Dr Chee - a play

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Dr Chee - a play

Thursday, 26 March 2009

Singapore Democrats

An American playwright, Garrett Hughes, recently penned a short "scene" that took place when Dr Chee Soon Juan was imprisoned in 2006. The work is a finalist in a writers' competition in Rochester, New York in December 2008. The author has intentions to develop the scene into a full play.

Dr. Chee
by Garrett A. Hughes

December 3, 2006. A jail cell in Singapore, where Dr. Chee Soon Juan is being held.

Jailer Dr. Chee, your dinner.

Dr. Chee No thank you.

Jailer You look very pale. If you don’t eat, you will become sick.

Dr. Chee I am already sick.

Jailer Dr. Chee, please eat your dinner.

Dr. Chee I am afraid that if I eat, I will die. Do you want me to die?

Jailer No. I simply want you to eat your dinner.

Dr. Chee They are one and the same.

Jailer You haven’t eaten since November 26th.

Dr. Chee Do they ask you to keep records?

Jailer I am required to take notice of the status of your health.

Dr. Chee Do you take the same notice of other prisoners?

Jailer I am required to do my professional duty.

Dr. Chee How long have you been doing your professional duty?

Jailer Almost ten years.

Dr. Chee Do you ever form an opinion of the prisoners in your care?

Jailer Some are cooperative and some are uncooperative.

Dr. Chee Have you ever recommended caning for a prisoner?

Jailer I am required to report behaviour that is uncooperative and disruptive.

Dr. Chee Do you know that those are the same reasons for which I have been incarcerated?

Jailer I am aware that you refused to pay a fine of $5000 which, in the judgement of the court, was appropriate for the offense.

Dr. Chee For speaking in public.

Jailer For violating the Public Entertainments and Meeting Act.

Dr. Chee For speaking in public without a permit. Article 14 of our constitution guarantees freedom of speech, association and assembly.

Jailer But the law requires a permit.

Dr. Chee This dichotomy doesn’t seem to bother you.

Jailer The law is the law. Your application was rejected on the grounds that your speaking in a public gathering would lead to law and order problems.

Dr. Chee Has my speaking in public ever lead to law and order problems?

Jailer The law was created to prevent potential problems.

Dr. Chee The law was created to stifle public disagreement with the policies of the people in power.

Jailer The People’s Action Party has won every election since self-government in 1959. The people have spoken.

Dr. Chee It is difficult to speak against the people in power without facing fines or arrest. It is impossible to make and distribute media contrary to government opinion.

Jailer We reserve the right to take into account the concerns and values of the majority of Singaporeans. We must not upset the balance of Singapore’s multiracial society. We would all be at a loss.

Dr. Chee I see that you are familiar with the statements of the Ministry of Information. You know what they call that kind of talk in the free world – propaganda.

Jailer Why do you persist? You know that your efforts fall on deaf ears.

Dr. Chee They are only so deaf as will not listen. They are only so blind as will not see.

Jailer Singapore is the jewel of Southeast Asia. There are many wealthy people living in Singapore. Even I am able to afford a maid and a gardener.

Dr. Chee That brings us to why I am here.

Jailer I do not understand.

Dr. Chee Of that I am certain.

END

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Comments (6)

Fri 27 Mar 2009 4:52 PM | leesjuanpat

It may be difficult for this play by Garett Hughes to be acted on stage in Singapore when it involved Dr. Chee.

A victim of the system, suppressed and
convicted for doing nothing wrong by the PAP appointed compliant courts.
Is it wrong to demonstrate and speak up for greater freedom of life in S'pore under a strict regime of the PAP government? "Winner takes all."

The agenda on Dr. Chee is obvious. To make the public see that he (Dr Chee) is the protagonist troublemaker to tarnish his standing only to the ignorant and simple-minded people, not people like us. "We have eyes to see and ears to hear" as compared to the brainwashed jailer who is the living blind.

Sat 28 Mar 2009 7:05 AM | jeffgoh

Dr Chee, you are already a living legend in Asia, soon You will too be a living legend internationally, and you need not spend billions of our money to achieve this. Allow me to recoin an old saying.

Some are born great, some buy greatness, some achieve greatness.

You Dr chee, definately achieve greatness.

Little signs are most telling, the latest give away, was when Sdp was mentioned in the same breath by LKY, it wasnt a slip of tongue, my take is that he "unconsiously" couldnt see anyone else great enough, and SDP is Dr Chee Soon Juan.

Congratulations, I salute you.

Sat 28 Mar 2009 9:39 PM | | ngejay - Damn hilarious

The dialogue is damn hilarious.

Jailer: I do not understand.

Dr. Chee: Of that I am certain.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

Sun 29 Mar 2009 6:03 PM | quantum

http://www.straitstimes.com/print/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_356009.html

March 29, 2009
Singapore United
PM Lee calls on Singaporeans to work together to find solutions to the crisis
By Aaron Low

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday called on Singaporeans to stay united and focus their energies on finding practical and effective solutions to the current economic crisis.

The 'Singapore United' way was how the country could achieve the best possible outcome for both workers and businesses, and emerge stronger in the longer term, he said.

'If we handle this well, we will pull through and emerge with stronger trust for each other, as we have done many times before,' he added.

He was speaking at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers' Union (SMMWU), the biggest union here, and one of the oldest.

It has 240 branches and 85,000 members, from sectors like retail, food manufacturing and logistics.

Mr Lee noted that in many countries, people were getting worried and frustrated about their jobs, and many looked for someone to blame. As a result, they lashed out at governments, foreign workers and immigrants.

'The country becomes divided, people react emotionally, and problems become harder to solve,' he said, noting that in France, three million people protested against President Nicolas Sarkozy a few days ago.

But these protesters offered no alternative plans, he pointed out. 'After the anger, the letting off of steam, France is no nearer a solution to the crisis.'

Commenting on the Group of 20 summit which will take place this week in London, he said he hoped G-20 leaders would commit to upholding free trade and reach a mutual understanding that protectionist policies at home would simply result in them 'acting at cross purposes' and making things 'worse for all'.

Singapore has no control over its external environment and must 'make the best of what we have', he said.

Sun 29 Mar 2009 8:47 PM | Disappointed Citizen - A Living Legend

Dr Chee,

I have finished watching a heroic show called the "Pledge", acted by Jet Li, Andy Lau and the other handsome actor, forgot his name.

This show was so touching, that the "Pledge" was irregardless of what happens, the 3 brothers (not of the same origin) would die together despite all circumstances. It was script after the 108 heroes in the Chinese Legend.

Such pledge would not happen in the PAP system. Just imagine if there is anything happen to Singapore, Lau Lee and some of his senior dogs will take the 1st flight leaving the country.

Unlike the hard landers who have no choice but to stay behind to fight for this piece of "PAP-broken" land.

Only the SDP and Dr Chee lead team will spend all the time to see that this little dot of the globe survive.

You are already a living legend to many Singaporeans, Dr Chee, keep it up!

We are sure that you have already won many supporters, especially the young ones who believe in equality and wanted to get out of this obstinate-old fashioned PAP driven governance...who only take care of their own pockets but neglect the needy ones.

Cheers, SDP!

Disappointed Citizen

Mon 30 Mar 2009 2:32 AM | quantum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPNxC8EEYNY&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fsingaporerebel.blogspot.com%2Findex.html&feature=player_embedded

(Singaporeans should be trusted to judge the films for themselves)