Singapore Dissident

July 4th, Singapore. Independance Day

2008-07-07T04:06:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Not satisfied with having arrested me for just writing a blog in criticism of the Judge Belinda Ang in the Lee Kuan Yew vs. Dr. Chee Soon Juan case respecting her bias during the 3 days May 26 2008 to May 28 2008, now the Singapore Police have resorted to beating me up.

I suppose they are not satisfied with the fact that I have not relented and withdrawn my accusation that this Judge was clearly biased during the trial to favor Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and his son. But no matter what, the fact remains what it is. No amount of police brutality against me can change the facts. Neither can it make me say that 2 and 2 is 5, simply because it is not.

Judge Belinda Ang was biased. There is no doubt about it. She behaved that way for all to see. If no Singaporean mentioned it, it was because they are afraid. They live in a police state. They live in fear and in subjugation. I do not live that way. I am a free man. And I will say what I saw.

If Singapore continues to claim that it is a first world country, after this, that statement is only useful during a round of beer at a lively party. After this Singapore is no better useful than for the butt of a solid joke.

On July 4th, 2008, Independence Day, at about 11 pm, I was passing by Race Course Road Little India. I earlier had a small Scotch in celebration. And why not, it was after all the 4th of July, 2008, even if I was in Singapore. Just before reaching the junction of Bukit Timah Road, I hear loud calls asking me to stop. Looking back, I see about 4 people in civilian clothes. They confront me and ask who I was. And where I was going. Surely I have no reason to give any information. They appeared no better than thugs. Gangsters. I refused to give my name. Or any information.

The next minute, these cowardly unruly ill mannered ungentlemanly and gangster like persons in plain clothes, force me down to the floor. They man handle me. They hurt me. They shove my fact to the hard tarmac floor. They use their boots to kick me while I am in the floor. A Malay officer is especially brutal. He hurts me badly. They abuse me by calling me bastard and other dirty names. They intentionally cause sever pain and hurt me. And all for what? Just because I did not oblige them with my name? In the physical encounter, with about 10 policemen in plainclothes overcoming me, they have obviously won the physical fight. But in the moral question, they have failed miserably. They were thugs. Singapore government thugs. Lee Kuan Yew thugs. Another example of Lee's first world country.

The newspapers all owned by Lee Kuan Yew and his government can of course conveniently say anything they want about the incident. What else do you expect of a state controlled monopoly of news media? I have been falsely accused of touching the police car, and shouting abuses at the police. None of that ever happened. I was walking peacefully along the street, when these state sponsored thugs in civilian clothes ask me to stop etc.

This is what I am going to tell the Singapore government. I, Gopalan Nair am deliberately being singled out for victimization. We all know that on that day, Friday July 4th 2008 at 11 pm at night, there would have been hundreds if not thousands of Singaporean who may have a little to drink who may have behaved not necessarily as a proper English gentlemen, so to speak. I am sure there have been countless arrests. But you know, none of them would have made the headlines in the Singapore press. They would all have been given warnings and let off.

But surely in the eyes of this pathetic Singapore government who are at the butt end of jokes all over the free world, Gopalan Nair has to be singled out. Gopalan Nair had to be punished. A mountain has to made out of a molehill. His name has to be splashed all over the Singapore propaganda press. He has to be made to look like a real criminal, just because he did not have the decency to respond to some thug looking characters who wanted to know who he was.

Any way, the answer is not guilty once again. We have no free press here. All I can do is to use this blog of mine to tell my side of the story which I will continue to do. The Singapore dictator cannot intimidate me. I will not allow it.

And mind you, the entire action against me makes no sense. If the intent is to shut me up and keep me quite, it will not work. I will return to California and write and agitate with increased vigor the fact of the of the lack of any freedom in this island republic.

I understand the Far Eastern Economic Review is being sued. But unlike the Far Eastern Economic Review who can be prevented from circulating within Singapore, my blog cannot be stopped. No matter what my message will be coming through with heightened intensity to Singapore.

And what is worse, I had been just another blogger before my arrest on May 31, 2008. With my arrest by this government, I have been propelled into international fame, where now I will be taken much more seriously internationally than if I had been left alone for my blog post of May 29, 2008, the blog post which has made me internationally famous.

I am grateful to the US Embassy and the US State Department which is monitoring my case at the highest levels in Washington. I know that I have the US Government behind me in all this. I know I am not alone.

I also know that I have the entire free world who cherish their freedom behind me in this. Truly I am not alone.

I wish to thank those supporters out there particularly for their financial support. I was at Block 292 Bishan, at 9 am, yesterday, Sunday, with the Singapore Democratic Party helping them with distributing their leaflets and selling their books and literature to the public. At the location, I am particularly grateful to a supporter who handed me a very generous donation to help me sustain myself in Singapore during this ordeal. Not only to this supporter but to the countless other supporters who have given me both financial and moral support, I wish to say a heartfelt thank you for your kindness.

As you know, I have no choice in this matter. It is not possible for me to apologize to this Singapore government or to anyone else to seek mercy. I continue to stand by what I had said in my blog namely that Judge Belinda Ang was not a judge at all during the 3 days while she sat in judgment in the Lee Kuan Yew vs. Dr. Chee case. I would of course gladly apologize for the choice of words used, but the essence of the meaning of what I said remains intact and correct, for which I cannot apologize.

I am sorry that I was not able to be at Parliament House for my protest to demand that this government either give me a speedy trial or let me go home. I will have to see the outcome of the Pre Trial Conference tomorrow before I make a decision. Also there is the matter of the investigation against me for the alleged disorderly behavior.

All in all I intend to hang in there and not give up. Every political action has a price. In this case, I am lucky I am an American citizen. At least this dictatorial Lee Kuan Yew regime cannot have a hold on me forever, unlike the plight of my fellow Singaporeans who remain citizens.

They on the other hand they cannot escape the Lee Kuan Yew grip, unless they themselves decide they no longer are prepared to be enslaved.

Thanks to all.

Gopalan Nair
Imprisoned in the island paradise, Singapore
Against my will

Give me a trial or let me go NOW!

2008-07-04T02:24:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today is the 40th day since my arrival in Singapore on May 26, 2008. I expected to remain in Singapore only until June 3rd, 2008 i.e. for only 9 days for a short holiday and to witness the Lee Kuan Yew vs Dr. Chee Soon Juan defamation case.

On May 29, 2008 I wrote a blog criticizing the judge in the case of Lee Kuan Yew vs Dr. Chee Soon Juan Juan which was heard from May 26, 2008 to May 28, 2008. My article critical of Judge Belinda Ang appeared in this blog.

On May 31, 2008 5 plain clothes policemen and women from Cantonment Police Station arrested me from my hotel, the Broadway Hotel at Serangoon Road at 9 pm.

The Singapore government in this case is being being deliberately malicious and small minded in wanting to hurt me unnecessarily by refusing to proceed with this case in an expeditious manner. It has now been already been 40 days since my arrival in Singapore and I still have not had a trial yet. The Singapore government very well knows that this sort of delay is especially hurting to a foreigner who is waiting here while his affairs in his home country are being neglected. This sort of delay causes untold misery to a foreigner, which itself amounts to severe punishment.

The Singapore government is being deliberately malicious in refusing to proceed with this case in an expeditious manner and is intentionally causing me severe harm by dragging this case on unnecessarily.

This Singapore government is aware that I have my personal business to attend to in the USA and I have to go on with my life, which happens to be in the USA. Not in Singapore. While here, I have no proper accommodation, no right to work or no means of survival. Yet knowing this, this heartless and unjust Singapore government deliberately drags their feet with this case instead of giving a a trial immediately or alternately dropping all charges and letting me go home.

Let me make this very clear. When I attended the 3 day case before Judge Belinda Ang, there was no doubt in my mind at all that she was clearly biased as biased can be, and completely and utterly unfair towards Dr. Chee Soo Juan. In court she was not presiding as a judge at all, but was being merely a spokesman or spokeswoman for Lee Kuan Yew and his son to ensure that they get to say whatever they want and at the same time to ensure that Dr. Chee was not given any effective means to put his case forward. It was not a trial, but a charade, a sham, an opera and a make believe of the most disgusting sort.

The Singapore government in their effort to use the law courts as a means to remain in power can do whatever they want. But they cannot try to make me say things which are not true. They cannot and will not succeed in making me lie. No matter what, they cannot compel me to say that what happened in the Singapore High Court was indeed a fair trial. It was not.

The police had seized my personal notebook containing my Email password and either themselves or through their agents sent Emails to this judge Ang and are now trying to blame it on me. I have not sent any emails to this judge Ang. I did post 2 blog posts about the matter. Sending emails by seizing my personal particulars to a judge and then trying to blame it on me shows the depths of desperation and dishonesty to which this pathetic government will go to prove their point. By lies and dishonesty.

Look here, Singapore government. There was no need for me to send any Emails to Judge Ang. I had made my position that this judge was biased and unjust very clearly in my blog. If she wanted to, she could read it. I couldn't care less. But there was no need for me to send her any Emails. I had already made my point that she was biased and unjust. Sending her any emails was totally unnecessary. So Singapore government, this is my message to you. Stop being infantile and stupid. Grow up. This is not how a first world country should behave.

I wish to make it clear that I am not going to permit this silly government intolerant of dissent to intentionally punish me by making me remain in Singapore unnecessarily. You may try such strong arm tactics with others but you will not try that with me. My having to remain in Singapore for an extended period is causing me very severe harm. The bad reputation that Singapore has throughout the world as a country which abuses the law for it's political ends is getting progressively worse by these false charges against me. In fact it is hitting rock bottom.

Therefore as from Monday, July 7th 2008, 9am, I will be holding a one man protest in front of Singapore Parliament demanding that I be given a trial immediately or I be allowed to go home. This Belinda Ang business has gone on long enough and I am not prepared to wait any longer. I intend to do this every day until I get a trial date or I am allowed to go home.

Also as from the said date, Monday July 7th, 2008 from 3 pm in the afternoon, I intend to hold a one man protest outside Takashimaya Shopping Center, Orchard Road for the same purpose. I am unable to continue financially being forced to remain in Singapore during this time. I will therefore willingly accept your financial donations to keep me alive in Singapore while I am being kept against my will.

I invite all bloggers, writers, concerned citizens, foreigners, people who cherish freedom, journalists, cameramen, citizens, video cameramen and everyone else to please come forward and give me your support during this difficult time.

Please also give as much publicity and coverage to this case as possible. The world must keep aware of the injustice that this Singapore government is meting out to free speech and expression.

I am going to force this government to give me a trial without any further delay. Give me a trial now or else drop your false charges and let me go home.

Shame on you.

Gopalan Nair
in Singapore
held against my will

Donations for Gopalan Nair

2008-06-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have been informed by many that they would like to contribute financially in donations to help me remain in Singapore to fight this case brought on unexpectedly by the Singapore government.

I want to send my heartfelt thanks to those who have already given donations to me. Please send all donations to my lawyer, on my behalf, to his Citibank account.

My lawyer' particulars are as follows:

Mr. Chia Ti Lik,
Advocate and Solicitor
Chia Ngee Thuang and Co.
24 Peck Seah Street, #05-09/11
Nehsons Building, Singapore 079314
Tel: (65) 6225 9983
Mobile Tel: (65) 9450 8496
Fax: (65) 6223 7856
EMail: chiatilik@hotmail .com

Chia Ti Lik, Citibank Account: 0534235003

Please deposit your donations direct to Mr. Chia's account. In the event of any queries, kindly contact Mr. Chia, my lawyer.

In the meantime, I wish you to know that without your support, I would not have been able to stand up to this tyrannical Lee Administration. It was made possible entirely due to your warm support. I remain ever grateful to you.

Thank You from the bottom of my heart.

Gopalan Nair
Singapore

My 29th day in Singapore. Lee: If you defame me, I will sue you!

2008-06-23T06:57:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

During the 3 day assessment of damages hearing in the High Court, Judge Belinda Ang presiding, in the Lee Kuan Yew vs Dr. Chee Soon Juan matter, Dr. Chee asks Lee Kuan Yew why did he say in his Affidavit that he (Dr. Chee) "hates" Lee Kuan Yew.

Then Dr. Chee tells Lee that truly, he does not hate him at all. He (Dr. Chee) in fact feels very sorry for him. Dr. Chee tells him that he (Lee Kuan Yew) cuts a pathetic figure. And that Dr. Chee is really sorry for him.

Dr. Chee is absolutely spot on here. We should indeed fell sorry for the poor old man. You see, since 1959, Lee has been holding on to power. During this time, he has built an infrastructure and brought some modernity to the island. He feels he has done well. He says he has the support of the people and the people respect him. Nothing can be further from the truth. His actions betray his weakness. Only a weak ruler will resort to violence, brutality and resort to the courts to cripple his opponents. A strong ruler who has the support of the people need not stoop so low. Someone who wrote to me compared him to Mugabe. He says they are not too dissimilar. Mugabe uses guns to stay in power. Lee uses the courts. The diagnosis is the same. Both are weak men who can only remain in power by intimidation, torture, bankruptcy and subjugation. Powerful men need not resort to this.

Look at Lee's record. Singapore is already in the Guinness Book not only for the largest number of defamation actions brought on by a ruler of a country, but also for its staggering amounts; no less that one half million dollars each time. Does Lee ever believe that Dr. Chee can pay any of this? Of course not. The whole idea is not the money. It is to ensure that Dr. Chee can never stand of elections again. What a shameful man Lee Kuan Yew is. He ensures Dr. Chee Soon Juan can never oppose him in elections. To achieve that shameful objective, he uses the courts to finish him off. The same with JB Jeyaretnam. Till today I cannot understand why Jeyaretnam decided to pay the totally illegal damages. Yes, illegal is a strong word but apt nevertheless. In all the series of court cases against JB Jeyaretnam, not even once did JB Jeyaretnam ever defame Lee Kuan Yew, that is of course if you use the normal definition of the word "defame" and not the totally Alice in Wonderland meaning given to it by Singapore.

Take my case. I did say in my blog that since Lee Kuan Yew had said, in no uncertain terms, during the 3-day damages hearing recently in the High Court, that if anyone defamed him in a blog, and if they were identified, he will sue them; I had therefore challenged him to sue me as he had threatened. Instead of suing me, he goes on to order his police to arrest me on some dubious charge that I insulted a judge in my blog. Is this a sign of a man in control of himself or that of a man who is so unsure of himself that he has to resort to bullying each time someone challenges him? And mind you, I am so far a thoroughly insignificant soul compared to the others he has gone after previously, such as Dow Jones, Far Eastern Economic Review, Asian Wall Street, JB Jeyaretnam and Dr. Chee. All these people are giants compared to me in the scope of things. Why then pick on me?

The answer cannot be clearer than it ever was. Lee can only remain in power through instilling fear in his citizenry. And one way to do it is to go after anyone who criticizes, hoping that that others would be sufficiently scared off by news of what has happened to me.

But my answer to Lee is this. It is not going to work. You have done this once too often. And Singapore's young are bolder than what you think. This action against me is already turning out to be counter productive. Just after my case, I have heard that even more are packing off for Australia and elsewhere. This is something that Lee cannot stop. His mistake was making English the lingua franca. With English Singaporeans can leave anytime and be accepted around the English speaking world. The Chinese imports from mainland China is not a replacement. They neither have English nor the capability.

Second, more and more young people are swelling the ranks of the SDP. They are coming forward. Instead of being intimidated, they are turning out to be lions. Not just any lion but African lions. The really brave type.

I understand that Lee Kuan Yew has been traveling to places such as Sydney with hat in hand, begging Singaporeans to come back. They are not coming back. And one more reason for them not to come back is the case Singapore Public Prosecutor vs. Gopalan Nair for writing a blog!

Gopalan Nair
Singapore

27 days in Singapore. A prisoner in the island.

2008-06-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have now been 27 days in Singapore. I am an American citizen. I had come to Singapore to witness the case of assessment of damages in the High Court from May 26, 2008 to May 28, 2008, for 3 days, in the case of Lee Kuan Yew vs Dr. Chee Soon Juan. I intended to stay in Singapore no longer than June 3, 2008, which would have made my stay no more than 9 days. I had written a blog post on May 29, 2008, criticizing the conduct of the judge in this case.

For doing nothing more than writing a blog critical of a judge, I was arrested by 5 policemen at my hotel; manhandled; handcuffed; my hotel room ransacked before my very eyes, all my personal belongings seized; driven in a police car in handcuffs to Cantonment Police Station and kept 5 days in solitary confinement with the cell lights on 24 hours a day and interrogated each day; sometimes several times a day; and accused of all manner of wrong doing and treated like a common criminal, spending any time outside my cell in handcuffs.

I was released on bail, from solitary confinement on June 5, 2008; after 5 days. Not satisfied with having taken numerous statements from me while under custody; not satisfied with countless interrogation sessions; the court ordered me to continue to attend at the police station for even more interrogation sessions, which I did.

Suddenly on Monday June 16, 2008, not satisfied with the numerous statements already taken, from the never ending interrogation sessions; the court ordered me to attend the police station every day at 9 am in the morning until July 14, 2008 because, believe it nor not, the police have still not completed their investigations and according to the prosecutor, I had not been cooperating with the police in turning up for these interrogation sessions!

And while these never ending interrogation sessions continue, I, an American citizen, after having spent 5 days in solitary confinement, continue to be held against my will in Singapore now for 27 days; with my passport seized; while my law practice in California and my financial situation continues to suffer due to neglect.

And all this punishment for what? All for writing a blog post on my blog criticizing a judge in her conduct of the Lee Kuan Yew vs Dr. Chee Soon Juan case! Even by any third world country's standards, surely I have been punished enough! Surely any man with even the slightest of compassion; with the slightest of of humanity, would feel that enough is enough. Surely it is time to let me go.

The fact remains that all I did was to write a blog post. I have not killed anyone; I have not committed theft or armed robbery or high treason. All I did was to write. And for writing, will Singapore, this so called first world country, this country that claims to have the best legal system in the world, the best train system in the world, the best newspapers in the world, the best sea port in the world, the best airport in the world, the best airline in the world, the highest paid ministers in the world, the best of everything in the world; will they not be satisfied with the punishment I have suffered so far? What more do they want, my blood?

And what is the purpose of all this punishment? Is it to make sure that I am ruined financially? If so, they may have already achieved their purpose. Is it to make sure that I will never exercise my right to free speech again? Surely this is not possible. Unless they kill me, I will be able to return to the United States sometime or other. And once I am free, I will continue to exercise my right to free speech and expression; and if that is the case, what is the point of all this punishment?

And if the the point of all this punishment is to deter Singaporeans from ever criticizing Singapore judges, surely in this day and age, with an educated population, that result is highly unlikely. In fact the opposite may be true. The people might become instead, outraged, defiant and emboldened to speak their mind even more.

And while the Singapore government, intolerant of dissent, jail me in solitary confinement and hold me back in Singapore against my will and unable to return to my home in California; the free world watches the actions of this so called first world country. And they begin to see what this first world country really is. A country that rules by instilling fear among its citizens, threatening them with solitary confinement for extended periods if they ever dare to to criticize a judge.

This much must be told to this government. In order for the judiciary to function properly; in order for ministers to function properly; in order for policemen to function properly; in order for the government to function properly; what is needed is criticism. Criticism makes these government officials accountable. Without criticism, there is no check on people in authority and when there are no checks, judges, policemen, civil servants and ministers are liable to abuse it. If you want good government, you have to have criticism. Without it you have dictatorship and tyranny.

And by the way, this government has to be reminded that it is the tax payer that is paying their wages. And judges too have to be reminded that their wages too are paid by the Singaporean taxpayer. This makes them accountable for their actions and accountable to the people of Singapore.

I would say this to the Singapore administration. If you want to be taken seriously on your claim that you are a first world country, then act like one. First world countries do not go around throwing bloggers in solitary confinement and preventing them returning to their homes. These are not the actions of a first world country. More the actions of dictatorships like North Korea.

Gopalan Nair
Singapore

Laser, Byte, 420, 470, Sunfish, Topper or Lido 14 or similar dinghy.

2008-06-19T07:33:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Since I am going to be here for the foreseeable future, and there is nothing that I can do to change it, I might as well make the best of it.

I am a dinghy sailor and would love to borrow a boat of any of the above categories or similar type to sail off Changi or East Coast waters. I used to be a member of Changi Sailing Club but have not been one for several years now. Not possible to borrow one from them.

I am quite capable of sailing even the 2 crew 420, 470 and Lido 14 or other similar boats single handedly. I dont need a crew.

So if there is a dinghy sailor out there who reads this and has a boat, I would love to borrow it.

Thanks

Gopalan Nair
Singapore

A day in my life in Singapore, June 19, 2008

2008-06-19T06:47:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have been in Singapore 25 days. During this time, not only all newspapers but also all television channels have splashed my face across the screen and the newsprint pages almost on a daily basis. I have been told by passers by more than once that my face in person is exactly like it appears on TV screens and newsprint. I understand unlike others. So they say, I can be easily identified.

I have seen this to be true. Very true. Each day that I walk in public, total strangers come up to me and say they saw me in the news. Everyone so far has been supportive, often with vulgarities and abuses in the various languages of Singapore hurled at the Singapore government and you know who.

I understand that the Singapore state controlled press and media is trying very hard, naturally, to make me look a heinous serial killer. But regrettably for them, they are not succeeding. The effect on the ground appears counterproductive to them. It is not anger and opposition that I face from Singaporeans. It is appreciation, admiration and acknowledgment of bravery on my part. Yes, it has been a good feeling to walk about in Singapore among Singaporeans.

As I am being forced to stay longer each day in this country, both local and international awareness in my case increases. Yesterday it was the turn of San Jose Mercury News to contact me. They are running a story on my case in their San Jose paper.

I am sure as time goes on the awareness of my case throughout the world will only heighten. As to how this is going to advantage this government is a mystery to me; just as their other mind boggling actions like calling in the riot squad to shoo off 4 peaceful unarmed protesters outside the CPF building some 2 years ago!

If the intention of the Singapore government in arresting me and keeping me in solitary for 5 days and intimidating me with repeated interrogation sessions with all manner of serious charges is to frighten all other bloggers from criticizing, I am not sure if this will be the end result. One thing I am sure. Many more educated people will permanently emigrate. Rather than frightening anyone, bloggers might become outraged, enraged and emboldened and criticize even more, not less.

Only time can tell. In the meantime, I wait in Singapore. That itself continues to be great punishment.

Gopalan Nair
Singapore

Another day of U Turns and Fishing Expeditions by the Police

2008-06-18T20:44:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Just to reassure any reader new to my case, who may quite reasonably think after reading this blog spot that I had actually killed 20 people in cold blood and had I not been stopped in time, I would have butchered another 400 just for the fun of it; please be reassured I have done nothing of the sort! All I did, believe it or not, was to write 2 blog posts on my blog the Singapore Dissident criticizing Judge Belinda Ang, a Singapore High Court Judge on her conduct of a defamation case recently.

June 17, 2008, Tuesday, Singapore Cantonment Police Station.

The time is 8.45 am. As required by the Court Order of June 16, 2008, I appear for interrogation at the police station at 9 am. The court had on June 16, 2008 ordered that I appear every day at 9 am at the police station for interrogation until next month because the police claim they are investigating further unspecified offenses.

3rd Floor of the Police station, Tuesday, June 17, 2008, 8.45 am.

At 9.04 am Assistant Superintendent of Police (officer) Mr. Razak Jakaria, the Investigation Officer appears and takes me to an interview room. Another officer sits in the room.

Now the officer says that I am being investigated for an offense under Sec 4 (1) of the Sedition Act which he deliberately stresses is a seizable offence, obviously to threaten me into confessing something or other. He repeats that this offense carries a maximum jail term of 3 years, to stress it's seriousness.

The Section reads as follows: Any person who does or attempts to do or makes any preparation to do or conspires with any person to do any act which has or which would if done have a seditious tendency shall be guilty of an offense and shall be liable on conviction of a first offense to a fine not exceeding $5000.00 or to imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or both.

After showing me the charge, he begins the questions.

This is yet another day of U Turns by the police. You will recall the several changes that the police have made to date on what to charge me with. First it was an Email to Judge Ang. Another charge that I sent Judge Lai an Email more than 2 years ago. Then the decision to drop everything and proceed with a Sedition Charge. Then the dropping of the Sedition Charge and charging me with insulting Judge Ang through my blog. Now this latest version of resurrecting the Sedition charge one more time!

Mind you, from the time of my arrest on May 31, 2008 Saturday and my detention in solitary confinement for 5 days continuously, and despite my having been brought to court several times, up till now the police have not formally charged me with any single offense and neither have they taken any plea from me.

One can only assume that the police are just continuing with their roundabouts.

This time, the officer goes back and covers the same ground he covered in the past by showing me Emails which he claims I sent to Justice Belinda Ang and others. As before, I again deny having sent any Emails to any of these people.

He then produces an extract of the Criminal Procedure Code which requires an accused or witness to allow his computer system (I suppose including Email account) to be looked into, when a crime is suspected and failing to allow the police to look at it, itself becomes an offense. He then asks if I am prepared to log into my Email account to the computer at the police station for him to inspect the contents of my Email account.

The Singapore police system clearly, as in this case, does not provide due process to an accused. Here, once the police had articulated a suspicion that an offense has been committed, regardless of whether or not they had a single shred of evidence, they can insist that my Email account be available for their examination; failing to provide co-operation becoming an arrestable offense immediately.

In this case, the police had alleged they were suspecting a crime. Since that was done, I had no choice but to permit them to have access to my private Emails. Of course, I did not send any emails to anyone, but knowing that since my arrest, the police had seized my notebook containing my Email password, there was no telling what the police would do, such as tampering with my Emails or implanting offending Emails by themselves.

Clearly Singaporeans do not have the right to privacy or the right to be free from unlawful search and seizure or if they did; the police have the right to just ignore it.

I had no choice but to permit the officer to have access to my Email account. I had stated in my written response that I was permitting them to have access to my Email account under protest since it has now transpired that they or others at their behest may have tampered with my Email account since they have produced documents falsely accusing me of sending Emails to Judge Belinda Ang and others. Therefor since I am to use the police computer, there may be a strong possibility that they may have implanted offending Emails into my email account so as to falsely accuse me of having sent them.

I was brought down to the computer or meeting room of the Cantonment Police Station. There were 2 photographers there. I was asked to key into my Email account. I demanded that that they stand away while I keyed in my password so as to avoid its detection by them. They complied.

I was asked to open each item in my Email, namely the Inbox, Sent, Thrash and Bulk. The police photographers took several photographs of each page of those items. The officer then asked me to open several of those Emails, which he read. He could find nothing offensive or suspicious. The Emails that he had accused me of sending to Judge Belinda Ang and others were not there, and neither were the undeliverable messages he accused me of having received.

By this time the interview which had stated at 9.04 am had reached 2.30pm, that is 5 1/2 hours. Suddenly the officer disappeared and came back with a letter from the police that I need not attend everyday at the police station at 9am until the middle of July 2008 as ordered by the court, and I only need to attend if I was so advised. Another U turn, you may say.

Finally I must add how the officer uses one psychological technique to try to wear me down. He gets another officer to sit next to him at the computer while he works on it. The other officer then looks at the computer as if he has discovered something incriminating against me. Then both the officer and this other officer talk in whispers. All this must be to intimidate me into believing that there is something highly incriminating against me in the computer, thereby suggesting that I come clean by confessing at the first opportunity.

This observation, consultation and whispering between the officer and his second, at the computer carried on not only at the interview room but also at the computer room. I realised what they were doing and objected to the other officer being present but the officer's stand was that it was his office and he could do what he wanted.

It was quite apparent to me that this constant U Turns and checking my Emails is nothing more than a fishing expedition. Not having anything concrete, they are going over the same ground repeatedly hoping that they will find some contraditions in my statements; or looking into my private Emails hoping that they could find something new to charge me with. This sort of investigation is only done by police forces not intent on detecting crime but rather to eliminate government opponents. These are political police forces working for tyrants and despots, not independent ones.

And so was wasted the whole of a very good morning at Cantonment Police Station. I have been here now for 25 days, since my arrival on May 26, 2008, when I should have gone back to California on June 3, 2008, 16 days longer and still in Singapore. My law practice is already in serious jeopardy and so is my other financial situation. But I remain adamant in standing my ground. Mahatma Gandhi had said, "you may imprison my body, break my bones, even kill me, but you cannot take my spirit and my resolve. That will remain with me till the end". Mahatma Gandhi was right.

In the meantime, I am grateful for the massive congratulatory messages sent to me asking me to remain strong during this difficult time. I am also been receiving offers of help from people both in Singapore and worldwide to whom I remain eternally grateful.

It seems the longer I remain in Singapore, the greater the worldwide interest in my case. It truly does appear to me, that no matter what the Singapore government may or may not think of the right to free speech and expression; the people of the free world do really take it very seriously. And if Singapore is at all concerned about its standing among the free countries in the world then it too should take it seriously.

So I am clearly not alone in this. Good people not only in Singapore but worldwide stand with me on this important question of free speech and expression. And this is reassuring. Very reassuring.

Gopalan Nair
Singapore

Singapore. Another day in court.

2008-06-16T09:05:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I attended court 26 Subordinate Court at 9 am today as required by court order.

Mr. Chia Ti Lik, my lawyer appeared together with other supporters including my bailor Mr. Jeffrey George, Mr. Gandhi Ambalam, SDP Chairman. I am very grateful for the support shown to me by these supporters without whose help, life would have been infinitely more difficult in the already difficult circumstances.

I am also grateful to the representatives of the US Embassy who have continued to maintain their presence in court. I understand the US State Department is being briefed daily on my situation.

I am an American blogger who had intended to remain in Singapore only from May 25th 2008 to no later than June 3, 2008. My being charged for criminal offenses for writing a blog criticizing a Singapore Judge on May 29, 2008 is forcing me to remain in Singapore much longer than I had expected. This is causing me untold misery by my inability to attend to my law practice in the US and other financial difficulties including my inability to attend to my house mortgage and other financial affairs. Regardless of what I have to undergo, I refuse to surrender to this punishment by the Singapore authorities. What I had said in my blog is what I had witnessed during the 3 days of the hearing before the High Court Singapore in the case of Lee Kuan Yew vs Dr. Chee Soon Juan from May 26 2008 to May 28, 2008. I strongly believe it is the right of every free man to speak freely without fear or favor, without which he no longer is a man but a coward. This right is a right enshrined in the Constitution of Singapore as well as constitutions throughout the world as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Money can be had today or tomorrow but once a man loses his freedom, he loses everything. This has always been my belief which I will cherish till the end.

In court today, the prosecution took another U turn. Call it flip flopping if you like. You will recall from my last post the tortuous course these proceedings are taking. During my time in custody in solitary confinement from May 31, 2008 to June 05, 2008 (6 days) the following occurred. First they charged me with sending an Email to Judge Belinda Ang, alleging that I insulted her. Second they charged me with sending an Email to Judge Lai Sui Chu more than 2 years ago alleging the same. Third they withdrew all charges and charged me under the Sedition Act of Singapore for what I had written on my blog of May 29, 2008. Fourth, they withdrew the Sedition charge and wanted to proceed on the earlier Email charges.

Today in court there was a further U Turn. Now they are no longer proceeding with the Email charge to Judge Belinda Ang or the Sedition charge and have instead charged me with having insulted Judge Belinda Ang on May 29, 2008 by reason of what I had written on my blog as well as the 2 year old matter with Judge Lai. I cannot remember whether I did or did not send the 2 year old Email.

The Judge Ang charge is that I had offered an insult to Judge Belinda Ang, a civil servant, on May 29, 2008 by what I had written on my blog of the same date. As to how I could have possibly insulted this Judge by writing something on my blog is no doubt mind boggling. I had not invited the Judge to read my blog and neither did I go to her court and insult her personally. I had merely written a blog post and nothing more.

I am not surprised why the Singapore authorities have decided not to proceed with the charge that I had sent an Email to Judge Ang. I had all along claimed that the police had seized my note book which contained my Email password. I had all along maintained that if anyone had sent any Emails to this Judge, it wasn't me. It appears that the police have finally accepted my claim that I had not sent any Email to this judge or anyone else on May 29, 2008.

During the time I was in custody, the police had shown me Emails with my Email address which had purportedly been sent to Judge Belinda Ang, the Attorney General of Singapore and one other person in authority whom I cannot recall. This was after my notebook containing my Email passwords were seized by the police. I had all along denied ever sending any of these Emails. The question therefore arises as to who sent them!

So the latest position as regards the charges now is firstly, an accusation that I had insulted Judge Belinda Ang on May 29, 2008 by reason of the contents of my blog post of the same date and the accusation that I had insulted Judge Lai in an Email to Judge Lai more than 2 years ago in March 2006, keeping in mind that I had travelled to Singapore more than once during the last 2 years without incident. If indeed I had sent any Email to Judge Lai, which I deny; why Judge Lai should now be suddenly offended by an Email which may or may not have been sent to her more than 2 years ago from California, is puzzling.

Not satisfied by keeping me in solitary confinement for 6 days from the time of my arrest, the court had today ordered that I am to report everyday at 9 am at the Cantonment Police Station for interrogation until further notice. The police have claimed that despite my incarceration for 6 days in a police station cell since my arrest in solitary confinement where I was interrogated at least twice each day, they claim that they still have not completed their investigation and therefore the need to interrogate me each day, and every day, until such time they finally decide that they have had enough. One would have thought that I had killed 20 people in cold blood! For Heavens sake, I only wrote a blog.

I do not know the purpose of this all but perhaps they had miscalculated my reaction. Perhaps they thought that I would buckle under at the first opportunity and grovel as other Singaporeans are expected to do. Well, I am not guilty. I wrote a blog. I wrote what I saw. I was exercising free speech. Free speech is essential for good governance. If the Singaporean authorities are unwilling to accept this, it is time they did.

After all they claim Singapore to be a first world country. With international banking trade and commerce. All of this requires free speech. The sooner they realize this the better.

I have to get some sleep now so as to report to Cantonment Police Station to be interrogated in the morning.

Good night.

Gopalan Nair
Singapore

Singapore. My Arrest

2008-06-14T03:24:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

After I had posted the blogpost of May 29, 2008, at about 9 pm, May 31, 2008, I was arrested by at least 5 plain clothes policemen including at least 2 women. I had just promised Mr. Gandhi Ambalam, Chairman of the Singapore Democrat Party and Mr. Jeffrey George, committee member of the same that I will join them for a drink at a nearby coffee shop. I was appropriately dressed in shorts, T-shirt and slippers, not to offend the Singapore heat and humidity. I entered the elevator on the 8th floor of the hotel and descended to the 1st. When the door opened the aforementioned police were there blocking my way. Among them was Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr. Razak Jakaria, from the Cantonment Police Station, the police station in charge of my arrest.

At the ground floor when the elevator opened with me inside, the said police blocked my way. They showed their police identification. Forcibly restrained me inside the elevator. Handcuffed me while they took me back to the 8th floor into room 708.

Inside my hotel room, while I was in handcuffs, ASP Jakaria produced a warrant for my arrest. He stated that I was arrested under some section of the Singapore statutes. He refused to state what I was being arrested for. This procedure seems highly improper. Telling a citizen that he was being arrested under Section 200 or 2000 of the Penal Code without telling him what that meant is totally ridiculous! Did they expect every citizen to have studied Singapore law and the provisions of the Penal Code! Yet that is exactly what is done in a case where the accused is merely told of a particular section of the Penal Code! Despite my asking what I was being arrested for, I was not told what it was. Jakaria's answer was that he would tell me later. This was no help at all!

I was driven to Cantonment Police Station in a police car. ASP Jakaria was seated next to driver's seat. Next to me was a Chinese policeman. I was in handcuffs.

At the police station, there were usual procedures of taking account of my belongings and storing them. I was ordered to change into prison clothes and taken in handcuffs to a cell. From that moment I was kept in solitary confinement alone in a cell. The light was kept on 24 hours. There was no bed or even a mattress on the floor. I had to sleep on a hard floor. Although it can become cold there was no blanket. Unable to withstand the cold, I began shivering uncontrollably. I asked for a blanket from a passing guard. He provided it. This was on the 3rd or the 4th day of my confinement. Truly, it was not a blanket at all. It was a thin plastic sheet, which was not even long enough even to cover your feet. It did not keep you warm. But anything was better than shivering.

As the floor was solid hard, I could not sleep. Each time I had to toss and turn after a few minutes because it hurt. The light being on 24 hours, you did know it was day or night. Being kept alone in solitary confinement did not help either.

I was kept in this manner from May 31 2008. Since it was a weekend, I had to be kept till Monday morning to be brought to court.

I was kept in this manner till June 5th 2008. Between this period I was taken for interrogation many times on different days before ASP Jakaria. The interrogation was held in interview rooms. Each time I was walked in handcuffs from my cell to the interview room.

I was told that I was being charged for various offenses during this period at various different times. It was as if the police were at a loss what to do. First it was a charge that I had sent an insulting Email to Judge Belinda Ang. Later I was accused of insulting Judge Belinda Ang through my blog post. Later I was told that the earlier charges were dropped and I was charged under the Sedition Act of Singapore because of my blog. Later an additional charge that I had sent an Email to Judge Lai Sui Chue in March of 2006 more than 2 years ago.

As far as the accusation that I had sent an Email to Judge Belinda Ang; this is entirely untrue. I never sent any Emails to Ang or anyone else. All I did was to post my blog post. There were no Emails at all. The police had seized my documents and belongings from my hotel room. Among the items seized was an old blue tattered notebook. This is not a computer, which has been wrongly described as one in the papers. It was a tattered old notebook. In it there was my password for my Email and other personal numbers.

As far as the Email to Judge Lai Sui Chu, this was more than 2 years ago. I cannot remember if I sent that Email. Even if I did, I was not in Singapore at the time. I was physically in Fremont, Northern California. If I sent the Email, it was from Fremont Northern California. From 2006 March to present I had traveled to Singapore on at least one occasion on November 2006 without incident. It is odd that they want to proceed on a matter that I did or did not do more than 2 years ago! If indeed anyone had been insulted, it was more than 2 years ago, for Heavens Sake! Even if there was insult, which is denied, surely anyone would have got over the insult by now, unless of course they are afflicted with incurably delicate nerves!

On Monday June 2nd, 2008, I was brought to court in handcuffs in a police car. I have not been officially charged with anything in court. The prosecution requested and was allowed to keep me in custody for a further one week. I was taken back to solitary confinement in Cantonment Police Station.

I was suddenly told without prior warning that I was going to be released from custody prematurely on June 5th 2008 on bail while the police continued with their investigations. Bail was fixed at fixed at $5000.00 for the accusation that I had sent an Email to Judge Belinda Ang. As there was another charge being tendered for the accusation that I sent Judge Lai an Email more than 2 years ago, I was ordered to appear before Court 26 on Monday June 09, 2008, another court, in the Court complex for the matter to be looked into.

On June 09, 2008 this other charge, being the over 2 years old accusation, was looked into. I was again given bail of $5,000.00.

For both cases I have been bailed out. I am presently out on bail.

The police had impounded my passport and I cannot travel. I am forced to remain in Singapore during these proceedings. I had originally intended to return to the US no later than June 3 2008, having arrived in Singapore on early morning May 26, 2008. Forcing me to remain in Singapore and being unable to return to the US is by itself causing me untold harm. My law practice in the US is suffering and various other matters such as my house mortgage cannot be attended to. This alone is causing extreme hardship to me.

Furthermore I am facing severe financial hardship in having to remain in Singapore much longer than expected.

The American Embassy, Singapore has been monitoring my case. I am grateful to Miss Julie Kavanagh, Consul and recently Mr. Learned Dees, Vice Consul together with another officer from the Embassy who have been taking special interest in my case. They have always been present at all my court hearings making it known to the Singapore court that they are watching.

This whole matter boils down to one question. A right to free speech and expression. It appears to me as well as anyone watching this case that what the Singapore authorities are trying to say is this. Do not criticize the Singapore judiciary no matter what. Even if the Singapore judiciary were to say, two and two is ten, the Moon is made of cheese and Christmas Day does not fall on December 25th, we have to keep our mouths shut and go about our business as if nothing happened! What the Singapore authorities are trying to say, if I correctly understand it, is that human beings are disallowed from criticizing the judiciary, period! They are above criticism. They are beyond question. They are invincible. Infallible. They are the best, and need no criticism from mortal human beings! That they are Gods.

I, as a human being cannot understand this to be correct, surely. I was born a Singaporean. I lived my life here in Singapore. I am a former Singapore politician. The welfare of Singapore and Singaporeans should be more my concern than that of Central West Africa! Surely. Criticism is necessary for any organization to improve, to get better. Without criticism, there is stagnation. And with stagnation there is no hope. This has always been the case. What I had done and said was for the welfare of Singapore, a country that I care for and a country in which I have a stake, even if I am now an American.

Forcing me to remain in Singapore for a long period is no doubt causing me great hardship. Of course I also worry as to what is in store for me at the end of the court hearing.

But one thing is certain. Regardless of what I have to suffer, I will not admit to anything I did not do. I have a right to free speech and expression and I had exercised that right as a free man; as a human being. If have to pay a price for what I had said in my blog, so be it.

The Singapore government would be better off if they faced reality. In this day and age, and in a country such as Singapore with an educated population, demanding that citizens keep their mouths shut and comply as obedient sheep is not only untenable, it is counter productive. I have said this many times before, and it has to be said again. You cannot expect to become a first world country by forcing people to remain silent when criticism is warranted. This refusal of Singapore to face the reality of the times is the very reason why Singaporeans flee their country in droves.

Being forced to remain in Singapore against my will, I naturally have to live among Singaporeans. What I have found so far is by and large; educated Singaporeans are recent immigrants from somewhere else. From India, from Europe and from elsewhere. I am not seeing any local educated Singaporeans. I have no doubt that they have left the country. They have emigrated to other countries in the world, and left Singapore for good.

Perhaps, like me, they too think that the administration should be subject to criticism. And that includes the judiciary. Judges are not Gods after all.

Gopalan Nair
Singapore

Lee Kuan Yew: If bloggers who defame me identify themselves, I will sue them!

2008-05-30T19:40:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am Gopalan Nair. Today is May 31, 2008 at 10.40am Singapore time. I am at present in Singapore at Broadway Hotel, Room 708, 195 Serangoon Road, Singapore, 218067. The hotel telephone number is is 62924661. My local SingTel telephone number is 83764236.

In my last blog post, I had narrated the shameful spectacle of Lee Kuan Yew and his Prime Minister son abusing the legal system for their political ends through their lawyer Davinder Singh and a compliant judge, both compliant and suppliant to Lee Kuan Yew's demands to abuse the law, Belinda Ang, to punish his political opponents Dr. Chee Soon Juan and Chee Siok Chin.

I repeat the threat that Lee Kuan Yew had made on day two of the show trial during the last 3 days in the High Court. When asked by Dr. Chee whether he will sue those who write on the Internet defamations against him, I mean defamations in the Singaporean sense, his definitive unequivocal answer was that he will sue them. There is no doubt in the Singaporean sense, I have defamed him and his Prime Minister son, not only in my last blog post but in almost all my blog posts since my blog's inception in December 2006.

My posts have attracted great popular interest throughout Singapore and has been repeatedly and widely re-posted throughout the island in other blogs and political forums. A wide section and spectrum of Singaporeans have read them and interest in them increases daily. And as Lee Kuan Yew has himself said with both bravado and gusto, a lie has to be nailed because otherwise through dissemination people who matter, Singapore citizens, will begin to take it seriously.

Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, you have called Dr. Chee a liar, a cheat, a scoundrel, a criminal and various other abusive epithets. Let me tell Mr. Lee Kuan Yew that these words that you have uttered apply to you and your son, not to Dr. Chee Soon Juan.

Not only in my mind but in the minds of countless Singaporeans, Lee Kuan Yew and his Prime Minister son are men so weak that the only way they can stay in power is through fear and intimidation of their citizens through the abuse of legal process and other shameful means.

Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, look here. I am now within your jurisdiction and that of your corrupt police and your corrupt judiciary who will do anything you want of them, however criminal and illegal.

What are you going to do about it?

Gopalan Nair
Broadway Hotel
Singapore
May 31, 2008

Singapore. Judge Belinda Ang's Kangaroo Court

2008-05-29T10:23:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This is Gopalan Nair in Singapore today, May 29, 2008. I have been in Singapore since May 25, 2008, and staying now at Broadway Hotel, Room 708, 195 Serangoon Road, Singapore 218067.

I am deliberately stating my identity and my present exact location for a definite purpose. On day 2 of the trial in Singapore, day before yesterday, in the Lee Kuan Yew and son verses Dr. Chee Soon Juan case, Lee senior had said in answer to a question by Dr. Chee, that if he, Lee Kuan Yew, knew the identity of bloggers in cyberspace who defamed him (defamation being used of course in the Singaporean sense), he will sue and bankrupt them.

He had earlier sidestepped the question by saying, that he had difficulty suing critics of his in the Internet because their identities were not usually known. When pressed, he categorically and deliberately stated that he will sue if they made known their identities.

Well, what you are going to read should be without question defamatory of Mr. Lee and his son, that is in the warped and hare brained Alice in Wonderland meaning of the word "defamation". It will be interesting to see if this Singapore strongman, Lee Kuan Yew and son, who strut around the small island of Singapore bullying everyone who so much as criticized, will sue me now for calling him nothing more than a small time street bully; since now, we have myself Gopalan Nair who has the temerity to identify himself and state his presence with full address in Singapore.

Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, see here. I am now within the jurisdiction of your courts; I repeat, "the jurisdiction of your courts" because literally they are your courts, willing to commit any crime or injustice you will demand of them.

During the last 3 days of the court hearing, up till yesterday, in the High Court, before your stooge of a judge, Belinda Ang in Court 4, you and your Prime Minister son conducted yourselves as expected, no better than cowards hiding behind the coat tails of your equally cowardly counsel doubling up as a PAP politician in court; who managed with the full co-operation of the said judge to ensure that you came to court merely for form, refusing to answer almost all questions that went directly to your integrity or rather the lack of it.

After the end of the 3 days in court, it left no doubt in my mind that you and your son are indeed what international human rights organizations say you are, nothing more than tin pot tyrants who remain in power by abusing the courts to eliminate your political opponents. You are clearly corrupt, as is your government, because paying yourself $3.7 million is corruption pure and simple and in the end you have lost all credibility and moral authority to govern Singapore.

The following transpired during the last 3 days in court. The judge Belinda Ang was throughout prostituting herself during the entire proceedings, by being nothing more than an employee of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and his son and carrying out their orders. There was murder, the rule of law being the repeated victim.

The issue in the said court was the determination of the quantum of damages payable by the innocent victim, Dr. Chee Soon Juan who had earlier been found liable by this judge for defamation of character of Mr. Lee and son, where the law was once again abused through the contrivance of a process known as summary proceedings, thereby disallowing Dr. Chee to produce any witnesses or to cross-examine those of Mr. Lee because there were none.

The said 3 day of hearing before the court was nothing more than a mockery of justice; a charade, a make believe that appeared right out of the pages of Alice in Wonderland with Belinda Ang playing the role of the Queen of Hearts before the trial of the Mouse who stole the Tarts very well indeed. It almost appeared that she was going to dispense with all testimony and come straight to the verdict of guilty so as not to waste her valuable time!

It would be fair to say, in fact an understatement, that in effect she disallowed Dr. Chee any effective cross examination of either the father Lee Kuan Yew or the son, as Mr. Singh, their counsel was almost having a workout like in a gym; standing up to object, and sitting down after almost each and every question that Dr. Chee put to his father and son clients. In fact Singh was popping up and down almost without let up during the several hours of the hearing so much so, that someone suggested to me that it would have been a good idea if he remained standing throughout the case to facilitate his expected objections at each and every question of Dr. Chee.

If Dr. Chee did manage to ask even one question, it was because he went ahead and asked it despite the objection of both Mr. Singh and the judge because if he did not, he would not have been able to ask any questions at all!

Dr. Chee has asked Lee's son how much he was being paid, that is $3.7 million, 6 times what George Bush is paid! Question disallowed and the son shamefully just sits there, protected by his counsel Mr. Singh and the kangaroo judge.

Chee asks whether it is just for him to corruptly steal this amount of taxpayer's money while the poor in the 1 room flats starve without any financial assistance! Question disallowed and the son shamefully just sits there, protected by his counsel Mr. Singh and the kangaroo judge.

Chee asks why the GIC and HDB function under a shroud of secrecy without any transparency, when the moneys in them is taxpayers money? Question disallowed and the son shamefully just sits there, protected by his counsel Mr. Singh and the kangaroo judge.

Chee asks whether he knew that those who read the Internet overwhelmingly hated him as a tyrant and a bully and the only ones singing praises in his name are the Singapore state owned and controlled media? Question disallowed and the son shamefully just sits there, protected by his counsel Mr. Singh and the kangaroo judge.

Chee asks whether the international community looks at him no better than a despot and a father's son? Question disallowed and the son shamefully just sits there, protected by his counsel Mr. Singh and the kangaroo judge.

Chee had asked this Lee Kuan Yew's son why he said in the 2006 elections that " if there were more opposition candidates at elections, he will have to "fix" them and bribe his voters to win elections"? Question disallowed and the son shamefully just sits there, protected by his counsel Mr. Singh and the kangaroo judge.

There were many more questions put to him just as the above questions, all very relevant, which, had they been answered, would have shown that he had no integrity or reputation whatsoever, and since integrity and reputation are the issues in deciding quantum of damages, Lee Kuan Yew's son should have been awarded no damages at all; that is provided we have an independent judiciary, which we have not.

Any honest spectator in the court's gallery would have come away with one opinion alone, that is, this man is Prime Minister only because he happens to be the son of his father. If he really wanted to show that he was in fact in control, he could have easily told his lawyer to stop being the Jack in the Box and stop popping up and down with his objections and let him handle the questions. At each question, he was looking meekly at his counsel to see whether he has to answer it. If I could put it in a simple way, he was nothing more than a helpless boy.

The following refer to Lee Kuan Yew's testimony or rather the lack of it.

Chee asked him whether he came to power through unfair means in 1959, as shown by declassified British Colonial Office documents in London? Question disallowed and the father shamefully just sits there, protected by his counsel Mr. Singh and the kangaroo judge.

Chee asks about his throwing Lim Chin Siong, his political compatriot, in jail under the ISA in solitary confinement for several years in the 1960s and whether this was a sign of a man with a reputation and integrity? Question disallowed and the father shamefully just sits there, protected by his counsel Mr. Singh and the kangaroo judge.

Chee asks about the Operation Cold Store in the 1960s where he jails political opponents because he fears he might be overthrown? Question disallowed and the father shamefully just sits there, protected by his counsel Mr. Singh and the kangaroo judge.

Chee asks about Chia Thye Poh, Zaid Zakaharia and Lim Hock Siew, his political opponents whom he imprisons without cause for many many years? Question disallowed and the father shamefully just sits there, protected by his counsel Mr. Singh and the kangaroo judge.

Chee asks whether the only people who have a good opinion of him are his state owned and controlled Singapore press, whereas everyone else in Singapore as well as the entire list of respectable foreign organizations and countries including the entire European Union consider him as a thug and small time street bully? Question disallowed and the father shamefully just sits there, protected by his counsel Mr. Singh and the kangaroo judge.

Other than the dubious Transparency International Kula Lumpur Chapter (not to be confused with Transparency International of Berlin Germany) he was asked whether anyone else considered him in high regard other than the local press which he controls? His answer was that PERC and a Swiss organization, both of whom cater for businessmen thought highly of him. But when asked whether highly respected Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Lawyers Without Borders, Reporters without Borders, ILRW and several other international bodies considered him a crook; he had nothing to say, because as usual the Jack Rabbit Davinder Singh stood up once again to object and the judge obediently sustained the objection.

Then Lee Kuan Yew went on to insult Dr. Chee with impunity, that he is a liar, a cheat a charlatan, a criminal and what not. Of course the judge permitted these insults, since after all Lee Kuan Yew and his son owned the courts and the judge as well.

These court proceeding were nothing more than a sham, a charade and a mockery of justice. It was very clear that both father and son had no integrity or credibility whatsoever. They were ruling Singapore through fear and those who are able to leave the country leave it in droves, only to be replaced by Mandarin speaking immigrants from the Peoples Republic of China who speak no English at all.

If there was one result of these proceedings it was this. Dr. Chee' impeccable reputation was vindicated. He came out of these proceedings truly as the statesman that he is, and he demolished these two petty thugs Lee and his son, perhaps not in this Singapore kangaroo court, but truly in the court of truth and conscience.

And in fact despite the objection of Mr. Singh and Belinda Ang, Dr. Chee Soon Juan did manage to say to both father and son, that regardless of what the court decides, in the court of natural justice, in the court of truth and in the court of moral conscience, they had that day lost all moral authority to govern Singapore.

I believe, not only me, but every single person who walked away from that courthouse yesterday came away with that same judgment.

As the Lees know, I am a lawyer practicing in Fremont California and a member of the California Bar. My question to Lee Kuan Yew and his son is this. Are you going to stand by your threat and sue me for defamation as well? I am presently physically within your jurisdiction and the jurisdiction of your kangaroo courts. Are you going to going to send your process server to me with your writ of summons? Or are you, as expected, all talk and no action, when you meet those not afraid of you, just as how a petty street thug would behave?

Gopalan Nair
Broadway Hotel,
Serangoon Road, Singaproe

May 29, 2008

Correct telephone number 83764236: Announcement. Gopalan Nair Visiting Singapore, May 25th 2008

2008-05-26T06:26:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Please note the telephone number to contact me earlier given in my earlier post is incorrect. The correct telephone number to contact me while in Singapore is 83764236. I apologize for any inconvienience.

Gopalan Nair will be visiting Singapore from the United States. He will arrive in Changi Airport, Singapore on Sunday May 25th 2008 late night. If you wish to contact him, please call Singapore mobile local telephone number: 83764236 from Monday, May 26, 2008. Gopalan Nair will be staying a week in Singapore. Your phone calls are very welcome. Contact: Singapore telephone 83764236 as from Monday May 26, 2008.

Best Wishes

Gopalan Nair
Singapore Dissident

Announcement. Gopalan Nair Visiting Singapore, May 25th 2008

2008-05-24T00:39:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Gopalan Nair will be visiting Singapore from the United States. He will arrive in Changi Airport, Singapore on Sunday May 25th 2008 late night. If you wish to contact him, please call Singapore mobile local telephone number: 97860241 from Monday, May 26, 2008 morning. Gopalan Nair will be staying a week in Singapore. Your phone calls are very welcome.

Contact: Singapore telephone 97860241 as from Monday May 26, 2008 morning.

Best Wishes
Gopalan Nair
Singapore Dissident

Singapore. A prison state.

2008-05-21T17:44:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Singaporeans are in truth prisoners in their own country. The Chief Superintendent of this prison is Lee Kuan Yew, with his son, the Prime Minister together with his other ministers being senior prison wardens.

This category includes the High Court judges, senior civil servants, teachers and other senior government officials. The normal Joe Bloke is just a prisoner. The only difference between the regular prison and the Republic of Singapore is the fact that you cannot escape from a normal prison. You can from Singapore if you want. And that is exactly what many do by emigrating to reside permanently in other countries. Many are unable to escape because they either lack the skills that other countries need or because they are unwilling to accept the rigors inherent in moving.

I was just looking at the index of country democracy listings on Wikipedia. Please click on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index . You will see that Singapore is one step below Albania! It is 84th down on the list with Albania and Bolivia more democratic and Madagascar and Lebanon less democratic than Singapore. Despite Lee Kuan Yew, the strongman or the Chief Prison Warden, claiming Singapore to be first world country, it is truly much worse than the worst third world countries in the world, in spite of the skyscrapers at Raffles Place!

In a normal prison, prisoners cannot complain, since even if you did, it is not going to make a whole world of difference. Furthermore all reading material in prisons are monitored and censored. Exactly the same in Singapore. All newspapers and media are owned by Singapore Press Holdings which is fully owned and operated by Lee Kuan Yew and his government. Singaporeans have no access to independent news. They can purchase foreign newspapers but they usually do not cover domestic issues. You are left with government censored information, just as the prisoner in San Quentin, California serving a life sentence, is left with censored mail.

Most people in Singapore have jobs. In a normal prison, the prisoners are given jobs in the prison laundry, the prison bakery and other work that prisoners can do. This the prison administration ensures. But prisoners in a prison are unable to bargain for higher wages. Prisons do not have workers unions. A prisoner has no choice but to accept the work and the meager pay that is dished out. No difference at all for Singaporeans. Singaporeans have to work to feed their families. But just as the prisoners in San Quentin Penitentiary, they cannot negotiate their wages. On the surface, there are such things as unions in Singapore but they exist in name only. In fact the workers unions in Singapore represent the employers and the Singapore government; not the workers. Singaporean workers, just as any other normal prisoners, are powerless and unrepresented.

Prisons do not permit prisoners to exercise fundamental rights such as free speech and expression and the right to free assembly. If you protest or start making speeches that the prison wardens in San Quentin do not want to hear, you will probably be sent to solitary confinement and beaten up. Just like San Quentin, Singapore too does not permit the right to free speech and assembly. If you did you will be charged in court and a Singapore judge will fine you. If you do not pay, you will end up in prison. In fact this punishing activity is now happening as we speak. Dr. Chee Soon Juan of the Singapore Democratic Party has recently, once again been convicted for making a public speech. He will be sentenced on May 30, 2008 by Judge Jusvinder Kaur of the Subordinate Courts. He will be sent off to jail again.

In prison, if you criticize the chief warden, you will be meted out additional punishment which usually is solitary confinement. In Singapore if you criticize Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, you will be sued for defamation of character and a judge will order you to pay Lee Kuan Yew one million Singapore dollars and not being able to pay, you will be bankrupted. Which means you will have no money to feed yourself and neither will your family. You will starve.

As a prisoner in a normal prison, you will not be able to complain on how much the wardens receive in wages. If you did, you will be punished and you will be thrown into solitary. In Singapore just as if you were a prisoner in San Quentin, you are disallowed from complaining that Mr. Lee Kuan Yew pays himself $3.7 million a year, a bribe and corruption, which is a fact. If you criticized, you will be again sued and another one million dollars will be awarded against you, and failing to pay, you will be bankrupted multiple times. How one bankruptcy as opposed to multiple bankruptcies are different I am unable to tell. In any case, even if Hinduism were true and you will in fact be born again, it is unlikely that you will ever be able to pay Mr. Lee Kuan Yew these several millions.

In prison, wherever you go, you are watched. There are monitors and cameras all over the prison looking out at every action of yours. No difference in Singapore. Intelligence officers are all over the place keeping a lookout at whatever you do and keeping record of each movement. If you criticize, your ability to earn a living is immediately terminated.

In prison, it is best to keep a low profile. The less you are seen, it is better. Being an extrovert is not a good practice in prison. The best way to live in prison is to be friendly to everybody and do your work well. This will mean the prisoner receiving a certificate of good conduct and the jail time reduced for good behavior. Same in the Republic of Singapore. It is not a good idea to be conspicuous. A nail that is sticking out will be hammered in, is the correct aphorism. That is why you see most Singaporeans have nothing much to say about anything. They do their work and go home, unobtrusive and unnoticed. Just like the prisoner in San Quentin who just wants to be left alone.

In one sense, Singaporeans are even worse off than any normal prisoner. In a normal prison, the prison wardens are not permitted to keep all the profits from the wok done by their prisoners. In Singapore Lee Kuan Yew and his friends keep all the profits for themselves. And if any Singaporean complains, he will sue you and make you a bankrupt the next minute.

With more and more people demanding their normal humanity and refusing to live like prisoners, Singapore is suffering from a brain drain. As a result Singapore Airlines and other major companies are finding it increasingly difficult to operate efficiently. Worrying about his own future, Lee Kuan Yew has gone to other normal countries such as Australia trying to persuade Singaporeans to return to the prison island of Singapore. Obviously they are refusing to come back. It should be no surprise to anyone. Why should they return to Singapore, a prison, when they have successfully managed to escape?

Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
Fax: 510 657 6914
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com
Blog: http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/

Your letters are welcome. We reserve the right to publish your letters. Please Email your letters to nair.gopalan@yahoo.com

And if you like what I write, please tell your friends. You will be helping democracy by distributing this widely. This blog not only gives information, it dispels government propaganda put out by this dictatorial regime.

Singapore. The ultimate police state.

2008-05-19T20:44:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Below the surface of the glass towers, the skyscrapers, the Parliament, the elections and the speeches upon speeches by government officials swearing under oath that Singapore is a parliamentary democracy; below the outward trappings of democracy; truly it is the ultimate police state. There is no law, there is no justice, and men and women live each moment at the pleasure of Messrs Lee Kuan Yew and his son. This is indeed the bitter truth.

You have seen the police totally ignoring the Constitution of Singapore by arresting and imprisoning peaceful protesters, peaceful public speakers, and confiscating films which are in no way objectionable except that it is critical of Lee and son. The Constitution allows criticism under the free speech clause. Yet all these rights are blatantly ignored with the police doing anything they want.

After being arrested and charged it would have been good if at least the courts can protect you. Alas, that protection too is absent. In fact, not too recently when peaceful protesters challenged the disruption of their perfectly legal protest in court, the Judge VK Rajah made the astonishing statement that Singaporeans have no right to protest as this will undermine the respectability of government institutions!

Singapore has, just as other countries the Criminal Procedure Code that sets out the practice and procedure for the police to follow. Warrants of arrests are needed for non seizable offenses and searches and seizures of private property generally requires a warrant signed by a judge. Warrantless arrests and seizures require the finding by the police of probable cause before they can do it. But to use a local colloquial phrase " The police anyhow suka suka catch anybody they want. So the police belong to your father izzit?"

Today the police in Singapore can stop anyone anytime, take them in without rime or reason, by merely saying they suspect an offence, without more.

I have been watching the police arresting SDP members and activists whenever they like, confiscating their property and taking them to jail whenever they like without any lawful cause. And what I am even more upset about is the willingness of Dr. Chee and his supporters to merely submit to authority, knowing that these laws are clearly unjust on its face.

If Lee Kuan Yew is intent on abusing the law for political ends, he can do whatever he wants. But Dr. Chee and his friends, instead of meekly complying with these injustices, should put their foot down and refuse to budge. If arrested refuse to go. Lie down. No violence but lie down. Let them have to pull you away. Yesterday, the police and MDA illegally disrupted a private screening of an educational film and demanded it, to which the SDP complied and handed it to them. Why? Since you know the demand for the DVD is unjust why cooperate with the police? Why not refuse to give it?

Ms. Padmamuthu, the Indian woman who appears in the videos below, an officer of the MDA claimed that she was complying with the law when she illegally confiscated the film from the SDP at their private showing yesterday. Her full image and actions and words are caught on video for all to see. My message to such officers is this. There are laws and unjust laws. Padmamuthu herself knows that her actions were clearly illegal in spite of the law which requires all films to be licenced. She and everyone else knows that the law is a political law intended for the punishment of political dissidents. To her I will say, please do not prostitute yourself by this injustice. Have some shame. Stop selling yourself wholesale to Lee Kuan Yew and his son.

And the same message goes to all other civil servants and police officers. Today you are unable to hide. Once you abuse your position to please your political superiors, the next minute you will be on the Internet, on Youtube and the world will watch your face and the shameful deeds that belong to it. So watch out! Just as the world had seen how disgusting the actions of Padmamuthu was on the day she abused her position in confiscating the DVD from democracy activists.

This is what I will say to this officer Ms. Padmamuthu of the MDA. Regardless of how long you remain in Singapore or in the Civil Service, one thing is certain. Your reputation has turned permanently into excrement. Padmamuthu should ask herself whether it has been worth it?

Please see her shamful actions for yourself in the videos below. I for one will never forget he face. Take a good look at her face.

Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
Fax: 510 657 6914
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com
Blog: http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/

Your letters are welcome. We reserve the right to publish your letters. Please Email your letters to nair.gopalan@yahoo.com

And if you like what I write, please tell your friends. You will be helping democracy by distributing this widely. This blog not only gives information, it dispels government propaganda put out by this dictatorial regime.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6643812652683746551&hl=en http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5079206342978505621&hl=en http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6by3jJwoTrQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6V7M6nXxKk

Singapore's laws that need to be broken

2008-05-18T20:09:00.001-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Unless we agree that only just laws need to be obeyed and unjust laws ignored, there is no need for you to to take any notice of this blog post. But if you, like me, agree that just because laws are enacted by a tyrant, which are enacted not at all in the interests of Singaporeans; but only to ensure that tyrants remain in power; then I would say, like me, if faced with such unjust laws, it is not only one's right but one's bounden duty to break them; because if you did not, you are a coward.

1. The five person protest law

This law requires a permit for a gathering of 5 or more in public. This is a law in direct conflict with the Constitution. The constitution guarantees you freedom of assembly. Constitutional law states any other law or statute that is direct conflict with the constitution is illegal and should be struck unless compelling reasons can be shown. A peaceful protest can in no way raise any compelling interest to overcome the constitution. Therefore the law reacquiring permits for protests is clearly illegal. Break this law.

2. Public speaking

This law requires a permit to make a public speech. Same analysis as for above protest law being in direct violation of the constitutional provision guaranteeing free speech. Break this law.

3. Gazetting government offices as being off limits to protesters

Recently this government in order to stop any protests have come with a new gimmick, which is, declare all government offices as off limits by a method called gazetting. Plain and simple rubbish. No can do; if I had no English! Government offices are the very places where protesters would want to hold them, since they are the offending parties. This again is a clear restriction and limitation of your constitutional right to free speech and assembly. Break this law.

4. Societies requiring registration

Singapore laws require societies to be registered. Clearly this is a law to keep an eye and monitor all opposition political activities. This again is a clear violation of the speech and assembly clauses in the Constitution. Here again there is no compelling interest to have these laws in place except for keeping Singaporeans forever enslaved. No basis in law for this at all. Break this law.

5. Films Act

Political or in fact any film needs to be licenced. The height of misuse of the law that can ever be imagined. Not just obscene films, but just every single film requires censorship! Please go to the SDP website, http://www.yoursdp.org/ and see for yourself. Yesterday, the MDA and police entered a private viewing of a film "One nation under Lee", at Peninsula Hotel entered the premises and forcibly confiscated the film, thereby making a nuisance of themselves once again. No doubt those present did not want to waste any time with these goons and handed them the DVD. Immediately thereafter, of course, they pulled out another copy of it and watched the movie, no doubt!

In fact you can watch it below at the link. It is ironical that each time the government behaves in such mind boggling logic that will defy even Humpty Dumpty himself, the exact reverse happens. In fact after they confiscated it, the entire country's interest has been aroused and 10 times more people around the world have now watched it. Is the government now planning further arrests for having watched a movie critical of Lee Kuan Yew.

Break this law.

But please watch the movie, One Nation Under Lee by clicking the link below. A well made and highly instructive movie.

Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
Fax: 510 657 6914
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com
Blog: http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/

Your letters are welcome. We reserve the right to publish your letters. Please Email your letters to nair.gopalan@yahoo.com

And if you like what I write, please tell your friends. You will be helping democracy by distributing this widely. This blog not only gives information, it dispels government propaganda put out by this dictatorial regime.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6643812652683746551&hl=en

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5079206342978505621&hl=en

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6by3jJwoTrQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6V7M6nXxKk