Police seize video at Chee's book launch
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Today
11 July 2005
THE police made a late guest appearance at Saturday's launch of the latest book by opposition leader Chee Soon Juan.
Held at the Grand Plaza Parkroyal Hotel, the indoor public talk, attended by about 50 people, had ended, and the few who remained were having refreshments when the police arrived — after receiving word that video images had been screened.
The 2003 footage of Hong Kong residents protesting peaceably against a proposed anti-subversion law had been projected onto a screen as Dr Chee autographed copies of his book, The Power of Courage, after a Q&A session.
Police spokesperson ASP Victor Keong told Today: "During the event, a video disc was screened to the public. As the disc did not possess a certificate for public exhibition, it was seized under the Films Act for investigation."
The police questioned Dr Chee and will take statements later for their investigation.
During his presentation, Dr Chee cited the "unjust" introduction of laws, as well as their selective application and interpretation, as reasons to effect political change in Singapore through non-violent campaigns.
In his book, he cited the Public Entertainment and Meetings Act as "perhaps the most damaging to the development of democracy in Singapore".
Although licensing rules for indoor public talks were eased last year when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in his National Day Rally, encouraged greater freedom of expression, restrictions remain for public assemblies.
Asked why he chose the topic of non-violent civil disobedience for his sixth book, Dr Chee said there needed to be a rethink of strategy because, after 40 years, "it real1y didn't matter what civil society or political society did, because nothing changes".
The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief referred to electoral reform in particular, likening the Opposition's predicament to that of a high-jumper training to clear a certain height for a competition, only to have officials raise the bar just before he is about to jump.
The SDP has helped organise two workshops this year to train people on the principles of non-violent campaigns, with a third coming up this month. — Derrick A Paulo -
Breaking the law again...
Showing political videos -
Did Martin Luther King and Mahatma Ghandi even break the laws in their respective countries?Originally posted by sbst275:Breaking the law again...
Showing political videos
It seems like CSJ is taking a leaf out of their books by training non-violent resistors. -
Have to follow SG law...Originally posted by iveco:Did Martin Luther King and Mahatma Ghandi even break the laws in their respective countries? It seems like CSJ is taking a leaf out of their books by training non-violent resistors. -
Unfortunately for our nation, many Singaporeans have been moulded, brainwashed and programmed to forever comply with Government orders and instructions. Even if the policies are stupid or unfair to the people.
The day Singaporeans wake up to the above fact is the day PAP gets kicked out of parliament.
I know that day will come, it's only a matter of time. -
next time CSJ see GCT he is going to ask where's the peanuts ?
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What's new?
same old same old chee. -
At least we have one "same old chee" - who will dare to confront the Ruling Party with issues that are important to Singaporeans.Originally posted by BillyBong:What's new?
same old same old chee.
He may seem (or is) foolish in the supposed uncouth manner that he has been portrayed to be - as was recorded in the heat of an Election Walk-about campaigning, but whatever action he has made, and whatever views he hold (and expressed in all his books), all are made in his belief that the issues are in the Public Interests.
For the sake of politics, and in the face of such great adversity, how many will be like "old chee" - willing to sacrifice the opportunity of a career to provide some creature comfort to one's own family ?
Will the WP MP in Parliament dare to bring out any abrasive issues of the day to confront the Ruling Party ?
How effective has the elected WP MP been in Parliament in bringing issues to the public eye?
The only times that their presences are felt in Parliament are when the SPH print the rubbing that they get from the majority of the Ruling Party in Parliament.
If the Ruling Party is ever thrown out by the Singapore Electorate, any Fool in Office will be easier to be subject to the Rule of Law by a more experienced Electorate, who have more then 40 years in dealing with a Ruling Party that has manipulated the Law to suit their own agenda.
Just looking at the Philippines and Taiwan experience, the Dictatorship of Marcos and Chiang Kai Shek were thrown out of the respective countries, and although politics can be unruly, the Electorate rules the Ruling Party. -
As they say, it takes a small step.
But Chee's motivation aside, he could do better with his packaging, and he should really focus on the ground and talk to the electorate (i.e the aunties and uncles) in a more engaging manner.
Learn how they see things and approach them from their angle.The older folks saw his tirade against GCT as rude from a socio-cultural POV.So he should learn from that episode and move on, a good activist is dynamic and not stuck in a rut which only satisfies his own ego and not be of any help to the people he wants to help. -
duplicate
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Agree, CSJ should concentrate on ground issues and stop making a monkey of himself. This is the best time going forward for him to 'revamp' his political style and approach.
CSJ must work hard to inspire confidence with the people. He must spend more tiime talking to residents in HDB. He also should stop wasting efforts making personal attacks on PAP people to avoid bankruptcy. Those old guys at the PAP heirarchy are waiting to sue him again I am sure. They are universallly famous for that sort of action against their opponents.
I believe Singaporeans are hoping for a dynamic and sensible alternate leader in the oppositions to step into the political sceene.
We desperately need to get rid of the current bunch of out-of-touch and arrogant PAP oldies. -
Pls... Should be asking Mrs GohOriginally posted by crazy monkey:next time CSJ see GCT he is going to ask where's the peanuts ? -
not RA film meh?
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ask GCT go home ask his wifeOriginally posted by sbst275:Pls... Should be asking Mrs Goh
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Hi,Originally posted by Atobe:The only times that their presences are felt in Parliament are when the SPH print the rubbing that they get from the majority of the Ruling Party in Parliament.
And why would he (Workers' Party MP Mr Low) get rubbing from the PAP if he did not bring up, as you described, "abrasive issues"?
Would the PAP rub him if all he did was to bring up meek issues or even agree with the PAP? Doesn't make sense, correct?
I am afraid I do not see your points as coherent
Of course, this is not to undermine the work Dr Chee does. To each his own.
Regards -
Originally posted by SGLoyalist:
The situation is obviously simple, and your own statement has hit the nail on the head without your own realisation.
Hi,
And why would he (Workers' Party MP Mr Low) get rubbing from the PAP if he did not bring up, as you described, "abrasive issues"?
Would the PAP rub him if all he did was to bring up meek issues or even agree with the PAP? Doesn't make sense, correct?
I am afraid I do not see your points as coherent
Of course, this is not to undermine the work Dr Chee does. To each his own.
Regards
With regards to the local scene at the various Singapore Parliamentary sittings, it has always been one of the Ruling Party overwhelming and domineering the two Opposition MPs, who offer little enterprise in bringing matters of public interests to get any serious response from the Ruling Party.
Without J B Jeyaratnam to provide a serious challenge, the Ruling Party MPs have become senile and super-sensitive over the most mundane of issues that are brought up by any of the two Opposition Party MPs.
Even when non-abrasive issues are brought up in Parliament, the super sensitive MPs from the Ruling Party will gang up to ridicule the contributions brought up by the Opposition MPs in Parliament.
The whole affair is about scoring points with the Singapore Electorate.
The Opposition MPs cannot be seen to be more brilliant than those from the Ruling Party, so the constant jeering, rubbing, and strenous efforts to ridicule the Opposition MPs.
Even when the Opposition MPs vote with the motion from the Ruling Party, this fact is widely trumpetted as a truimph for the Ruling Party; and this event will always be made reference to.
The Ruling Party will be gloating over the issue to rub the point home for their own petty satisfaction. -
Kinda like a "my tool is bigger than yours".Pissing contest