Your
Letters
26 Dec 07
Dear
Dr Chee,
I have recently returned home from USA. While
the world watches in horror and condemns the massacre of
thousand of innocent civilians in Myanmar, I am somewhat
embarrassed when my friends in USA asked why Singapore's (and
ASEAN) response has been a deafening silence.
While I
must admit that I have not been totally supportive of SDP's
clashes with the PAP Government in recent years, I have written
in to express my respect for your dedication to the Burmese
cause (especially when you sat alone at the Istana), and your
team's courage for defying the odds and speaking up against the
vile regime. You are probably the only one in Singapore who
dares to speak up. I am also disgusted by your revelation that
Singapore may have supplied the arsenal of weaponry that the
junta had used to commit their vile acts. I echo your call for
the PAP Government to be open about their business links with
the junta.
I would also like to bring to your attention
the hypocrisy of other Governments in so-called first world
countries. While they openly lobby for economic sanction on
Myanmar, it doesn't square off when multinational companies
continue to operate their businesses in Myanmar in concert with
the junta. One lucrative business will be oil. MNCs based in
Europe and US such as TOTAL and Chevron (through Unocal)
continue to harvest oil and natural gas in Myanmar.
When
responding to critics, the management of TOTAL actually said "We
feel the country would have evolved much more if more
responsible companies had remained. Development of human rights
goes along with the development of the economy." Likewise,
while the US House of Representatives make a farce of calling on
Chevron to pull out of Myanmar, I doubt it will ever happen.
Truthdig.com insinuated that US Secretary Rice had
served on the Chevron Board of Directors for a decade, and
during her tenure, Chevron was sued for involvement in the
killing of nonviolent protesters in Nigeria. This is a mirror of
the situation in Burma, where the people in both countries
suffered political repression and pollution where oil and gas
are extracted while the people lived in dire poverty.
If
these first world countries do not set the example, and their
Governments close one eye, it will take a lot more to move other
mercenary countries like Singapore away from a goldmine. It is a
well known fact that Singapore companies like Temasek are
hardcore capitalists that only talk about dollars and
cents.
The fuel hikes by the junta was the straw the
broke the camel's back, and led to commoners and monks taking
the streets. One then has to ask oil and gas companies such as
TOTAL and Chevron why there is a need for the junta to raise the
fuel prices that ultimately led to the bloodshed. With oil
prices spiraling upwards, we can assume that the junta's coffers
continue to inflate. These could be the very source of income
that enabled the junta to purchase expensive weapons in the
first place.
SDP's call for the Singapore Government to
be transparent about their arms deal with Myanmar led me to
search the Internet. Literature in the article convinced me that
SDP is not too far off , and I am more or less convinced that
there is no smoke without fire. In Wikipedia, it appeared that a
lot of the Myanmar Army arsenals, including bullets, were
developed, manufactured and patented to western countries. Given
the tight regulations and control over arms trade, I am not
convinced that these countries – US, Israel, UK and
Singapore included, can deny knowledge of how the junta get
their hands on these weapons.
Finally, a Sydney Herald
report revealed that the Australian Federal Police helping to
train 20 Burmese police intelligence officers. These could be
the very people that raided monastery and houses in the middle
of the night, based on intelligence gathering, to arrest and
murder monks and other so-called "trouble-makers".
We should continue to press the Singapore Government to
reveal their ties with the Myanmar junta. I also urge the SDP to
take the lead to demand answers from western powers such as USA,
France and Australia on the continued presence of US and
European based MNC in Myanmar for the benefit of the oppressed
Burmese people. Then, we can really show the world that at least
someone in Singapore cares and dares to speak up. Justice must
prevail. These are blood money which they are feeding the junta,
and I am certain the money does not profit the
commoners.
TENCENTS W.
__________________________________
Hi,
SDP,
Watching
the videos have encouraged me to do something - anything. I
would like to receive news of related happenings. Thanks!
SOOTY
__________________________________
To
SDP,
I
have just seen a video of those who were arrested for exercising
their right for free speech in a democratic country that is
Singapore. The more I analyse the situation, the more
disillusioned I get at the thought of just how backwards the
government really is.
I
commend the government for not supporting Burma's brutal regime,
but I do feel that it should practice what it preaches about
democracy.
Anything else would be hypocrisy.
I
am in full support of Singapore's democratic movement despite me
being an Australian citizen, originally from Malaysia. I
understand that Malaysia too has issues of its own and very much
interested in local and international politics.
The
truth is something that is perceived as something so hard to do,
yet is probably the easiest to accomplish. The trouble is the
baggage and accountability that comes with it.
Those
are my views and I hope that the South East Asian region will
one day be united in fostering true democratic processes.
Please
keep up the good work. I hope to hear good news in the
future.
S C ONG
SDP's Reply:
Thank
you for the kind words and the interest you show. Knowing that
people care means a lot to us.
Unfortunately,
freedom isn't free. It is usually bought with a high price. We
update our website, with few exceptions, on a daily basis. Do
continue to visit it for updates.
__________________________________
Dear
all at SDP,
I thought I would write you a very quick note
to say goodbye to you all and to say thanks for giving me and my
friends the opportunity to actively participate in the struggle
for human rights and civil rights in Singapore and across the
world. I have learned a lot from our meetings and please please
let me know if there is anything that I can do back in England
to help out with the cause.
I genuinely believe it is
only a matter of time before you all see substantial reward for
your efforts. It has been a pleasure meeting you all and good
luck in all your future efforts. Please stay in touch!
OLLY
(Note: Olly is a former
international student at NUS)
__________________________________
Hi
SDP,
What
Singaporeans wants to hear are changes or propose alternatives
and I mean viable solutions to the current situations. Yes... I
heard of the "non-democratic" part of Singapore so on
and so forth. However, it's not the culture of Singaporeans to
stand up to that, the problems most Singaporeans care about are
of daily livelihood and not ideology of being a liberal country
as compared to the States. No matter what, we still preserve our
Chinese modesty on speech.
Come
next GE, I really hope SDP could brainstorm to more alternatives
solutions and proposal that are viable, just to show
Singaporeans how bad the current ruling party has been
suppressing us. Tell the people you care and show them their
choices, not bad mouthing only.
VICTOR
__________________________________
Hello
Dr Chee,
Sir! Keep soldiering on! You have a good heart,
I may not agree with your methods, but you have a good cause and
are following your calling. That is awesome and noble! No one
can take that away, and I greatly respect your integrity and
loyalty to stick by your cause and beliefs!
Best wishes
for you and your family!
STEPHEN
Archive
of your letters from 03 Dec 07 here
