Singapore Democrats

[color=red]"Yettaw will be officially deported on Sunday morning," Jim Webb's office said in the statement. "Senator Webb will bring him out of the country on a military aircraft that is returning to Bangkok on Sunday afternoon," it said.[/color]

I had thought that Jim Webb went to Myanmar to engage the military junta over the issue of the further incarceration of Aung San Suu Kyi. Webb is chairman of the US senate's Foreign Relations Committee's East Asia and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee.

Instead, we have just been told that he went there primary to seek the release of John Yettaw who was the culprit in the first place. He must have offered a few kind and friendly words to the junta to get this favour. This is how low it has stooped, or rather knelt, literally.

Instead of confronting the junta over the outrage of democratic principles, it is more interested in the safety of its citizen. So much for the world champion of democracy. Action speaks louder than words.

BTW, Obama is coming for a visit soon. Maybe SDP can have a word edgewise to raise some fracas over this faux pas.

Re: [color=red]"The stand taken by the Singapore Government on Ms Aung San Suu Kyi's latest sentence is shameful."[/color]

To add to that, it is also very [b]representative[/b] the PAP government as well. Three years hard labour, now reduced to 18 months of house arrest (because Aung San Suu Kyi has apparently not suffered enough incaceration) for the trumped up charge of 'harbouring' someone she doesn't know!

Proportionality of crime to punishment is one issue, but the issue that makes this even more representative of the PAP is whether any actual [b]crime[/b] has occurred and whether it was committed by Aung San Suu Kyi herself.

Sounds like a scene taken out of the PAP's very own "kill the chicken to frighten the monkeys" political drama.

Not reported in this article but a word that was used by two of Burma's closest rogue allies, Singapore and China, was sovereignty and a purported need to respect Burma's.

[b]sovereignty (defn.):[/b] [i]"Do not interfere in Burma's internal affairs when they commit wrongdoing; help them cover up wrongdoing instead. We say this because when the time comes to cover up our own wrongdoing, we have already gone on record that this is not an issue of governmental crime, but about a country's sovereignty and the high-minded Asian values we base our countries' governance on."[/i]

[quote]Instead of confronting the junta over the outrage of democratic principles, it is more interested in the safety of its citizen.[/quote]
Isn't that what all good governments are supposed to do, to take care of its own citizens? Isn't that something Singapore should learn, to take care of its own citizens first?

Re: [color=red]"Obama is coming for a visit soon. Maybe SDP can have a word edgewise to raise some fracas over this faux pas."[/color]

The PAP has already anticipated the possibility of that happening based on the SDP's past attempts at doing something similar.

In response, they passed the illegal Public Order Act which empowers the police to declare the APEC meeting grounds off limits.

Not out of character for the PAP to do that in conformity with how its defrauding the legislative function/process of Parliament:

1. [b]Identify a threat[/b] to my stranglehold on political power.

2. [b]Identify an act[/b] (or acts) - previously not criminalized - carried out by the threat to my stranglehold on power.

3. [b]Take action[/b] (eg,. by legislating against that act) to now criminalize those acts.

Dear SDP,

Thanks for posting this article. PAP government is certainly not a friend of Burmese people, but a friend of dictators around the world.

We wish a real democratic government in Singapore in the near future. Such kind of government will only be able to address the need of its own citizens and take a right stand in the international issues.

Mr Goh Chok Tong is part of the problem in Singapore.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew is part of the problem in Singapore.

Of course the PAP esp the holy quartet of Prez/MM/SM/PM have to protect their own kind. They all belong to the same camp.....dictators who suppress their citizens for their own selfish ends and determined to stay in absolute power forever. And specially Burma (I refuse to use the name Myanmar concocted by the SLORC) which has significant trade/financial dealings with SIN.

[color=red]"The PAP has already anticipated the possibility of that happening based on the SDP's past attempts at doing something similar. "[/color]

Robox, no, I am not recommending that SDP (again) resort to acts ala IMF 2006. Frankly speaking, I would consider that too unimaginative and expect SDP to come up with something more creative, sensible and legal. In doing so, hopefully the brand-value of SDP would be enhanced.

As an aside, and again talking from the perspective of a layman, the IMF 2006 episode was then seen as yet another vengeful antic which sought to appeal more to the global audience than the local one. I dare venture to say that many locals see it as a source of embarrassment for the nation as a whole, even though it was targeted at the ruling party and its policies.

I hope history does NOT repeat itself, with or without the POA being enforced.

There will come a time when Burma will finally attain real democracy and the PAP will be among the first nation to congratulate Ms Suu Kyi for her ardent resolve to stand against dictators. This is the PAP government Singaporeans have been falling in love with for the past 50 years. Everything is calculated transgression. Eventually we will be paying for their sins.

[quote]expect SDP to come up with something more creative, sensible and legal.[/quote]
...which is to dissolve the party and merge with the PAP. Cannot agree with you more, BryanT.
[quote]locals see it as a source of embarrassment for the nation as a whole[/quote]
Prove it.

You know, the way things have been going, there is going to be absolutely no 'legal' way of anyone from the SDP being allowed within 100 metres of the APEC meeting grounds.

The Act can (and definitely will) designate the APEC grounds off limits by gazzetting it a special something-or-other zone.

The Act empowers the police to take out specific orders against individuals (read: persons who have already been arrested for protesting previously) to prevent them from going near the grounds.

And even if President Obama [i]wanted desperately[/i] to meet with Dr Chee, the PAP will surely do everything in their power to prevent that from happening; it will give Dr Chee and the SDP the high profile and political mileage that the PAP has been expending no effort at preventing.

[color=red]"the way things have been going, there is going to be absolutely no 'legal' way of anyone from the SDP being allowed within 100 metres of the APEC meeting grounds."[/color]

Robox, good morning!

I agree with you that the authorities will go into overdrive to ensure a tight cordon both for security and political reasons. I don't suppose Ms Chee would go very far if she attempts another "leisurely" walks around the area.

I am reading this book called "Malaysia, Fifty Years of Diplomacy" and it talks about how the people at Wisma Putra have had to scramble over the years to project a good international image of it's country. Fortunately, we don't have politicians whose cannons are as loose as Mahathir, otherwise our foreign service would be very busy with damage control.

Anyway, I would thinking how our foreign service works hard to "paint the correct picture" for the foreign dignitaries and international audience through hosting events such as IMF and APEC. I won't go into the advantages of doing so, but suffice to say it takes a lot of hard work and it's not just about making sure the potted-plants have the correct flowers, red carpets are immaculate and sitting plans are properly.... planned.

Such events cause inconveniences to businesses and the people, but many of us are proud that dignitaries such as Obama would come visit us. As I have also told my people, [b]if I can't contribute personally (to their work), at least I will get out of their way[/b]. So I can't see why anyone should "selfishly" hijack such occasions for his or her agenda.

By all means fight and argue for your rights and liberties, but one should not do it at the cost of other fellow Singaporeans who are committing the hard work.

And no, in case you are wondering, I do not work for the Foreign Ministry.

[quote][i]"So I can't see why anyone should "selfishly" hijack such occasions for his or her agenda."[/i][/quote]

Load of mealy-mouthed, smarmy rubbish, BryanT, and you know it. It's a good thing that you have proven yourself a staunch SDP supporter in your numerous postings, otherwise I might suspect you of being a simpering PAP lackey, you know.

Anyway be that as it may, APEC is the perfect occasion to remind the entire world what a once-happy little nation, ruined by a tin-pot tyrant who can now barely even walk without assistance, now looks like and I would personally spare no effort to rub the delegates' high-falutin' noses in it before lunch time.

I'm sure you'll agree that stupid, vicious, bad laws like the POA (Price On Application - very apt) are just begging to treated with the contempt they deserve and should be held up to the gaze of the cameras of the world's gathered press. As such, I have it on good authority that a pair of prominent dissidents, one dressed as an elderly monkey, the other in a Burmese chicken costume, will hang-glide gracefully into the venue from way beyond the 100m boundary.

Upon landing and before the assembled lenses and satellite phones of the international media, the monkey will proceed to strangle the chicken to bring home to the global audience the repressiveness of the PAP junta and its vile Burmese ass-kissing ways. Not only will the act terrify the chickens (of which there are many in Singapore) but all other monkeys shall also be made uneasy by the demented behaviour of one of their own kind. The message conveyed to Obama will be stark and unmistakable.

Of course our two brave volunteers may face jail-time, even death at the hands of trigger-happy security, but I'm sure you'll agree that the prospect of gaining all Singaporeans their rightful freedoms someday soon is well-worth the sacrifice.

[quote]Load of mealy-mouthed, smarmy rubbish, BryanT, and you know it. It's a good thing that you have proven yourself a staunch SDP supporter in your numerous postings, otherwise I might suspect you of being a simpering PAP lackey, you know.[/quote]
Isn't he one? I thought he is paid handsomely.

[color=red]"It's a good thing that you have proven yourself a staunch SDP supporter in your numerous postings"[/color]

g_e, No! No!No! What have I done to deserve this?! Was I ambiguous? Was I not clear? It's a mother of all sacrilegiousness!

I would hereby like to issue a categorical denial that I am a staunch SDP supporter.

Have I been left with my finger tips precariously clinging on to edge of my pedestal of neutrality on which I thought I was once I was safely ensconced?

Nope, I'm sorry, your cover is blown, your goose is cooked and your reputation for being a fierce anti-SDP warrior is toast.

The way you leap to the defence of the SDP at every opportunity, at any time of the day or night, your stout condemnation of PAP's low-wage high-cost economic model, your abhorrence of its FT policy, the way you rage for a minimum wage - it's as clear as daylight that you're a dyed-in-the-wool, bleeding-heart, liberal lefty of the worst kind.

I'm afraid the cat is out of the bag BryanT, and there is no way you can continue to keep up the facade of being a neutral observer on this site now that we are all aware that you're a member of the SDP Internet Brigade.

I would sympathise with the predicament you find yourself in but you must have known that your chosen path would end in tears at some point. Take heart that 'tis a far, far, better thing you do now than you have ever done before in your life...

g_e, the zoo of animals may have escaped and gotten toasted, but the last time I checked, cat was still safely in the bag.

I suppose the rumour you have seeded is spreading - now even [i]quantum[/i] is daring me to join SDP and run against CSJ. It was the most outrageous idea since the day Dan Quayle spouted, "I deserve respect for the things I did not do."

As to whether my future will be far far better once I'm part of the SB (Sycophant Brigade.... not Special Branch), I doubt so.

If you don't mind, would you give me a leg up? I'll like to regain my precarious perch on my small pedestal with my clumsy bag, if only the damn cat (read lion) would stop fidgeting.

And I can't leave without leaving you another dictum from dear Dan, "The future will be better tomorrow."

Keep them (your insinuations) coming!

PS. hope you have kept tab on the Request-to-PM-for-Online-Debate saga.

Insinuations? Who, me? Pur-leeze!

I only ever have your best interests at heart as always dear BryanT, and my only wish is to be your humble assistant in your heroic quest for the political truth and the SDP light-sabre of honour.

For instance, did you know that that you could well be the unwitting owner of a cunningly planted variant of Schrödinger's cat designed to be both in and out of the bag at the same time, depending on who's asking? It's well-known that PAP will stop at nothing to nobble the SDP every chance it gets and you as a rising SDP star, a contender for Dr. Chee's crown, are a prime target.

Much as I would love to give you a leg up, I'm afraid I was forced to wrench off one of my very own to beat off a surprise enemy attack so it's rather the worse for wear now, I'm sorry to have to say. Nevertheless, rest assured that we take your feedback very seriously indeed and will keep in mind your request for a leg to stand on, even though you have four already.

Incidentally, I met the esteemed Dan Quale (former US vice President) the other day and you know what? He still insisted that the correct spelling of "potato" is "potatoe". Why, that's tantamount to spelling '[b][i]Pledge[/i][/b]' as '[b][i]A.s.p.i.r.a.t.i.o.n[/i][/b]' isn't it? Only a silly bugger would do that, I'm sure you'll agree. No wonder the re-election effort of the Bush/Quale team failed! I'd pay no mind to any of Dan's dick-tums if I were you.

Luckily we have your deadly expertise in covert operations at the SDP's disposal so I'm certain that the end of the evil Lee Empire will be nigh.

Now, if you'll excuse me a moment, I must go get The Dogs of War stirred up and ready to rumble.

[color=red]"you could well be the unwitting owner of a cunningly planted variant of Schrödinger's cat designed to be both in and out of the bag at the same time"[/color]

g_e,

Must really give it to you, making me scramble to do a google on that illusive cat - that Schrödinger name sounded very familiar.

Now my decrepit recalls crossing the path of that both-dead-and-alive cat - it was mentioned in Einstein's biography. Sorry, I am just too blockheaded to have comprehended the experiment; as they say in German, Dummkopf. Matters of the metaphysical type are just beyond my grasp.

Anyway, perhaps allow me to pause this verbal jousting and ask you a slightly serious question : why are you hanging around the SDP website?

I hardly see you engaging the Ra-Ra gang who seem to hover around CSJ's halo. I know, it can be quite testing on the nerves. In case you've not been keeping tab, this suspicious gang are prone to dispensing titles - sockpuppet, PAP IB (still not figured that out), fisherman, lackey, etc. I wonder why :)

Or perhaps you are to confirm the result of the Schrödinger experiment on opposition parties in Singapore? Or to tilt the experiment towards one way or the other?