Tag: Amos Yee

Amos Yee: Allegation Of Molest Is To Manipulate Press

Amos Yee has just clarified on his facebook fanpage that his allegation of molest by his former bailor today was to manipulate the press into waiting for him at the Pasir Panjang MRT.

16-year old blogger, Amos Yee, who was found guilty of two charges brought against him by the Attorney General’s Chambers on Tuesday, 12 May, made an allegation of molest against his former bailor, Mr Vincent Low.

Amos was found guilty of the charge of obscenity and wounding the feelings of Christians in a YouTube video criticising former prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew.

Amos had said earlier in his facebook page status that reporters have been gathering at his doorstep, seeking exclusive interviews and some photos of him.

He went on to say that he should entertain the reporters despite being given advice not to do so and that he would be giving information to reporters on how he was molested by his former bailor.

Mr Vincent Law, a family counselor, has since clarified to TOC that Amos’ allegation against him is false and has no truth whatsoever.

Mr Law had bailed Amos Yee out from police remand on 21 April and subsequently discharged himself as bailor on 30 April, Wednesday.

After 7 hours from his initial posting, Amos wrote another facebook post to clarify that his allegation against his former bailor was his way to troll the media.

Amos wrote,

Yeah… I think some people found out by now… I did, in fact, make use of the voracious desire of the reporters, to xxxx with the mainstream media.

I think it’s pretty obvious when I have arranged a meeting with a person named ‘Dick Ow’, and there is no video game store in Red Hill, at least one that I’m aware of.

I manipulated the press to indulge in the thoroughly exhausting experience of waiting in Pasir Panjang fruitlessly for several hours, which they did with their quote unquote ‘diligence’. They are all quite obscure and hard places to reach in Singapore aren’t they?

And Vincent Law didn’t really molest me, haha. Though he is immensely creepy. I’ll save the specific details for another time.

Yeah it was all a troll, a troll that can only be possible by the inherent stupidity of the media. Have fun!

TOC understands that Mr Vincent Law is still being hounded by reporters from the mainstream media and declined to give a response to Amos’ clarification.

Over the past few hours, many individuals have voiced their disappointment on social media over the allegation made by Amos about Mr Law.

Ravi Philemon, director of a NGO wrote,

“Vincent Law is a youth and family counsellor. Besides the stigma that comes with allegations of sexual misconduct, any such allegation could potentially end his career, and the loss of income as a result of that may adversely affect his family and children. But all these are beyond some inconsiderate 16-year-olds, who think allegations like that are just pranks – never mind the potential harm it may cause the person who tried to help you.”

Damien Chng, legal student and anti-death penalty activist wrote,

“All this nonsense only shows that Amos Yee has issues. I think the false allegation against Vincent deserves to be condemned to the fullest extent. No I still don’t think he deserves to be thrown in jail, because thats not the way to deal with this. The way to deal with this was to have just ignored Amos right from the start.”

Basil Lee, former volunteer at Healthserv who had worked with Mr Law, wrote,

“And even if it is a joke, the distress you caused to the person who has been with alongside you cannot be justified by the fact you claim to ‘manipulate’ the media. In my opnion, this is the highest level of dick-ness.

I can vouch for Vincent Law, and his love for people. Not many people I know will willingly wake up every monday at 5 in the morning every just to have breakfast with someone at the other end of the island. Yet he does it because he cares and loves people.

You never alienate your support system. That is just suicidal.”

Source: www.theonlinecitizen.com

May 14, 2015
Assailant Intolerant And Cowardly But Let’s Forgive

By Andrew Loh

Neo Gim Huah has been sentenced to three weeks’ jail for voluntarily causing hurt to teenager, 16-year old Amos Yee, on 30 April.

Neo, 49, had struck Yee in the face outside the State Court while the latter was on his way to a pre-trial conference.

A posse of media reporters and cameramen were present when the incident happened, and several videos of it later made its way online.

Neo told the court on Monday that he wanted to teach the teen “a lesson” for disrespecting Singapore’s former prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew.

Yee had made and posted an eight-minute video ridiculing and castigating Mr Lee, and compared him to the Christian religious icon, Jesus Christ, in an unflattering manner, saying both men were “power-hungry and malicious”.

Yee is facing charges for the video and for a caricature of Mr Lee and the late British prime minister, Margaret Thatcher.

“The accused sought to maximise the publicity that would be generated by his intended course of action by deliberately choosing the time and place – while the victim was on his way to the State Courts to attend a pre-trial conference,” District Judge Ronald Gwee said in his judgement.

Judge Gwee said “a strong message must be sent to the public at large and particularly to like-minded persons as the accused that his brand of vigilante justice must never be allowed to take root.”

Since the incident almost two weeks ago, members of the public have largely condemned Neo’s actions.

Indeed, Law Minister K Shanmugam described Neo’s deed as “quite unacceptable”.

Others have called for Neo to be taught a good lesson himself.

There are still others who are now, after yesterday’s judgement, calling for Neo’s background to be unearthed, and to further punish him by hounding his business into closure.

We must refrain from doing such things, and take the higher ground and forgive Neo, now that he has been sentenced and more importantly, he has also apologised to Yee and his family.

Some of us (and there are not a few) cried foul when Amos Yee himself was hauled up by the police in a most unnecessary manner – arresting him at his home, handcuffing him, requiring him to post bail, having his passport impounded, dressing him in prison clothes with the word “PRISONER” emblazoned on his back, shackling his feet, and basically parading him in front of the media – even though he has not been found guilty of any offence.

The way the state (and the media, which have sought to demonise the boy) has gone about this is disturbing indeed.

There are many questions about how Amos Yee is being treated by several quarters, including the silence from our elected members, none of whom has publicly raised concerns about whether throwing the book at a boy is the right thing to do.

Yet in the middle of all this – including repeated abuse online by pro-establishment, pro-Lee Kuan Yew supporters – Amos Yee has not sought to do as others have done to him.

Indeed, when Neo assaulted him outside the State Courts, Amos Yee merely put his palm to his cheeks and walked away.

He didn’t chase after Neo.

He didn’t shout back at Neo, who had reportedly challenge Amos Yee to “sue me”.

Amos Yee didn’t ask his parents to file a police report.

He went about his business in court that day, which subsequently saw him being remanded again, till this day.

Amos Yee sought no vengeance.

But this was not the first time that the teenager was dealt such violence or threats of such violence.

After his video was first published, a purported grassroots leader threatened to “cut off his dick and stuff into his mouth”, while others called for and encouraged the rape of Amos Yee while the boy was in remand.

Others have made vile and obscene references to his mother as well.

In short, Amos Yee has been thrown before the courts, misrepresented and smeared in the mainstream media, threatened and assaulted, abused and ridiculed by a pro-establishment lynch mob, a mob which now hails Neo as a “national hero”.

Yet, throughout all this utterly shameful behaviour directed at him, Amos Yee has not sought to react in the same childish manner.

Instead, he has even defended the right of the grassroots leader to say as he pleased, even if it were threats the man was making.

I believe that Amos Yee has forgiven the man, an adult man.

In fact, it would be more accurate to say that Amos Yee probably found nothing to forgive at all, for that is what he believes in – the freedom which must be accorded to everyone to say and express as he would.

And so we return to Neo whose actions are the epitome of intolerance and cowardice.

According to news reports, Neo – in a rather grandiose self-righteous manner – told the court “he hoped everyone would learn from this”.

Well, he is not wrong.

But it is Neo, more than anyone else, who needs to learn from this incident – to learn that being intolerant is not how society progresses, and that striking a boy and then cowardly flee is an entirely shameful and disgraceful act.

Indeed, instead of Neo teaching Amos Yee a lesson, the truth is the other way round – that Neo should learn from a young boy who, despite all the abuse heaped on him this past one and a half month, has chosen to smile at his abusers, stand his ground on what he believes even if meant going to jail, and forgive those adults who claim to know “the way of the world” (as Neo himself claims to) but instead behave like barbarians.

So, let’s not behave in the same manner as those like Neo would.

Let us forgive and move on.

Neo has made a mistake and has apologised. He too has a family who worries for him.

Leave his business be. Let him make his living.

And respect his admiration for Lee Kuan Yew, even if we do not agree with it.

For this is what Amos Yee would want.

Let us not do violence against others, in any form, in the name of defending or seeking justice for Amos Yee.

It is forgiveness which will take us forward, not hatred, intolerance and abuse.

Source: www.theonlinecitizen.com

May 12, 2015
Amos Yee Exposes Limits On Free Speech In Singapore

A government crackdown on a teen video blogger and independent news and opinion website has focused attention on free speech limits, and perhaps the next election, in this cosmopolitan but famously strict city-state.

Five days after the death in March of Singapore’s founding father, 16-year-old Amos Yee posted his latest American-accented blog to YouTube, titled “Lee Kuan Yew Is Finally Dead!” He shared it with the popular and provocative site The Real Singapore, one of several online alternatives to government-controlled TV broadcasts and newspapers.

After it went viral locally, with over a million views so far, Yee was arrested and charged with transmitting an obscene image and deliberately “wounding the religious or racial feelings of any person.” He refused bail conditions that amounted to a gag order and has been jailed for over two weeks, awaiting a court’s judgment on Tuesday. He has pleaded not guilty and faces up to three years in prison. The government’s Media Development Authority shut down TRS, as it is known, earlier this month — though officials say it was for unrelated reasons.

“These are the things that will split the whole society,” said Alvin Tan, who as artistic director of the respected theater company The Necessary Stage has tangled with censors for over three decades. “I think we’re waiting for a tipping point.” He has refused to self-censor but negotiates with government representatives, who have had a lighter touch recently with his plays.

Singapore’s government has long aggressively protected its image and authority with legal action both against domestic and international critics, but Yee’s case stands out: A floppy-haired, wryly humorous teenager targeted by prosecutors for a strongly-worded video, sent to prison and shackled in court.

Last fall the MDA banned film director Tan Pin Pin’s documentary about political exiles “To Singapore, With Love.” Lawrence Wong, Singapore’s minister for culture, community and youth, said the film “was deemed to be a real distortion of what happened in Singapore’s history, but disguised as a documentary.”

“Freedom is not unfettered freedom. There are some limits. And the limits are put out there quite clearly,” he said Wong said the government intervenes only when concerned that speech will upset “social stability.”

Standing next to his underground black box theater, Tan said the strong reaction to TRS and “famous Amos” could be due to the political landscape. “I find things tightening up because it’s just before elections,” he said.

In the eulogies that followed Lee’s death the public was repeatedly reminded of his — and the ruling party’s — achievements, which will remain fresh in most people’s minds if the next general elections are called later this year, as is expected.

But at the same time, with the passing of a stalwart who was the ruling party’s binding force, a political shift feels more possible. As Singaporeans celebrate 50 years of independence in August, they are also finding their own voices in social media, often the site for public debate on politics and social issues.

Meanwhile, the opposition has been on the rise, and could do relatively well in the next elections. It won 10 seats in the 99-seat Parliament in the 2011 elections, up from two previously. Losing even more seats to the opposition would be a huge blow for the People’s Action Party, which has ruled the country since 1959, and is now led by Lee’s oldest son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

“The question of who is to lead the next Singapore is going to be one of the scariest questions to answer,” said Shiao-Yin Kuik, a nominated member of parliament who runs a consultancy and small chain of restaurants aimed at encouraging public dialogue about social issues. Though she dismisses Yee’s blog comments as uninformed, she’s been working to encourage political engagement among young people.

“A kid does not have it in his head that ‘I’m going to be president one day, or prime minister.’ It’s not in the narrative. And it’s not in the narrative of their parents,” she said.

The hard part for young people in modern Singapore is determining how much they can say, whether in politics or art, without repercussions, said 26-year-old visual artist Wong Kel Win. He wrote his university thesis on self-censorship, which is widespread in the arts community and beyond.

“The problem is that we don’t know where to draw the line. Where is the line that we get into trouble?” he asked. That leads to a culture of avoiding big issues. Wong assisted a government-sponsored community center project in which participants — young and old — were asked to create art that represented their hopes for the future of Singapore.

“They draw more trees, they draw WiFi in the MRT (subway) stations. It’s painful. It’s really painful,” he said. “The country will not grow if we continue to be like that.”

Between sips of a Hoegaarden beer in a modern hotel bar, Wong was grappling with his “love-hate relationship” with Singapore. He loves the clean streets, modern conveniences and lack of corruption that have made it a world business hub.

He respects and admires Lee’s accomplishments and considers himself politically neutral. But as for the next election: “I would love to see things get chaotic a bit.”

There’s already been a bit more chaos than usual for tamped-down Singapore in the court proceedings for Yee. A man ran up and slapped him outside court in front of the media. One of Yee’s attorneys, Alfred Dodwell, said he fears for his client’s safety if he is released.

“We’re a mature society now, a very educated society, but at the same time a very sensitive society,” he said.

Dodwell is on the board of directors for The Independent, another online news site launched two years ago. He doubts the government has lost much support from the general public over free speech issues, but also predicts change on the horizon.

“The real test is the ballot box,” he said. “It’s a very important election coming up. Fifty years have come and gone, so we’re looking at the next leg.”

Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com

May 12, 2015
Roy Ngerng: Free Amos Yee

Thank you everyone for coming to today’s vigil.

As we gather here today, Amos sits in his cell in remand, within four walls and bright lights.

But Amos has not done anything wrong. He does not deserve this treatment. He does not deserve to be charged.

More so, he does not deserve to sit in jail. He has been inside for 17 days now. And even more so, he should not be shackled in chains and cuffs.

He is still innocent. And he is innocent.

Amos is a child. Where is the humanity when we treat Amos as a criminal when he has not even been sentenced?

Where is the humanity when even many people do not think he has done anything wrong, but he has been unfairly persecuted?

How would the PAP ministers think if it were their own children who are put behind bars and locked up in chains?

But this isn’t even a question. We know they would not let it happen to their own children.

Then why do they allow another parent’s child to suffer such a fate?

Have they thought of Amos’s parents? More importantly, have they thought of Amos?

Have they thought of the child and the state’s responsibility to the child?

Amos is a child. No matter what we think of him or what he has said, it is disproportionate to want this kind of state violence meted on him.

If we do not have the patience, kindness and compassion for a child, how then can we call ourselves a society? How then can a people govern if they lack even this most basic instinct, to love, to understand and to forgive?

Yes, Amos said some things. But he said some things.

Many among the PAP have said worse. An ex-PAP member posted a photo of a bus with Muslim children and posed the question if they are young terrorist trainees. A PAP supporter wanted to cut off Amos’s penis and put it into his mouth. A man even physically attacked Amos and smacked him in his face because he said that Amos has criticised Lee Kuan Yew.

Amos has now suffered this abuse simply because he spoke about Lee Kuan Yew.

But Lee Kuan Yew has said even worse things than Amos about the Malays and Muslims. Yet none of the PAP members and supporters have asked for him to be arrested, charged, jailed or caned as they have wanted Amos to be.

Instead, they take what Lee Kuan Yew said to be the gospel truth.

Amos said that the PAP supporters worship Lee Kuan Yew without logic. And he was punished for it.

But what Amos said is true, isn’t it? The PAP supporters do worship Lee Kuan Yew without logic, don’t they?

In fact, if they would stay silent even as Lee Kuan Yew said worse things but would want Amos persecuted, then it clearly shows that what they are really upset about Amos is not what he said about Christians, isn’t it?

Truth is, they were hurt and “wounded” because they were upset with what Amos said about Lee Kuan Yew.

It is about Lee Kuan Yew. It has always been. Nothing else.

Some people said that these PAP supporters are using religion as a front to mask their displeasure against Amos. I am inclined to agree. It is obvious.

But there are no laws in Singapore where it is illegal to criticise Lee Kuan Yew. There is no law in Singapore where one can be found to have committed a crime because of having intentionally wounded the feelings of Lee Kuan Yew supporters.

These supporters have abused the law for their own purpose.

But Singapore is not the PAP. To the PAP supporters, they think Singapore belongs to them. They will tell you to leave the country if you are not happy with the way the PAP run their country.

But they have forgotten that the reason why Singapore can succeed today is because of the hard work and effort of all Singaporeans, and people who live in our country.

It is not just because of the PAP. It is not just because of the PAP supporters.

It is because of the many Singaporeans who are willing to earn low and depressed wages to help Singapore grow, even as the PAP supporters and the rich among them take away the high profit for themselves and leave Singaporeans with too little.

But this is what Amos said in his video too. Amos spoke about the income inequality in Singapore.

He spoke about how a “great leader” is one who will take care of Singaporeans.

Amos was right. Why was he persecuted?

Amos said that Lee Kuan Yew is a “horrible” person.

But Lee Kuan Yew is. Amos spoke the truth.

From the 1960s to 1980s, Lee Kuan Yew and the PAP arrested thousands of Singaporeans and imprisoned them without trial. Some of them were jailed for more than 10, 20 or even 30 years.

Their families suffered. Tens of thousands of their families suffered. But did Lee Kuan Yew ever apologised for it? Did the PAP ever apologised for it? Instead, the PAP continues to pretend that what they did was right. The PAP continues to claim that they were trying to protect Singapore, when it has been proven that the PAP had arrested and detained these innocent Singaporeans unfairly and unjustly.

The PAP simply doesn’t have a valid reason to do so, but they did anyway.

And the PAP never stopped. Today, Amos has become another victim in the PAP’s persecution of Singaporeans, just as I was and still am.

But the PAP is not Singapore. And Singapore is not the PAP.

We have allowed the PAP to be too comfortable with abusing their power in government for too long.

I got to know Amos about a month ago. After he made his video and was charged for it, I became concerned.

With how they treated him, I saw all the hallmarks of what I went through when I was sued for defamation and I did not want to see Amos go through what I did.

Not without support.

I needed to show him support. I want to show him support.

It is a lonely journey when you believe in something and want to fight for it.

But I am glad that this is not the case for Amos. I am glad that there are friends in Singapore and around the world who cares for Amos.

For in Amos, the conscience of Singaporeans have been awoken.

Never have I, in my living memory, seen so much support and outpouring from Singaporeans who feel so aggrieved that they have sent in their photos to support Amos for the #FreeAmosYee campaign.

This is a first for a political campaign in recent times.

I asked Singaporeans to send in their photos on Saturday, on my birthday, and in 2 days, I have received more than 60 photos, from even our neighbours in Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar, as well as from The Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Never before has there been a cause that has rallied together Singaporeans so strongly against the atrocities of the PAP.

Today, I am starting to see unity among Singaporeans.

I finally understand that Singaporeans are also feeling, enough is enough.

But Amos cannot see any of this because he is still in remand.

Tomorrow, his sentence will be passed. But what will happen to him?

We can only hope for the best, and that is why we are here today.

Amos did not do anything wrong. Amos has to be released.

#FreeAmosYee

Amos is my friend. Even though we have known each other for only a short one month, in fact, shorter since he has been spending most of the time in prison, I feel that I can understand him.

I see in him the honesty and truth that I uphold for myself.

I see in him the justice and fairness that I believe.

But Amos is more.

It is funny that a 16-year-old boy can teach you lessons, even when you are 34 – I just turned 34 on Saturday!

But Amos has. He has told me several times to be honest with myself. But Amos doesn’t just say it.

He does it.

This is why even though we know how important freedom to us is, Amos is willing to go into prison to fight for our freedom.

We do not know it but it is in his courage and his unbending spirit, that he has exposed the hypocrisy of the PAP and how it has bent the law for itself.

Amos has taught us the real value of freedom, of justice and of truth.

He is a friend and a teacher, even at 16.

I see the courage that he has put himself through, I see his determination.

I see his honesty.

I see the man for who he is.

Today, thank you for coming to this vigil. Amos cannot be here. But if he was, he would appreciate this.

But it is not just Amos that we are here for today. It is for courage, honesty and freedom.

And today, we have stepped up, stepped up to fight for him and for ourselves, because Amos stood up and he showed us the way.

And now, it is up to us to lead the way for him.

Thank you, all.

*This is a speech by Roy Ngerng at the Candleight vigil for Amos Yee

Source: http://thehearttruths.com

May 12, 2015
Amos Yee My Teacher

When the whole world condemns Amos’ mother that it is her fault that Amos turned out so fearlessly “rebellious”, they do not know that Amos’ mother is humbly, Amos’ first student.

Having the privilege to walk with them through this time, I saw what a wonderful love relationship they enjoy. Amos is her sunshine, and she is Amos’ moon.

Mary dedicated herself to raising her only son, almost single-handedly. She stayed home to look after Amos during his first 3 years, until she exhausted all her savings.

She breastfed him, prepared what she knew was the most nutritious food for him, and tirelessly read him books after books after books, upon his insistence.

She patiently allowed Amos to develop naturally. She recalled that Amos didn’t have to struggle learning how to walk, she said, “He crawled when he wanted to reach out for things, and then one day, about 18 months, he just stood up and walked perfect!”

Amos loves his mother, and they’ve always had open communication. While the whole world thinks how rude Amos is for calling his mother a “fucking bitch”, they do not know how deeply Amos really cared for his mother.

When Mary visited him during his recent remand, Mary told me that they didn’t even talk about the case. He only brought up 2 things:

One to apologize to her that he lied to her recently, and he wanted to clear the air, because he has never once lied to her.

Two, he asked her again, “So, did you get your divorce yet?”

Amos had always wanted his mother to be free. He has witnessed her failing marriage, and how she has been working like a bull and had no life of her own. He felt for her, and when frustrated that she hasn’t harnessed the courage to live out her own life, out comes a pouring of his emotions and his flowing words.

Mary has always known that she has an outstanding child – an advanced thinker, always thinking ahead of his time and out of the box; highly intellectual, reading abundantly and always investigating; and having the creative minds of an artist, director and writer.

She knows Amos’ artistic inclinations and aspirations, and has always given him the freedom to pursue his dreams and goals. At 13, Amos has won the Best Short Film and Best Actor award at The New Paper’s First Film Fest.

She also knows of Amos’ frustration when people are stuck in their old ways of thinking, and how impatient Amos would be.

Amos is highly aware that he does not want to follow his parent’s old thinking and old way of living. He wants to reinvent himself, and is in the process of understanding the world, going beyond the surface of things and digging deeper, and eagerly wanting to share with the world his latest discovery. He wanted not only an intellectually stimulating life, but truly a life that he can call it his own.

Knowing Amos has humbled me. He has asked deeply where most people do not dare, and knows very well at heart that he has done nothing wrong, just to be himself.

He accepted his talents, his gifts, his heart, his social blunders, all of it. Amos is truly a student of life, and life will teach him what he needed to learn. He needs no one to “correct” him or point out his mistakes. He knows what he is doing.

I realized that it is we who need to change.

When I said to him in an earlier article that I would not donate one cent to this Amos who is still a slave to his own need for freedom, I have really underestimated him.

He has shown me that he has been a master of his own freedom. He knows exactly what he is doing, and what matters to him. He is just not one crazy or foolish guy trying to beat the law and make a name for himself.

Actions speak louder than words. I am so happy to see Amos making a conscientious effort to better himself. He wants to learn how to take care of his body in a more natural way, and is educating himself more about fasting, sunshine and pure eating. He decided to cut out meat, and he has learnt how to do a short fast under my guidance.

He did not break the bail for some stupid reasons. This is a highly intellectual and darn honest person, and he accepts full responsibility for his own actions.

Give Amos time and space to grow.

He is truly, a rare genius to come by, and if you were to study his videos, his critique, his writings, you will understand why after Mary, I am humbly, Amos’ second student. I thank him for challenging me to think and rethink the old and accepted way of thinking.

I have no doubt that Amos is a GIFT to Singapore. I see him blossoming and refining over time. He will have much to contribute to the world with his extraordinary gifts, talents, and his big heart.

Source: http://siokkhoonkent.tumblr.com

May 12, 2015