Political Commentary by David Chua Chuan Seah

My MILD Political Comments In

The Singapore Democratic Party

(SDP) Website,

Singapore Democrats

(http://www.yoursdp.org)


Titles of My Posted/Published Socio-Political Comments

(Including Dates of Publication/Posting)

and The Respective Titles of

Main Reports/Articles in

Singapore Democrats:

1. PAP Ball-Carriers (27.4.08)--in: "Chee Siok Chin calls on EU not to sacrifice human rights for trade";
2. Press Deprivation (30.4.08)--in: "SDP invites Straits Times for a meeting";
3. Goodbye To The Naive Eighties (2.5.08)--in: "Guess who's presiding over LKY's lawsuit hearing?";
4. Opposition Parties in Singapore (3.5.08)--in: "The people drives us on";
5. My Thanks To The SDP (4.5.08)--in: "Activists protest against media control outside SPH";
6. The Poor, Helpless and the Unfortunate (5.5.08)--in: "Free meals salvation for poor in wealthy Singapore";
7. I Declare (6.5.08)--in: "Why are Courts coy about deciding to hold hearing in open court?";
8. Replies To Fellow Singaporeans (7.5.08)--in: (same as No. 7);
9. The Law Is Unjust (7.5.08)--in: "Registrar: 'Almost certain' hearing will be in open court";
10. The Power and Economic Elite (8.5.08)--in: "Why was the late High Court Judge Lai Kew Chai at a 'political dinner'?";

11. When Will Lee Ever Admit Them (16.6.08)--in: "CSJ walks from QRP";

12. Why I Left Military Security Department, Mindef (17.6.08)--in: "Confusion over charges, but harassment of Nair continues";

13. Opposition To The Autocratic and Authoritarian PAP Goverment (17.6.08)--in: "Thank you message from CSJ";

14. On Lee Kuan Yew's Worry (27.6.08)--in: "Opposition would ruin Singaopore: Lee Kuan Yew";

15. Lee Kuan Yew's "Communists" (29.6.08)--in: "Tearing down the facade";

16. Let Us Work For A New Government (5.7.08)--in: "Transcript confirms Yeong's dishonesty";

17. Thought Control in a Democratic Society (7.7.08)--in: "A protrait of love, honour and courage";

18. On Voters and Leaders: An Updated Review (9.7.08)--in: "Chee calls for hearing to be reconvened on IBA matter; press dead silent";

19. Power versus Truth (11.7.08)--in: "Singapore's Minister Mentor slips up under oath";

20. Lee Kuan Yew's Untruths (11.7.08)--in: "Davinder Singh: Lee's IBA-letter reference only an 'inaccuracy'";

21. Saluting Our Political Activists (11.7.08)--in: "Because we love Singapore";

22. Champion of the Underdog (15.7.08)--in: "Another of Chee's trial starts tomorrow";

23. Elite Opinion in the Mainstream Press (16.7.08)--in: "Judging Singapore's Judiciary";

24. Conflicts, Differences and the PAP Government (17.7.08)--in: "Activists call for Law Society's involvement";

25. Pragmatism Without Principles (23.7.08)--in: "Asean must move on human rights";

26. On The Value Of Freedom (23.7.08)--in: "Southeast Asia begins negotiations to set up rights body";

27. The Supreme and Great Leader (24.7.08)--in: "No credible people in the opposition?";

28. To Be The Gardener Of Your Own Life (24.7.08)--in: "Govt. bans Chee Siok Chin from attending leadership program at Stanford";

29. But Some Are More Equal Than Others (25.7.08)--in: "Chee asks for meeting with Law Society";

30. The Cold War and Governmental Paranoia (28.7.08)--in: "Democrats Chairman in Cambodia to observe elections";

31. Political Change in Singapore--How Gradual? (29.7.08)--in: "Law Society has 'no views' on freedoms of speech and assembly";

32. The New Economy & "Asian Values" (30.7.08)--in: "Govt.'s excuse banning Chee Siok Chin's travel exposed";

33. The Current Situation in Singapore (4.8.08)--in: "Calling all lawyers";

34. On Civil Disobedience, The Internet & Political Change in Singapore (7.8.08)--in: "Law must not be applied selectively";

35. Western Critics, the PAP and Singapore (13.8.08)--in: "SDP calls on activists not to exploit Ravi's situation";

36. Would Satire and Wit Ruin Singapore? (16.8.08)--in: "One Nation Under Lee to be screened in Malaysian cities";

37. Return to Myself (23.8.08)--in: "Singapore's Temasek says assets worth $131 bln.";

38. My Version Or ISD/MSD Version? (23.8.08)--in: "Singapore's Temasek says assets worth $131 bln.";

39. A NEW BOOK BY DR CHEE SOON JUAN (26.8.08)--in: "Chee to launch new book at SDP dinner";

40. Power To Those Fearless, Daring Citizens (27.8.08)--in: "When the police becomes politicians";

41. What It Means To Me: Being anti-PAP? (11.9.08) -- in: "One Nation Under Lee seizure to be raised at U.N. meeting";

42. The Politics Of Retreat (6.10.08) -- in: "Get involved";

43. Towards Effecting Political Change (11.10.08) -- in: "Chia Ti Lik in London to meet with lawyers and lawmakers";

44. Why Should Foreigners Shut Up? (22.10.08) -- in: "The myth of Singapore democracy";

45. Freedom From Fear (3.11.08) -- in: "Asian democracy at "tipping point"?

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Freedom versus Government Control

From: Freedom in Chains: The Rise of the State and the Demise of the Citizen
(New York: St Martin's Press, 1999) by James Bovard

The alternative to freedom is government control, which means manipulation and exploitation by liars and hypocrites. The loss of freedom does not occur in a vacuum; instead, it sets off a chain reaction that is sure to drag people lower than they expect. The opening of the borders of private lives to government intrusion is not the final act of some grandiose political drama, but merely the beginning of a sordid, predictable farce. The loss of freedom does not simply mean that people will have fewer choices in how they live; instead, it means that other people will have new prerogatives to command how they live and to punish them for disobeying. And the greater the power at stake, the more noxious the people who are likely to eventually get the grip on the reins.

The Long Nightmare

From The Long Nightmare: My 17 Years As A Political Prisoner (2007) by Said Zahari:

Singapore does not have an environment and climate conducive for writers critical of socio-political issues including human rights, freedom to write, and freedom of the press.