioner,
the officer was very shocked. She further stated that Singapore as
a democratic country yet wouldnt allow entry to a compassionate
Taiwan citizen and that she planned to contact the foreign affairs
department in Taiwan and express a serious protest against the
Singapore government.
As soon as members of the Taiwan Falun Dafa association learnt of
the incident, they immediately contacted the Taiwan Representative
Office in Singapore. According to an assistant named Song,
officials at Singapore Airport had a name list and Nies name was
on it.
The leader of Taiwans Falun Dafa Association, Zhang Chingxi,
stated that the Singapore governments actions were disappointing.
Could it be that Singapore is now a colony of the CCP?
Zhang called on the Singapore government to by no means be an
accomplice to the CCP. The CCP is currently facing a wave of
withdrawals and will be broke up and disintegrated soon. Singapore
should definitely not be buried along with the fall of the CCP.
Zhang also called on all countries around the world that enjoy
independence, liberty, and human rights to condemn Singapores
actions that betray the freedom of belief.
Zhang said that after Nies incident, the Falun Dafa association in
Taiwan has already brought the issue to the attention of the
Department of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan. The Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Spokesman Lu Michael Ching-long stated that the Taiwan
government would seriously protect the rights of Taiwan citizens
and that the Department of Foreign Affairs is in contact with the
Singapore government but has received no response.
This is not the first time that the Singapore government has ruled
unjustly against Falun Gong practitioners. On February 23, 2003,
two female Falun Gong practitioners, Cheng Lujin and Ng Chye Huay,
were practicing Falun Gong exercises in Esplanade Park and were
later charged by the Singapore government in May 2004 with eight
counts, including "Assembly without a Permit" and for "Possession
and Distribution of VCDs without a Certificate."
The hearings in court lasted for a year and on April 27, 2005; the
Singapore court passed a heavy sentence on the two plaintiffs,
imposing individual fines of S$24,000 (US$14,31
and
S$20,000 ($11,932). The plaintiffs insisted on their innocence and
refused to pay the fines. Consequently they were detained in Changi
womens prison. Both women later went on a hunger strike to protest
the injustice. Under pressure, their families paid the fines and
both women were released on May 3, 2005.
Source: http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/5-6-17/29617.html
Now that is something we cannot find in The Straits Times.
Falungong is classified as a cult by Singapore law, and the ICA is
probably using it as a basis to ban Falun Gong practitioners from
entering Singapore.
Probably an action meant to toe China's position on Falun Gong, the
ban has been in effect since the late 1990s (1998 if I am not
wrong). I don't see why Singapore should ban this organisation: it
has done nothing wrong towards Singapore society, nor has it caused
anybody to hurt anyone unlike real cults. The ban definitely is
more politically motivated.
Singapore a democracy? Please then explain the ban.
