Book Publishers and Governmental Surveillance

The PAP Government's Denial of

My Rights -- As A Citizen and

Writer --

To Publish Serious and Quality

Essays

(to be Collected in Printed Books)

Due To

the Timid and Subservient

Local Publishers


Readers of my previous blog entry will be surprised by this latest new post, as I have last indicated that it might be quite sometime before I will resume active blogging activities in this particular website. Well, I am back too soon! -- unfortunately for the chief reason that I'm suffering from state interventions into my attempt to write, and to have my writings published in book form by hopefully brave publishers in the local print media industry.

Indeed, I have failed miserably! The surveillance web, spun by the PAP authorities, has ensured that I will never be successful as a writer in the print media (which is easier for the PAP to control by intimidation and harassment and threats than the electronic media).

I have already come to terms with the reality that we are all under constant surveillance. But I can't get used to the idea that I am somehow a PRIME SUSPECT for subversion in the oppositionist camp of critics and dissidents! Am I still required to demonstrate my political innocence? My identity is known to the authorities: they know, to enlighten my readers, my shopping preferences, health status, marital status, financial situation, date of birth, gender, age, monthly income, race, the locations of my many (past and present) residences, physical characteristics, family background, handphone number, level of education, profession, magazine preferences, utility consumption, responsiveness to money-making opportunities, constituency, size and brand of clothes worn, habits, lifestyle preferences, hobbies, religious affiliations, home-ownership, mortgate payments, mode of transport, responsiveness to direct female solicitations, contributions to political, religious and charitable groups, electronic products ownership, pet ownership, interests, book preferences, music preferences, and, lastly, heterosexual orientation/preference.

The PAP Government's determination to build a surveillance state behind the backs of singaporeans is becoming increasingly sinister! It is a measure of ministerial arrogance! The PAP Government is trying to end the presumption of innocence. What am I guilty of? Political subversion? What kind of major changes is the government clearly determined to enforce -- in the relationship between the citizen and the state?

Is this an example of twisted priorities? (Or are we looking at something far more worrying?) Do they not realise that heightened and sustained surveillance increases mistrust in any society? It places the delicate social contract between individuals and the state under the pressures, intrusions and disapprovals of our government's surveillance systems.

What are the costs of all these surveillance schemes, efforts, techniques, technologies, methods, systems, measures, plans, etc.? Will I be correctly, accurately and fairly identified, as a writer with a liberated, liberal and libertarian outlook? If not, will such wrong, inaccurate and unfair identification lead to my loss of RIGHTS as a man, human being, citizen and writer? Or even, to Fraudulent and False Arrest by the police enforcers of the "just" laws?

There will be a huge disruption in the day-to-day running of my life -- until this matter concerning my attempt to write on socio-political issues in Singapore and to have such writings published locally -- is resolved conclusively by the (surveillance) authorities!