TBT 18 trial begins on Thursday

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Sunday, 19 October 2008

Singapore Democrats

The trial for the 18 activists charged for protesting outside Parliament House in March this year will begin this Thursday in the Subordinate Courts in Court No. 5. It is scheduled to last till 7 Nov 08.

The hearing is the first in the history of Singapore where a group of activists defied the law prohibiting the gathering of 5 or more persons in public. The protest was part of the Tak Boleh Tahan! campaign to highlight poverty in Singapore and the Government's greed in continuing to raise fees and prices even as wages of the people shrink.

The protesters had gathered outside Parliament House on 15 Mar 08 which is also World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD). They were confronted by the police outside the Funan Centre on South Bridge Road whereupon 12 persons were arrested. They and six other were subsequently charged on two counts:

i. under Section 5(4)(b) Chapter 184 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public and Nuisance Act) for participating in an assembly outside Parliament House on 15 Mar 08,

ii. under Section 5(4)(b) Chapter 184 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public and Nuisance Act) for participating in a procession outside Funan Centre on 15 Mar 08.

The activists are not only challenging the constitutionality of the law but also the selective enforcement of it. The Consumer Association of Singapore (CASE) also conducted protests on the same occasion in 2007 and 2008 outside Parliament House. CASE is headed by PAP MPs Mr Yeo Guat Kwang (Aljunied GRC) and Dr Teo Ho Pin (Bukit Panjang).

CASE is a member of the Consumers International which celebrates WCRD every year. This year the CASE held a march, which involved thousands of people, to protest against the marketing of junk food.

But while the police cracks down on TBT protesters, it turns a blind eye to CASE's protest.

Below are the 18 who will stand trial this Thursday:

The activists:

1. Gandhi Ambalam

2. Chia Ti Lik

3. Chong Kai Xiong

4. Jeffrey George

5. Jaslyn Go

6. Chee Siok Chin

7. Govindan Rajan

8. Chee Soon Juan

9. Jufrie Mahmood

10. Jufri Salim

11. Surayah Akbar

12. Ng E-Jay

13. Seelan Palay

14. Shaffie

15. Carl Lang

16. John Tan

17. Francis Yong

18. Sylvester Lim

“In every era, there are always those who will struggle for freedom.

These people play a difficult role, their paths are paved with pain and loneliness. Their own generation will not accept them. In fact, they will be rejected, bullied, humiliated, imprisoned and even killed.

These freedom fighters plod along a narrow path. But in the end, those who follow will widen the path into a broad avenue.

Freedom fighters may suffer physically, financially and even psychologically, but their courage and commitment will enhance human civilization and last forever. Freedom fighters don’t belong to today, but they will live on tomorrow.”

— Shih Ming-teh, former Taiwanese political prisoner who was imprisoned without trial for 25 years and eventually led Taiwan to democracy

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Muhd Shah -

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:35 am

AnnA - SDP activists stands tall.

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 1:07 am

There is clearly favourtism when one large group was allowed to protest while a so much smaller group was arrested and now charged.

Whatever the outcome, righteousness is already on your side; so stand tall SDP.

Anonymous - re:

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 1:11 am

Muhd Shah wrote:

Nobody is above the law. The 18 TBT activist deserved it.

Your quote: Shih Ming-teh, former Taiwanese political prisoner who was imprisoned without trial for 25 years and eventually led Taiwan to democracy. All these while dr Chee you may wish the S'pore gahment would imprison you under ISA so that you can equate youself with other countries' politcal activists like Shih Ming Teh, Nelson Mandela tc. Sorry, you not yet up to that standard. You are just a trouble maker in the eyes of most Singaporeans. I don't know how your children will view you - a hero or a law breaker. I just feel sorry for your children.

I feel sorry that you have such shallow views too. After all this time you still don't get it, do you?

Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if you're just another one of the PAP internet brigade.

David -

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 1:18 am

"Nobody is above the Kangaroo law."
You can't charge human with kangaroo law, you can only charge kangaroo with kangaroo law. Human can only charge with human law. Therefore, no one is guilty according to human rule of law.

People who believe blindly in kangaroo law is himself kangaroo and bound by kangaroo policies and law.

Tan Tai Wei -

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 2:16 am

Assuming that we had really been under "communist" terrorist threat during those days of our nation's birth pangs (threats which those "declassified documents" in London seem to belie), the laws prohibiting assemblies and processions of five or more persons might have a point.

But see how pointless it is now to apply this law to only young SDP suppporters, trying to show how anachronistic this law is at present, when, imaginary or not, the "threat" has long been left behind!

Why, we see groups of five or more everywhere, at hawker centres, or playing fields! Or everytime LKY, sons and families, drive by!

How trite our judiciary appears when we prosecute persons who appear like boy scouts in T-shirts shouting "ra-ra-ra"!

It's like Shakespeare's Othello, middle-aged, war-scarred and war-decorated, but who could not adapt to peace-time living, strangling her gentle wife of barely sixteen "whose fairness would even blush at a touch" at the slightest malicious suggestion of her infidelity by the motiveless villain "Iago".

Thomas Jefferson -

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 3:11 am

For the edification of Muhd Shah:

"Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add Within the Limits of the Law, because law is often but the tyrants' will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual." ---Thomas Jefferson

Ada Style - In reply to Muhd Shah (is that your real name or a

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 3:40 am

The question is not whether CSJ is trying to emulate other political activists. We are way past that stage. It's a question of continuously knocking into the thick headed skulls of our ruling party and letting them know that their style of government can no longer work in this day and age. (Ps. And I think the man on the street uses the term 'gahmen' rather than 'gahment'. You are not paying attention, kawan!!)

Singapoorean - Patriotic Dr Chee!

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 4:03 am

Dr Chee, you and the SDP will be viewed as patriotic a fighter as JBJ.

Well done. Keep fighting for Singapooreans!

greyheyn -

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 4:18 am

"All these while dr Chee you may wish the S'pore gahment would imprison you under ISA so that you can equate youself with other countries' politcal activists like Shih Ming Teh, Nelson Mandela tc. Sorry, you not yet up to that standard."

Hi,

No one would have such confidence to say that this ISA Dr Chee's situation would not happen in the future. Perhaps you are someone else.

Dhum Hahs - "For my enemies, THE LAW"

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 8:18 am

Thank you for your concern Muhd Shah. We feel ever so sorry for your family too.

Imagine having to shamefully admit in future that their parent earned a meagre living as a government toady and internet nuisance! Your poor kids sure tak boleh tahan too.

Abdul Salim Harun -

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 8:31 am

Fight On Dear Comrades... The People Will Be With You In Your March For Democracy!

Stand up tall - papees are bullies

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 9:08 am

To the 18 Activits - Stand up tall against the tyrants and bullies!

Lee Regime are nothing but big time cowards!

Daniel Ling - re:

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 9:37 am

Muhd Shah wrote:

Hi Muhd Shah, Well Said. So u feel that it's alright to
- Raise GST and not reduce it after Budget Surplus?
- Raise Cost of Daily Requirements and Giving Discounts Vouchers is ok? When in the first place, the issue is No Money To Buy?
- Raise Cost of Transport when Number of Humans Per Cubic Sq Increase?

Then again, as I mention in many of my comments, I do not entirely think that SDP way is right, but I do feel that there's many wrong now.

And I think you may be right about Dr Chee being a trouble maker, but I hope to rephrase it such that, His Making Ripples in the Calm Dam/River/Stream/Etc. (I mean Ripples of Change)

wayangparty - How will WP MPs respond ?

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:58 am

It is interesting to see if WP MPs Low Thia Kiang and Sylvia Lim will bring this matter up to Parliament.

In Malaysia, Lim Kit Siang will stand up for all groups including HINDRAF in a mark of opposition solidarity.

It is truly amazing that WP can remain SILENT for so long when its fellow opposition leaders are being prosecuted.

Oops, I forgot that WP is not an "opposition" party and has now become a subsidiary of the PAP.

Anonymous -

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:17 pm

Another series of sham trials held in kangaroo courts presided over by lap-dog judges.

The verdicts, before the trials even begin, has already been written by these pseudo judges in their chambers or it's already in these highly partisan judge's mind what is to be written.

Does anyone really expect the trial to be fair. In fact, why should there be a trial in the first place?

And do you know why PAP bothers to go through such troubles even when they themselves know that the people percieves it as a sham trial? What do they intend to show?

It's a warning. To all. To everyone and anyone who wants to challenge them. It's not a trial. It's not about breaking the law. It's use as a warning.

Warning not only not to challenge their authority but also not to question their decisions - be it social, politics, economics etc. These PAP despots behave as if they are perfect beings, above reproach, above accountability, beyond scrutiny, percieving us as lesser mortals not qualified to do so. We, the people, not able to ask matters on our lives and pertaining to our country. Our lives. Our country.

The courts and judges, the people's ultimate defence against oppression, has now been totally controlled the PAP.

You have no rights.... unless the PAP allows it.
You have no freedom .....unless the PAP approves it.
You have no democracy .....unless as interpreted by the PAP.

The PAP Minister's and MP's responsibility is to their PAP leaders(masters) not the people. Think about it.

Is this what you really want for your country? For you and your descendants?

The nightmare can only gets worse....unless you want to change yourself. The crucial ingredient to this change is in each and every one of your vote.

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