[Reuters] Singapore bans "Zahari's 17 Years"
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Singapore bans film about ex-political detainee
41 minutes ago
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore is banning a film about a former political detainee held for 17 years without trial, the government said.
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The film "Zahari's 17 Years" about former journalist Said Zahari -- arrested in 1963 for suspected subversive political activities, including communist sympathies -- will be banned because it is "against public interests," the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts said on Tuesday.
"The film gives a distorted and misleading portrayal of Said Zahari's arrest and detention under the Internal Security Act," the ministry said in a statement.
"Zahari's 17 Years" is directed by Singapore film director Martyn See, who had several run-ins with the Singapore police last year after he produced a documentary about opposition leader Chee Soon Juan in 2005.
Singapore, frequently criticized by human rights groups for its restrictions on the opposition and media, bans political films that contain "biased references to or comments on any political matter."
The Ministry said "Zahari's 17 Years" was an attempt by Zahari "to exculpate himself from his past involvement in communist united front activities against the interests of Singapore."
"The government will not allow people who had posed a security threat to the country in the past to exploit the use of films to purvey a false and distorted portrayal of their past actions and detention by the government," the ministry said, adding that this may "undermine public confidence in the government."
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So now they do not want all narratives in the discourse. How smart and stylish. Woohoo.
It's stupidity at it's best, because you cannot ever fully stop information.
A man has a right for his story to be told from his point of view. Banning on principle...blah. Like principles are worth a damn here. -
eehh im very interested lei!!
-
stupid.. we can always download it
maybe they are as out of touch or even worse than we think.. -
You tell me lah..why are we being forced to look like clowns when we are abroad huh.Originally posted by the Bear:stupid.. we can always download it
maybe they are as out of touch or even worse than we think.. -
we just have to convince the 16.7% of the people
Originally posted by LazerLordz:You tell me lah..why are we being forced to look like clowns when we are abroad huh. -
the reasons given are quite ridiculous
-
search Said Zahari
2.Will FBI agree release one who insist to kill US President
after get out from jail?Likewise,any government will not release
anyone who DO NOT undertake not to create troubles!!
3.Pl read some before making noise here.
1 - 2 of 2 items
No. Date Speaker Title
1. 17/11/1978
LIM HOCK SIEW AND SAID ZAHARI RELEASED
2. 22/08/1979
RESTRICTION CONFINING SAID ZAHARI TO PULAU UBIN HAS LIFTED -
why must ban this film!!!
is like the japs cannot know wad their forefathers did during WW2. -
The big irony is whilst they were arresting 100's of union leaders and opponents those days - accusing them of being communists, years later Singapore government was actually working closely with Beijing.
In fact, Goh Keng Swee was even appointed an economic adviser to China !
So, what was the real reason for the arrests? Those people were not weapon-and-grenade brandishing communists.
I think the real reasons then were the same as now - to consolidate the regime's grip on power by getting rid of all outstanding political opponents. By hook or by court. -
Real reason was them posing a reasonable threat - be they real, imagined orpotential - to the criminal who's currently in the midst of revising his own paycheck with public funds...Originally posted by justiceforall:So, what was the real reason for the arrests? Those people were not weapon-and-grenade brandishing communists. -
Originally posted by lionnoisy:
When the day comes that you are accused of a crime that you did not commit, but based on the say so of the MASTER'S VOICE, then you will feel the pain of being wrongly accused.
[b]search Said Zahari
2.Will FBI agree release one who insist to kill US President
after get out from jail?Likewise,any government will not release
anyone who DO NOT undertake not to create troubles!!
3.Pl read some before making noise here.
1 - 2 of 2 items
No. Date Speaker Title
1. 17/11/1978
LIM HOCK SIEW AND SAID ZAHARI RELEASED
2. 22/08/1979
RESTRICTION CONFINING SAID ZAHARI TO PULAU UBIN HAS LIFTED
[/b]
If Said Zahari was a Communist and accused for all the criminal political acts that have been so highly publicized, why was he never brought to trial but locked up under the Internal Security Act ?
If Chia Thye Poh was accused to be a Communist and similarly accused of spouting armed revolution to overthrow a legitimately elected government in Singapore, why was he never put on trial before an open Court, and all the evidence produced, instead of incarcerating him for 32 years, and being taunted with the opportunity of freedom - IF only he will simply sign a confession to the correctness of the accusation made against him ?
As a Human Being, do you feel no indignance towards a deep injustice being done to an individual, who prefer to waste 32 years in incarceration based on a simple principle rather than submit himself to injustice ?
What moral authority remains, when political opponents are simply locked up at the whim of those wielding the powers of the Internal Security Act ?
Are we a Democratic First World Country, or are we a Communist Stalinistic Country ?
You are simply disingenious with your reference about USA, when you know little about the Political Concepts that the USA is built on.
Even the USA has the Freedom of Information Act that allow the Citizens to access Government records after a lapse of some statutory approved period, so that the Truth will be made known to all, and any injustice can be place right.
Are we not supposed to have become a First World Country ?
Why are we still living in a Third World Political Environment ? -
Originally posted by lionnoisy:
What the hell do you know. Don't pollute this discussion with your trash.
[b]search Said Zahari
2.Will FBI agree release one who insist to kill US President
after get out from jail?Likewise,any government will not release
anyone who DO NOT undertake not to create troubles!!
3.Pl read some before making noise here.
1 - 2 of 2 items
No. Date Speaker Title
1. 17/11/1978
LIM HOCK SIEW AND SAID ZAHARI RELEASED
2. 22/08/1979
RESTRICTION CONFINING SAID ZAHARI TO PULAU UBIN HAS LIFTED
[/b] -
2.read more guys.It was so tense between Communist block and western countries before fall of USSR and Berlin wall.Originally posted by justiceforall:The big irony is whilst they were arresting 100's of union leaders and opponents those days - accusing them of being communists, years later Singapore government was actually working closely with Beijing.
In fact, Goh Keng Swee was even appointed an economic adviser to China !
So, what was the real reason for the arrests? Those people were not weapon-and-grenade brandishing communists.
I think the real reasons then were the same as now - to consolidate the regime's grip on power by getting rid of all outstanding political opponents. By hook or by court.
Teng Xiu Peng,after visiting SG and listened to LKY frank advises ,stopped boardcasting pro communism from Yunan to SEA.
Then Malaysia Communist Party lost support from PRC.
U think LKY treated them as big threat in election and locked them up?
Oh.Lucky all of us here free to talk.
3.I am happy to read you write years later.
Sons,a decade can change many things.
You lucky young guys never experience the hard times
of Communism vs Non-communism.Vietnam War,(sorry,
legally speaking,US Congress never declaraded war
on Vietnam),boats people,Camabodia....
PRC changed gradually from planned econmony to market econmony.
It was the big news when PRC established Shenzhen as SEZ!
4.Will FBI release one who threaten to kill US President if he
is released??Answer me.This is a real life question.
I have heart and brain.
But tell me if you were the decision maker ,the guy sitting
in front of you telling you he will over throw SG government by force
if he released,will u release him??
Dunt be a soft heart auntie!!
5.Do u know the structure of undergound communists was
so secretive?
Dunt just sitting in arm chair and telling empty words here.
Do some home works,sons. -
With Singaporeans getting more tech savvy, nothing is going to stop them. The Internet is not theirs, as well as the postal service.
The banning only goes to show that there is truth somewhere.
So I guess Dr Vivian has to speak now? Why is the Singapore Government so afraid of these sort of movies, banning them for the sake of public interest? And I wonder where's the public interest in the first place. -
That looks more like an admission from the government that the past arrest of Zahari and other political activists were unjust and it was done only to consolidate the power of PAP.
Even if the PAP could find evidence to charge the activists for criminal acts, why would they do it when the the power of ISA could be used to terminate them permanently?
I challenge the PAP to come clean with the treatment of political activists following their arrests, and make a formal apology at least. Many family members of past political victims are waiting in vain. -
There is a key difference between advocacy of violence, and screening of a film made about a person in which he tells his side of the story.
To come to a fair conclusion, one must listen to both victor and loser.
Fairness ain't much to ask for. No one's saying we should glorify his past deeds, if they were true. But by not having the chance for the common man to listen to both sides of the story, fairness does not get a chance to live. -
Originally posted by lionnoisy:
Then I'm sure lionnoisy, that you should perfectly understand the strict measures that the authorities will take against you for attempting to sow discord in Singapore-Australia relations, as well as offending the Singaporean Australian community.
2.read more guys.It was so tense between Communist block and western countries before fall of USSR and Berlin wall.
Teng Xiu Peng,after visiting SG and listened to LKY frank advises ,stopped boardcasting pro communism from Yunan to SEA.
Then Malaysia Communist Party lost support from PRC.
U think LKY treated them as big threat in election and locked them up?
Oh.Lucky all of us here free to talk.
3.I am happy to read you write [b]years later.
Sons,a decade can change many things.
You lucky young guys never experience the hard times
of Communism vs Non-communism.Vietnam War,(sorry,
legally speaking,US Congress never declaraded war
on Vietnam),boats people,Camabodia....
PRC changed gradually from planned econmony to market econmony.
It was the big news when PRC established Shenzhen as SEZ!
4.Will FBI release one who threaten to kill US President if he
is released??Answer me.This is a real life question.
I have heart and brain.
But tell me if you were the decision maker ,the guy sitting
in front of you telling you he will over throw SG government by force
if he released,will u release him??
Dunt be a soft heart auntie!!
5.Do u know the structure of undergound communists was
so secretive?
Dunt just sitting in arm chair and telling empty words here.
Do some home works,sons.
[/b]
We have a whole bank of witnesses in here very willing to testify against you should your case ever come up... which seems to be a distinct possibility in the near future if you keep all this up. -
Hey lazer lordz, your post on the white house response has been close.Originally posted by LazerLordz:There is a key difference between advocacy of violence, and screening of a film made about a person in which he tells his side of the story.
To come to a fair conclusion, one must listen to both victor and loser.
Fairness ain't much to ask for. No one's saying we should glorify his past deeds, if they were true. But by not having the chance for the common man to listen to both sides of the story, fairness does not get a chance to live.
anyway as i have observed the issue isn't about the truth. Because our history are still very short. pokito !!! as part of nation building the 1st government does not want to change the history. (His-Story) and wanted it for the official record. So that it does not affect its moral authority against the people.
(and I think it is a normal practices for all governments around the world to keep the dirt under the capert for 10, 20 years until it is no longer an issue government will make acknowledgment for the Record. Uncle Sam does the same thing regards to history)
I also think there are a lot of issue dealing LKY vs MCP and Communist in china that are not reflected to the public in detail, and our commitment to Taiwan against spreading communism in the region.
As far as fairness is concern that is not the priority if you are sitting in the Gov. Modern argument does not take nation building into account unfornately it is only news worthy. -
then???
-
The White House article is out there for days.Originally posted by Arapahoe:Hey lazer lordz, your post on the white house response has been close.
anyway as i have observed the issue isn't about the truth. Because our history are still very short. pokito !!! as part of nation building the 1st government does not want to change the history. (His-Story) and wanted it for the official record. So that it does not affect its moral authority against the people.
(and I think it is a normal practices for all governments around the world to keep the dirt under the capert for 10, 20 years until it is no longer an issue government will make acknowledgment for the Record. Uncle Sam does the same thing regards to history)
I also think there are a lot of issue dealing LKY vs MCP and Communist in china that are not reflected to the public in detail, and our commitment to Taiwan against spreading communism in the region.
As far as fairness is concern that is not the priority if you are sitting in the Gov. Modern argument does not take nation building into account unfornately it is only news worthy.
Problem is that since we have a short contemporary history, it is quite sensitive to any attempt to shift the historical record to one single side of the story. History cannot be politicised, it should be presented with all it's arguments, with warts and all. The man was released, and to claim that he is a threat just to ban the film, is illogical.
If he was a real threat, why did they release him in the first place? Come clean. IMHO, this is mindless victimisation to justify an ideological decision. -
yeah so have to wait there is no rushing in nation building. So let the next generation make that judgement call.Originally posted by LazerLordz:The White House article is out there for days.
Problem is that since we have a short contemporary history, it is quite sensitive to any attempt to shift the historical record to one single side of the story. History cannot be politicised, it should be presented with all it's arguments, with warts and all. The man was released, and to claim that he is a threat just to ban the film, is illogical.
If he was a real threat, why did they release him in the first place? Come clean. IMHO, this is mindless victimisation to justify an ideological decision. -
what happen to the LKY bashing?Originally posted by AndrewPKYap: -
2.Thanks for ur kind reminder again.Originally posted by SingaporeTyrannosaur:Then I'm sure lionnoisy, that you should perfectly understand the strict measures that the authorities will take against you for attempting to sow discord in Singapore-Australia relations, as well as offending the Singaporean Australian community.
We have a whole bank of witnesses in here very willing to testify against you should your case ever come up... which seems to be a distinct possibility in the near future if you keep all this up.
Every piece of news and opinions of aussie are supported
by their main stream medias.Not any small or unknown
oppositions party.
Do u think I am so smart to fake news here?
Any authority want to deal with me,pl deal with the medias which I quote
with every news first.
2.
who say PAP suppress your view?u can find Said Zahari's '' Dark clouds at dawn '' and CSJ almost every books in NLB.
Title Dark clouds at dawn : a political memoir / Said Zahari.
Author Said Zahari, 1928-
Publisher Kuala Lumpur : Insan, 2001.
Notes Includes Epilogue: "Meeting Chin Peng in Bangkok".
Includes appendix: "Poems from prison".
Search by Subjects Political prisoners Malaysia Biography.
Journalists Malaysia Biography.
Political prisoners Singapore Biography.
Said Zahari, 1928-
Malaya Politics and government.
Singapore Politics and government 20th century.
Where to find it
Branch Location Date Call Number Status
Ang Mo Kio Community Library SING 13-03-07 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Bukit Batok Community Library SING 11-01-07 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Bedok Community Library SING 03-04-07 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Bedok Community Library SING 30-09-06 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Bishan Community Library SING 21-11-06 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Bishan Community Library SING 02-09-05 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Bishan Community Library RSING 02-09-05 English 322.4095951 SAI For Reference Only
Bukit Merah Community Library SING 07-03-07 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Choa Chu Kang Community Library SING 29-04-07 English 322.4095951 SAI On Loan
Central Lending Library SING 15-05-06 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Central Lending Library SING 05-06-06 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Cheng San Community Library SING 30-07-06 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Cheng San Community Library SING 26-11-06 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Geylang East Community Library SING 10-03-07 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Geylang East Community Library SING 19-04-07 English 322.4095951 SAI On Loan
Jurong Regional Library SING 23-05-06 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Jurong Regional Library RSING 17-03-06 English 322.4095951 SAI For Reference Only
Jurong West Community Library SING 02-05-06 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Lee Kong Chian Reference Library RSING 25-04-06 English 322.4095951 SAI For Reference Only
Lee Kong Chian Reference Library RSING 21-08-01 English 322.4095951 SAI For Reference Only
Lee Kong Chian Reference Library RSING 21-08-01 English 322.4095951 SAI For Reference Only
Marine Parade Community Library SING 24-01-07 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
library@orchard SING 13-10-06 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Pasir Ris Community Library SING 23-01-07 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Pasir Ris Community Library SING 21-01-07 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Queenstown Community Library SING 25-09-06 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Queenstown Community Library SING 03-05-06 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Repository Used Book Collection SING 18-03-03 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Repository Used Book Collection SING 13-02-04 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Sembawang Community Library SING 16-12-05 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Toa Payoh Community Library SING 24-06-06 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Toa Payoh Community Library SING 05-05-07 English 322.4095951 SAI On Loan
Toa Payoh Community Library SING 21-03-05 English 322.4095951 SAI On Loan
Tampines Regional Library SING 17-10-06 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Woodlands Regional Library SING 05-12-06 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Woodlands Regional Library SING 21-11-06 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Woodlands Regional Library SING 10-04-07 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
Woodlands Regional Library RSING 10-09-05 English 322.4095951 SAI For Reference Only
Yishun Community Library SING 12-04-05 English 322.4095951 SAI Not on Loan
There are many NOT ON LOAN.Borrow one tomorrow. -
2.Thanks for ur kind reminder again.
Every piece of news and opinions of aussie are supported
by their main stream medias.Not any small or unknown
oppositions party.
Any authority want to deal with me,pl deal with the medias which I quote
with every news first.
You don't have to justify yourself to me, try justifying yourself to the authorities.
You seriously do not know the law here do you?
You don't need to make up news to get into trouble, you can post all the true articles you want but the moment you have been shown not to demostrate goodwill to the peace and stability of Aussie-Sing relations, you are already afoul of many of our laws.
Please refer to the long list of people who have gotten into trouble because they decided to ride on certain true reports but used them for the wrong purposes.
So this is no defence for you at all, and this is the law.
It does not matter if you quoted true media reports or not, all the law needs to do is to prove the lack of goodwill and intent to smear the Aussies on your part, as well as acting in a way that endangers the peace between Singapore and Australia as well as offending the Australian Singaporean community you are already well on your way to being convicted liao.
By all measures, your threads and replies in here, as well as you carrying on long after the Singaporean Australians told you that they did not take to your views kindly are more then enough to get you into hot soup.
For example, if you decided to find every media article on the Malay community (ie. crimes and social problems caused by them) and keep posting them here as part of a "truth" finding mission trying to put a negative spin on them, as well as keeping this up long after people tell you that it is uncalled for and tactless, see how fast your butt will land in the slammer.
The authorities could easily convict you of a great many things should people decide to highlight your activities to them. In fact, PMs have been passed around regarding you and requesting information on your activities, so you really should be careful on your next step in here.
I tell you, given the "justifications" you have posted for your activities here, they won't even stand up one minute in the court of law, and that is a fact.
So it's up to you. You can carry on tempting fate if you want, we are just here to testify against you when you finally get your just desserts.