Rilek1Corner

Tag: Martyn See

  • Martyn See’s 12 Tips For Political And Human Rights Activists In Singapore

    Martyn See’s 12 Tips For Political And Human Rights Activists In Singapore

    My 12 tips for Political and Human Rights Activists in Singapore.

    1. Read the law thoroughly, particularly the ones that the PAP will use to trip you up, namely Sedition Act, the new Contempt of Court law, Public Order Act (holding a public indoor forum featuring a foreign speaker is illegal), defamation laws, Films Act, MDA Licensing Scheme, Cooling-off Day regulations, Penal Code.

    2. Being an activist is a good way to filter your friends. If certain people start avoiding you, then you know they are not worthy friends anyway.

    3. Family members and close friends will try to dissuade you. They are usually the biggest fearmongers in your life. Listen politely but always follow your own conscience.

    4. Bear your own responsibility for your speech and action. Never implicate others.

    5. Live your life as you normally would. If you labour under the (imaginary) fear of being under constant surveillance, you already short-changed yourself and the people around you.

    6. Campaigning should be fun and energizing. If it becomes a begrudging chore or bore, take a break and recharge.

    7. Yes, there are government moles within the opposition ranks and in civil society. They usually have friendly and pleasant personalities. They are likely to stay in the background and will not be too strident in their political views, but will offer to photograph, video or take notes. Most people unwittingly allow them into their organisation because they are short of manpower. But do challenge these dodgy types to display a public commitment to the cause. Otherwise, keep them out of the inner loop.

    8. From time to time, organise leisure activities with fellow activists from other fields. Watch the tension, friction and squabbles dissipate, like magic.

    9. If you haven’t had run-ins with censorship or the police, the government probably does not take you seriously.

    10. Be thoroughly prepared for your home to be raided by the police one day, to face arrest, and most of all, to spend time in prison. To be at peace with such a prospect frees you up to speak your mind fearlessly and to make decisions without regret.

    11. Draw inspiration from the ones who have suffered and sacrificed so much before us. For example, whenever I think of what Chia Thye Poh, Said Zahari, Lim Hock Siew and their families had to go through, my own worries become embarrassingly trivial.

    12. Forget about the results and the rewards. These things are out of your control. Do the work because your conscience is pricking you and is keeping you awake at night.

    —————————————

    Your guide to dealing with police interrogations.

    http://singaporerebel.blogspot.sg/…/activists-speak-about-t…

    ——————————–

    Good night, and good luck.

     

    Source: Martyn See

  • Martyn See: Did K Shanmugam Make An Illegal Party Political Film?

    Martyn See: Did K Shanmugam Make An Illegal Party Political Film?

    Did Law Minister K. Shanmugam make an illegal party political film?

    Dear K. Shanmugam,

    On the 10th of May 2015, you uploaded a video entitled “A Day in the Life of a Minister”, which features a camera crew tracking your activity of the day. It was an unscripted video shot and edited in the style of a reality-TV programme.

    You stated that the 12-minute long video was made by “volunteers”. By that, one would assume that this is not a government-sponsored production. As such, may I inform you that this video is not exempted under section 40 of the Films Act and therefore in possible violation of section 33 which criminalises “party political films”, the penalties of which are a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.

    I cite the following clauses of the Films Act relevant to “A Day in the Life of a Minister”.

    “Party political film” means a film —

    (a) which is an advertisement made by or on behalf of any political party in Singapore or any body whose objects relate wholly or mainly to politics in Singapore, or any branch of such party or body; or

    (b) which is made by any person and directed towards any political end in Singapore;

    For the purposes of this Act, a film is directed towards a political end in Singapore if the film —

    (a) contains wholly or partly any matter which, in the opinion of the Board, is intended or likely to affect voting in any election or national referendum in Singapore; or

    (b) contains wholly or partly references to or comments on any political matter which, in the opinion of the Board, are either partisan or biased; and “political matter” includes but is not limited to any of the following:

    (i) an election or a national referendum in Singapore;

    (ii) a candidate or group of candidates in an election;

    (iii) an issue submitted or otherwise before electors in an election or a national referendum in Singapore;

    (iv) the Government or a previous Government or the opposition to the Government or previous Government;

    (v) a Member of Parliament;

    (vi) a current policy of the Government or an issue of public controversy in Singapore; or

    (vii) a political party in Singapore or any body whose objects relate wholly or mainly to politics in Singapore, or any branch of such party or body.

    None of the following films shall be regarded for the purposes of this Act as a party political film:

    (e) a documentary film without any animation and composed wholly of an accurate account depicting actual events, persons (deceased or otherwise) or situations, but not a film —

    (i) wholly or substantially based on unscripted or “reality” type programmes; or

    (ii) that depicts those events, persons or situations in a dramatic way;

    Exemptions

    40. —(1) This Act shall not apply to —

    (a) any film sponsored by the Government;

    (b) any film, not being an obscene film or a party political film or any feature, commercial, documentary or overseas television serial film, which is made by an individual and is not intended for distribution or public exhibition; and

    (c) any film reproduced from local television programmes and is not intended for distribution or public exhibition.

    (2) The Minister may, subject to such conditions as he thinks fit, exempt any person or class of persons or any film or class of films from all or any of the provisions of this Act.

    (3) An exemption granted under this section may be withdrawn at any time.

    I put it to you that the video “A Day in the Life of a Minister” may constitute an illegal ‘party political film’ under section 33 of the Films Act because :

    1. It is an advertisement made by or on behalf of a political party in Singapore whose objects relate wholly or mainly to politics in Singapore.

    2. It is made by a person and directed towards a political end in Singapore – by featuring a Member of Parliament.

    3. It is a film that is substantially based on unscripted and “reality” type programmes, and it also contains dramatic elements.

    4. It is not a government-sponsored film.

    Of course, the Minister may opt to exercise section 40 of the Films Act to exempt your film from the Act.

    In the interest of upholding transparency in the application of the Rule of Law in Singapore, this letter will be made public. I look forward to your reply on this matter.

    Yours sincerely,
    See Tong Ming

    The above was emailed to K. Shanmugam on 11 May.

     

    Source: Martyn See

  • Martyn See’s 10 Ways To Pay Tribute To Lee Kuan Yew’s Legacy

    Martyn See’s 10 Ways To Pay Tribute To Lee Kuan Yew’s Legacy

    So there are now calls to pay tribute to LKY by conducting our lives in a manner befitting his legacy. What a noble idea. Here are 10 things you should do.

    1. If you’re a graduate, you are only to marry a graduate. If you’re not a graduate, do not contaminate our gene pool by courting graduates. LKY wouldn’t like it.

    2. If you’re a succe$$ful man, spread your seeds to as many women as you can financially afford. This will fulfil LKY’s wish to reverse monogamy and reintroduce polygamy.

    3. If you have voted in the Workers’ Party in Aljunied GRC, please repent. And repeat this repentance on a daily basis.

    4. If you’re Malay, you are to decline any military posting that puts you in charge of a machine-gun unit. LKY will not be pleased if you didn’t.

    5. If you ever notice that the population of the Chinese majority has fallen below the 75% mark, you are to immediately raise this issue with the government. LKY said Singapore will not work if the ratio is not maintained.

    6. If you’re a young voter, please don’t think that you can change the government. The idea that the PAP can be replaced is heresy. Get that dangerous thought out of your brain now.

    7. If ever you feel any resentment against a foreign talent, you are to immediately banish that thought. LKY had said the economy will go into tailspin if not for these foreigners. Offer your thanks to all FTs, without exception.

    8. You are to strive hard and work your ass off every day. The spurs are to be permanently stuck on your hide. LKY was disappointed that we haven’t been working hard in recent years. Do not disappoint him again.

    9. Do not begrudge the high salaries of our ministers. In fact, you should campaign for ministers to be paid even more, as Singapore cannot afford a dose of bad governance.

    10. Do not take the words of the National Pledge literally. It is just a load of highfalutin’ ideals, which should not go undemolished. LKY said we are only in nation in transition.

     

    Source: Martyn See

  • Martyn See Tong Min Urges Lam Pin Min To Apologise And Retract Statements On Thaipusam

    Martyn See Tong Min Urges Lam Pin Min To Apologise And Retract Statements On Thaipusam

    OPEN LETTER TO MP DR LAM PIN MIN

    A happy new year to you Dr Lam,

    My name is See Tong Ming, Martyn. I am a citizen of Singapore. I hereby inform you that I will be filing a police complaint against you on the 26th of February 2015 for offences committed under the Sedition Act and Contempt of Court unless you remove and apologize for the following remark you made.

    On the 5th of February 2015 at 1836 hours, you shared a link on your facebook page to an article by ‘Lovely Singapore’ entitled “What really happened at the Thaipusam scuffle?” You had captioned the report in your own words :

    “An example of how alcohol intoxication can cause rowdiness and public nuisance.”

    The original statement by the Singapore Police Force, posted on the 5th February two hours earlier, had stated:

    “All three men were believed to have been drinking earlier as they smelt strongly of alcohol.”

    As such, you have deliberately distorted an allegation by the SPF into a statement of fact. I put it to you that you have :

    1. Incited enmity towards the Hindu community by stating as fact that devotees were intoxicated while participating in the holy festival of Thaipusam. May I inform you that devotees are required to undergo a strict regiment of fasting and abstinence from meat and alcohol. Members of the families of kavadi carriers are also required to undergo such a regiment, albeit for a shorter period.

    2. Caused ill-will and hostility between different races and communities. The responses on your facebook page show overwhelming hostility to your remark. Yet, you have allowed your offensive post to remain online, while you continue to publicly tout Christian teachings on your personal facebook wall. As a Member of Parliament, your lopsided attitude towards the religious sensitivities of Singaporeans, particularly against the Hindu community, is vexatious.

    3. Committed sub judice contempt of court by risking prejudice which may affect the final determination of the ongoing case against Ramachandra Chandramohan, Jaya Kumar Krishnasamy and Gunasegaran Rajendran, who are due to undergo trial for disorderly behaviour. The three men were charged in court on February 7th. Your facebook posting has remained online to this day. It has since been reproduced in online forums and blogs. A google search of “Thaipusam alcohol”, “Thaipusam intoxication”, ‘Thaipusam rowdiness” and ‘Thaipusam public nuisance” show up your statement as the top search result.

    This will not be the first time I have filed a police complaint against an elected person holding political office. In 2013, I filed a police complaint against Abdul Ghani Othman, the then Johor Menteri Besar, for canvassing for votes in Singapore ahead of the Malaysian elections.

    As this is the Chinese New Year season, I wish to offer you a grace period of 3 days to correct your facebook post and make a public apology to the Hindu community. Failing which, a police complaint will be filed by 12 noon on the 26th of February 2015.

    If you are so hung up in equating alcohol consumption with public nuisance, I suggest you speak up against the police’s approval of the St. Patrick’s Day street parade on Boat Quay slated for March 13 and 15. In Dublin, such celebrations have been marked by incidences of teenage drinking and street violence.

    See Tong Ming, Martyn

     

    Source: Martyn See