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TBT 18 trial begins on Thursday Print E-mail
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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Comments (42)
  • Muhd Shah
    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.
  • AnnA - SDP activists stands tall.
    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:
    [quote=Muhd Shah]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.[/quote]

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

    Well done. Keep fighting for Singapooreans!
  • greyheyn
    "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"
    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 [i]tak boleh tahan[/i] too.
  • Abdul Salim Harun
    Fight On Dear Comrades... The People Will Be With You In Your March For Democracy!
  • Stand up tall - papees are bullies
    [color=red][b]To the 18 Activits - Stand up tall against the tyrants and bullies!

    Lee Regime are nothing but big time cowards![/b][/color]
  • Daniel Ling - re:
    [quote=Muhd Shah]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.[/quote]

    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 ?
    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
    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.
  • Tc - Tomato like people
    These people are like tomatoes spattered against a wall. They smashed themselves, no one forced them.
  • L.K. lan
    To Muhd Shah,

    Who are you to judge? Excuse me, you are not God! You "Mr-think-I-know-everything".

    I just feel sorry for you. For all I know, you could be a rotten peddler along one of those Geylang lorongs.
    Hahahah..

    Muhd Shah, you really make my day, you know. rofl.
  • k b - re:
    [quote=Muhd Shah]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.[/quote]


    i do feel sorry for csj's kids.. they are gonna be given a hard time in sch and all... but someone has to stand up for us
  • ah beng - to Muhd Shah
    The real trouble makers is the government. Can't you see? (you are obviously blind)By charging them, the government is making all sorts of trouble for themselves, for the activists and for our police force who has nothing to do all day. If one has let them be, they would have gone quietly about their business, backed up and went home. You sound like the activists are out to beat people up, smash shop windows, throw molotovs, lob grenades, mow down women and children with machine guns etc. Is this what you mean by trouble makers? But SDP has done none of those.Anyways, you are just of of those hollow brains that pop up every now and then, you know people say"Du kannst mich mal"? Get real bro.
  • Sylvester Lim - re:
    [quote=Muhd Shah]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.[/quote]

    Actually, my NSman son is very proud of me when we explain to him why we are doing this and why most apathy Singaporeans are sitting around and keep letting the government screw them over and over again. As a parent, I'm setting an example and if I remain a scared citizen, he will be one also. It becomes a vicious cycle. Not the schools, not the teachers, not the army, but the parents influence the children. When we think of our fellow citizens who need help to speak out, we are helping ourselves and our families. Does'nt religion teach us this too? To help our fellow men? Or are we supposed to turn a blind eye and just care for ourselves? Are we supposed to go to our churches, temples or mosques and just keep quiet when there is injustice? Is someone else supposed to do something about it but not YOU?
  • Mike - Sorry for CSJ's kids
    I feel sorry for them because they have to lose their innocence at such a young age and have to be exposed to the evils of human greed.
  • Victor - DO NOT DRAG THE KIDS ALOONG
    I fully agreed with Muhd Shah. Singaporean by and large, can see for themselves, what an opposition (such as Chiam and Low) can do for people, and what you guys in SDP are trying to do.

    You guys are a BIG SHAME to the opposition landscape in Singaporean, why i say shame, cos you guys like to pull in kids in your photoshots to gain sympathy. Be a man, when you make mistake, try not to look like a Martyr.

    As I always said, if you really are serious in serving singaporean, do it seriously like what Chiam and Low have been doing. I think people in both wards can be a testimony; to say more will only make you guys shame further.

    I think only foreign liberal groups will buy your stories, but to them, i said a big "GET LOST" mind your own business, watch your very own back yard before you commend on others. The peace in Singapore must not be easily dislodged by them.
  • Mike - Why not have such an ACT?
    Instead of dressing up with all the legal jargon, LKY should just make such a law

    under Section 5(4)(z) Chapter 199 of the Against Demi-God Act for constantly embarrassing the demi-god of singapore.
  • Anonymous - To ah beng
    So typical of ah beng to showoff his German slag. You should just flöten gehen. Du scheißt mich an!
  • G Chen
    To Muhd Shah,
    If you would like your comment to be viewed with even a sprinkle of seriousness, at least enlighten us by substantiating your allegations such as what you mean by "trouble maker"? However, your comment only prove that you are nothing more than an empty vessel who has no views of his own but brainlessly regurgitate from other propaganda machineries. Should your master/s be proud of you? I doubt so. In fact I would feel sorry for your love ones if this is all the "intellectual discourse" you can provide. Of course, rightfully everyone should empathise Dr Chee's children for the pain and suffering they have gone through in their tender age, probably much more than what most of us have gone thru and esp what you (Muhd Shah) went thru in your long and agonisingly pathetic life. But I also believe that such experiences will mould them to be extraordinary individuals with strong attributes and not some spineless, poor example of a human.
  • Anonymous
    Wish you guys good luck, when you're in the hands of the WARLORDS be prepare for the worst, WARLORD do not talk about laws their thoughts is the law that dictates your fate, don't waste time engaging lawyer to fight the WARLORD in their office, the so call judge and police are all gangs of this WARLORD family The LEE WARLORD
  • Stop relying on others
    "i do feel sorry for csj's kids.. they are gonna be given a hard time in sch and all... but someone has to stand up for us"

    So many look to the government to help when things go wrong, or just aren't what they think should be. And now looking for someone to stand up for us.

    I think it's about time that we take a part in standing up for ourselves.
  • Civil Disobedience - re: Tomato like people
    [quote=Tc]These people are like tomatoes spattered against a wall. They smashed themselves, no one forced them.[/quote]

    Those who are either ignorant or cowardly like to use the pretense of "living to fight another day" instead of "being suicidal".

    But when the political space is finally opened up for them, they have no problem to utilise it (such as Speakers' Corner) without the proper acknowledgment of those who fight for such rights with personal sacrifices.
  • AnnA - To All SDP Website Readers
    I would like to inform all of you that starting today, I am not going to post any comment using my usual nickname, AnnA.

    I will come in once in a while to comment but will never use this name anymore.

    For your information, the above poster who had been using my nickname as AnnA @9:07AM was not me.

    To my impostor, whatever you write in future, from now on, people will know that it isn't me. And I hope that you will not clone somebody else anymore. Use your own user name. God sees.

    To SDP please take note of the person's IP address to make sure that whatever is written here in future using my name, I will not be responsible for that.
  • Druid - Holistic Look
    Are the kids persecuted too? Hope not!!
  • SDP Readers - re: To All SDP Website Readers
    [quote=AnnA]I would like to inform all of you that starting today, I am not going to post any comment using my usual nickname, AnnA.

    I will come in once in a while to comment but will never use this name anymore.

    For your information, the above poster who had been using my nickname as AnnA @9:07AM was not me.

    To my impostor, whatever you write in future, from now on, people will know that it isn't me. And I hope that you will not clone somebody else anymore. Use your own user name. God sees.

    To SDP please take note of the person's IP address to make sure that whatever is written here in future using my name, I will not be responsible for that.[/quote]

    [u][b]To AnnA:[/b][/u]

    Aiyoh lady, don't be like that lah. Whether that AnnA or you AnnA, all are SUPPORTERS of SDP right ? All from one family.

    We can sense that AnnA is here to do you any harm.

    I repeat, ALL FROM ONE SDP FAMILY. So don't be like that O.K. ?

    [u][b]To "The Other" AnnA:[/b][/u]

    Wah piang !! See what you did to AnnA above. She's very frustrated with you. Scold you she is wrong; don't scold you she vomit blood. Now she want to quit using her AnnA.

    One family of SDP supporters, right ? You are not her enemy. Maybe if you also want this nickname... just change a little bit O.K. ? Co-operate abit lah... Thank you hor.
  • ah beng - re: To ah beng
    [quote=Anonymous]So typical of ah beng to showoff his German slag. You should just flöten gehen. Du scheißt mich an![/quote]Yo bro, "du scheisst mich an" is good. It's right on target.
  • SDP Readers - re: To All SDP Website Readers
    My typo error in my above post, should read as :

    "We can sense that AnnA is here to do you [b][color=red]NO[/color][/b] harm."
  • cass888
    Look. You broke the law. Police pleaded with you to go away. You insisted on staying. You deserve to get arrested.

    If the judge invites anyone to cast the first stone, I'd be tbe first to throw a brick at you, Dr Chee Soon Juan, the gentleman (?) who betrayed your mentors Vasoo and Chiam and tried to kick Chiam out of Parliament.

    I dare you to delete this. I will bring this to every other forum read by Singaporeans. Maybe even the mainstram press.

    The day you stop (or die) is the day politics will make real progress in Singapore.
  • David
    ""i do feel sorry for csj's kids.. they are gonna be given a hard time in sch and all... but someone has to stand up for us""

    Don't feel sorry for csj's kids, feel sorry for your kids and yourself instead because eventually you have to pay for the PayAndPay schemen and dose of useless and incompetent government.

    Didn't you now taste the dose of bad government ? How bad you want the gov to be before you wake your farting idea !
  • SDP Readers - re: To All SDP Website Readers
    There was a typo error in my earlier post.

    It should read as,

    [b]"We can sense that AnnA is here to do you [color=red]NO[/color] harm."[/b]
  • watcher
    'them' rights and 'us' rights are clashing.there seems to be an impasse that is difficult to resolve. a conflict of interests. the rulers are unapologetic that the people need their expertise. unfortunate, the elites had gotten so fat and comfortable in their throne that they have inevitably created a substantial number of humiliated and unhappy underclass. surely this cannot persist without enforcing legal or illegal restrain which can only lead to more bloodshed?

    and this is the exact scenario now.

    with blood spewed on the ground, the blood cries to high heaven for justice.

    your last enemy is death. the sting of death is SIN. the strength of SIN is the LAW.

    don't you know what must comes next to claim your victory over death?
  • Anonymous
    Simple-minded cass888! Swallowed whole the press and official version of things, lacking even a bit of the politicial sophistication of the masters he trusts absolutely.

    I think the PAP, whilst thriving on such slavish compliance, despise it!

    cass888 will never be considered for PAP tea parties!
  • Mike - cass888 - talk is cheap
    You said you will throw stone, why not do it? Talk is Cheap ...

    Just like the PAP ... can only play the game with their own umpire.

    Under such circumstance, Singapore will be first in the Olympics too. Just disqualify all competition ...

    Now I understand their notation of the first world. What a joke.
  • Anonymous - re:
    [quote=cass888]I dare you to delete this. I will bring this to every other forum read by Singaporeans. Maybe even the mainstram press.[/quote]

    Haha cass888, don't feel too high about yourself leh. Your comment is not as outrageous as some other posts that have been published so many times before on this website.

    Hahaha go to mainstream press. Go lah! I'm sure they'll gladly lap up your kind of views!
  • G Chen - re:
    [quote=cass888]Look. You broke the law. Police pleaded with you to go away. You insisted on staying. You deserve to get arrested.

    If the judge invites anyone to cast the first stone, I'd be tbe first to throw a brick at you, Dr Chee Soon Juan, the gentleman (?) who betrayed your mentors Vasoo and Chiam and tried to kick Chiam out of Parliament.

    I dare you to delete this. I will bring this to every other forum read by Singaporeans. Maybe even the mainstram press.

    The day you stop (or die) is the day politics will make real progress in Singapore.[/quote]

    In the bible,the scribes and the Pharisees while trying to entrapped Jesus, brought to Him a woman taken in adultery, saying that Moses Law commanded that she should be stoned and asked for Jesus' opinion. Jesus replied "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" which resulted in everyone leaving the woman alone after being convicted by their own conscience. So to Cass888, you must either be perfect or a hypocrite. But the condemnation in your comment and your eagerness to "cast the first stone" shows that you are FAR from being perfect, so I am left with one other conclusion which is that you are a BIGGEST HYPOCRITE. Also, the fact that you think that your comment is going to frighten SDP from publishing it and that it would see the light if sent to the mainstream media, not only makes it laughable but also reinforces your severe lack of maturity..“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?...You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye." Cass888 GROW UP.
  • Allahu Akbar - THANK YOU SDP
    Thank you Dr.Chee and all activists for trying to make Singapore a better place for us to live in.
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