Francis Seow says he would like to return to Singapore

Home

News

Singapore

Sunday, 09 October 2011

Singapore Democrats

Francis Seow speaks via Internet In a precedent-setting forum, former ISA detainee Francis Seow told a packed room that he wished to return to Singapore but added that "somebody has to go first."

Mr Seow was speaking via the Internet at the SDP's public forum entitled Silenced No Longer held yesterday at the Quality Hotel. The forner solicitor-general was still an admired figure among the standing-room only crowd even though he has been living in exile for the last 23 years.

During his 15-minute presentation he quoted Mr Lee Kuan Yew's initial opposition to the ISA (then the Preservation of Public Security Act) in the mid-1950s when he was in the opposition. Mr Lee had said:

But we either believe in democracy or we don't. If we do, then, we must say categorically, without qualification, that no restraint from the any democratic processes, other than by the ordinary law of the land, should be allowed... If you believe in democracy, you must believe in it unconditionally.

If you believe that men should be free, then, they should have the right of free association, of free speech, of free publication. Then, no law should permit those democratic processes to be set at nought, and no excuse, whether of security, should allow a government to be deterred from doing what it knows to be right, and what it must know to be right...

But that all changed when he won power. Mr Lee unleashed the ISA with a vengeance against his opponents.

Teo Soh Lung speaking with Francis Seow "You must not be fooled," Mr Seow cautioned Singaporeans. "I know the man, I worked with him for years." He said that there was no place for the ISA in Singapore, pointing out that there were enough laws to adequately deal with anyone out to do Singapore harm.

When asked if he would like to return to Singapore Mr Seow answered in the affirmative. "My family has been in Singapore for more generations than Lee Kuan Yew's. Of course, I'd like to come back."

However, he cannot do so because there is still a warrant of arrest against him. Mr Seow had approached the Singapore Embassy in the US but was told that he would be given a one-way ticket back as there was "unfinished business" that the Government had with him.

Despite getting on in age, Mr Seow still spoke with gusto and challenged the Government to produce evidence against ISA detainees instead of just insisting that there was wrong-doing.

"It's very strange, in 1987 the Government accused the detainees of being Euro-communists, but then for me it said that I was a CIA agent," he said to the laughter of the audience. "They will say anything but will not produce evidence."

SDP Chairman Jufrie Mahmood urged Mr Seow to consider coming back to Singapore, a point which resonated with the audience. The former prosecutor clearly left a deep impression with his listeners who bade farewell at the close of the session with a resounding round of applause.

Share this article:

Comments (10)

Sun 09 Oct 2011 4:02 PM | Atobe - International Court of Justice for exiled Singapor

All these fellow exiled Singaporeans - who have escaped the political persecution and victimization of the PAP Political Leadership - should seek justice from the International Court of Justice.

The PAP Government cannot possibly disclaim the reach of the International Court of Justice, when it had depended on the ICJ to adjucate on the "Preda Branca" dispute with Malaysia.

How long can the PAP Government place themselves to be above the law - even to the extent of abusing the legislative process by amending the Singapore Constitution and the Legislations into a worthless heap of paper ?

Regrettably, all these legislative acts were done to protect the political interests of the PAP Leadership and the Party - and without the Singaporean interests being considered.

Sun 09 Oct 2011 11:02 PM | BryanT - SDP distorts facts and hide information

SDP reports that "despite getting on in age, Mr Seow still spoke with gusto and challenged the Government to produce evidence against ISA detainees instead of just insisting that there was wrong-doing."

When questioned, I recall hearing FS say something like this: "No, I think we should not waste time like (an inquiry into Operation Spectrum). The way I see it, you'll be whistling in the dark. It's not going to happen. Let's be practical. And Singaporeans are practical people, and they know what they can do... and how to achieve it."

Mandy Mary also heard FS say it. She mentioned:"I was there too and clearly remember FS saying that we should not waste time."

I wonder why this important fact was not reported by SDP who instead choose to distort it to one of FS challenging the government to provide evidence. This looks like a case of SDP conveniently changing facts and hiding information to suit its own misplaced agenda.

Viva la democracy!

Mon 10 Oct 2011 3:30 AM | SBG - 本那么小赌那么大

这是在灰色地带玩沙地踩高跷，胆识很高，会不会过关，不知道。舍身就义的情节让人钦佩，咳，可惜。本钱太少，哗众而不能取宠，可能又被摸成“犯罪党”，饥苦的人民又失去了依靠，我们就不能做些开心的事情吗？过去几个月看到越来越多的人民上前支持不开心吗？

犹如萧先生所云，做这事浪费时间，吃力又不讨好。

要赌大小，做多三五年的社区服务，聚集三五万的支持者再赌，不是多点胜算吗？这么多拥有高度智慧，学识，舍身为国的聪明人在一起。这是一个很好的政党。

Mon 10 Oct 2011 8:16 AM | Tan Tai Wei

I read that the police asked to investigate the orgnisers' possible breaking the law for holding a public meeting letting a "fugitive from the law" and a "non-citizen" to intervene in "local politics".

This reminds me of what happened to me in London many years ago. I had boarded a bus with a heavy bag in each hand. Seeing that I was about to put one bag down on a spot not meant for bags, the hefty bus conductor put his big foot on that spot and yelled, "Not on my foot, not on my foot!"

Like our MHA, the bully had deliberately put his foot there in order that I would technically "break the bus rule" when I couldn't help but had to put that bag down! And then he could be "right" to have me evicted from the bus?

Just so, Tang and Francis had been forced by circumstances they created to be "fugitive" and "in exile", and now they say they broke the law by participating in the forum?

In my case, though, it turned out it was because the bus conductor hadn't noticed I had had another heavy bag with the other hand. When he realized that, he apologised very, very profusely (something not within our culture for our people to do, including "leaders"!).

Mon 10 Oct 2011 9:47 AM | Tan Tai Wei

BryanT, like the ST's online report (which highlights only that "saying" of Francis'), only "hears" and not "perceive" what Francis meant to say.

He meant, not that the "commission of inquiry" should not be held, but that, knowing the PAP, particularly LKY "whom" he had worked with for years, asking for it would be utterly "a waste of time". (They aren't made of anything reminiscent of humanity that would conceivably render them responsive to such a request; ie. they are utterly devoid of any sense of fairplay, etc, etc.)

Mon 10 Oct 2011 10:09 AM | quantum - BryanT again

BryanT is again here to destroy the whole thing. He is worse than the police.

Mon 10 Oct 2011 4:34 PM | Seelan Palay - BryanT

Of course people like BryanT, who are members of other opposition parties masquerading as "impartial observers" and/or ISD operatives themselves will find it very necessary to discredit the SDP at every opportunity.

Wed 12 Oct 2011 10:28 PM | joehancl/PRAY, it works - CHANGE or be changed

The world is changing and very fast too. All over the world SONS and DAUGHTERS are having visions of a new world. If pap does not change the world will leave it behind. When sons and daughters have visions, POWER is in the hands of the people, NOT the govt.

Wed 12 Oct 2011 11:04 PM | quantum - Mr Lee to receive Lincoln Medal in US?

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_722442.html

He left Singapore on Monday night and will be in Istanbul till Friday. From Istanbul, Mr Lee will visit the United States, said a statement from his office yesterday.

Next Tuesday, Mr Lee will receive the Lincoln Medal at the historic Ford's Theatre in Washington DC.

The Lincoln Medal is awarded by the Ford's Theatre Society to individuals who 'illuminate or reflect former US president Abraham Lincoln's legacy of leadership and service in their body of work, accomplishments or personal attributes', said the statement.