Singapore Democrats

Reuters

At least three Myanmar activists were forced to leave Singapore after authorities decided not to renew their visas in an apparent attempt to stop the group's pro-democracy work, another Myanmar activist said.

Myo Myint Maung, a spokesman for the group, told Reuters on Friday that six Myanmar nationals are having trouble with their visas and three, including a student, were forced to leave Singapore recently after their various visas were not renewed.

The remaining three are Singapore permanent residents, which means they can stay in the city-state if they choose to. But they will not be allowed to re-enter Singapore should they leave as their re-entry permits have not been extended.

All six were involved in an illegal protest last year against Myanmar's ruling military junta. Though not charged, they were let off with a warning. Protests are rare in Singapore and gatherings of four or more people require police permission.

Myo said the treatment of the activists was not justified.

"We are very puzzled. I cannot think of any reasonable explanation for their decision not to renew it," he said.

Singapore's home ministry said in a statement that the right of a foreigner to work and stay in Singapore "is not a matter of entitlement by political demand".

"Foreigners who work or live here are expected to at least respect the law and local sensitivities in Singapore," said a spokeswoman from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

According to the Singapore immigration website, the process to renew a re-entry permit into Singapore for a permanent resident only takes 30 minutes.

"It is usually a one-day process, but it has been pending for more than a month for some," Myo said.

Singapore is home to around 100,000 Myanmar nationals, the pro-government Straits Times newspaper reported earlier this year.

http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-34889920080808

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Anonymous  -  Dictators and Puppets    Sat, 09 Aug 2008 4:26 am Burmese dictators, Singapore tyrants controlling activists to displace them In the glorious island of Singapore were everything falls neatly in place, hard working Burmese living in the island do not fit nor match the Singaporean fixtures. After the Saffron Revolution last September’07 activism around the world was hectic bringing Burma into the spotlight on their lack of human rights ignored by the Burmese junta. In Singapore a group of young students, and workers participated in a peaceful and quiet march last November. In jubilation the Singaporean media had juicy news and proudly announced that the “marching was well behaved”, many Burmese accepted the praise without realising that punishment was being prepared to surprise the peaceful blameless protestors by the masters of deceit. The Singaporean police took names and details of few protestors and politely thanked the protestors’ cooperation on the peaceful marching date. The fraudulent referendum of the Burmese junta caused another gathering of legal voters wanting to cast their opposition to the referendum. On this May’08 the Myanmar embassy sent invitations to attend the polls, only to selective Burmese supporters of the junta. As the voting process was extremely slow the people started crowding St Martin's Drive in front of the embassy gate. As the embassy officials did not want the people outside to cast their vote they called the Singaporean police with the ploy that the crowd outside were “protesting in front of the embassy”. Local and international media attended the gates making the assembly more obvious. After the police clarified the situation at the gate, they allowed the crowd to remain conveniently in place as to record more names, personal details, photos and video tapes. The embassy video taped the crowd below as well. Of course these photos had been used against the Burmese making a hard living in the island. After all, police matched all documents and started to trace who is the more proactive and do more functioning? As the police were provided with details by the protestors and voters they sent official letters to the protestors requesting to attend the police offices for further questioning. -See letter1 here All this innocent and peaceful protesting has caused the indignation of sly Singapore, it can be assured that the Burmese dictators have a say on the present behaviour of the Singapore authorities affecting the living of ordinary hard working Burmese craving their human rights and freedom. This is how far the Burmese dictators can exercise their authority. In Singapore working permit validity and passport expiry is different among the Burmese, each and everyone. Some of those Permanent Residenceship (PR) holders are granted PR status but re-entry permit is held up and people are kept waiting between four to six months unable to travel anywhere. The S-pass/Work-permits holder has sharply been stopped for renewal to further stay and/or works in Singapore. Mr Preyed (name reserved) was one of the protestors, he applied for his working permit renewal with plenty of time which conveniently was rejected close to the expiration of his visa/permit and he had attended his questioning with the police. During this time Preyed attended a meeting with a foreign embassy First Secretary and provided particulars of his case seeking asylum and or protection hoping for chances of returning into freedom where he could earn a decent living. On the same day at night time the police phoned him to attend a Friday meeting to acknowledge a warning letter that needed to be signed in front of the officer. Preyed thought things were improving little he knew that he was a game for the Singapore law enforcers. The police instructed him to re-submit a final application to MOM (Ministry of Manpower in Singapore) even though the permit was cancelled he was advised to do it again. This last application was rejected as well. -See Letter2 here Preyed met with the UK, US, and French officials in Singapore. Unfortunately his time was due departing Singapore last 5 August at 9.30pm. Together with Preyed, a just graduated student who left to Cambodia, Joe and two other Burmese, five all together left Singapore this week as their work permits and/or visas have been rejected. One of them had his passport confiscated by the Myanmar embassy and the MOM-ICA (Immigration Check-Point Authority) immediately demanded he presented his passport. Without a passport a person in a foreign country is an “alien” unable to identify himself. Preyed sought asylum to UNHCR in Jakarta (Regional Representative), as the time given to him was only 2 weeks his application to the UNHCR failed to protect him. The UNHCR at Jakarta could not obtain a visa to travel to Singapore to interview him on time either. His mobile phone was intercepted by Singapore officials he could not phone out nor receive calls making it impossible for him to get help from the UNHCR, a marvel, his phone started working when it was too late for him. Preyed’s movements were monitored by SP security agents until he left Singapore. Reuters on 31 Jul’08 published that “The jobless rate rose to 2.3 percent in the April-June period after seasonal adjustments, compared to 2 percent in the previous quarter, the Ministry of Manpower said in preliminary data …”.(Source: http://in.reuters.com/article/asiaCompanyAndMarkets/idINSIN7672220080731) Being the case that Singapore’s economy is troubled then it is understandable that the government need to smooth-out the foreign workers intake. The humane way to go would have been to advise the workers that their permits were not to be renewed, allowing them time to relocate themselves instead of running away like criminals in fear of ending in dear detention. The “procedure” of using the police to track them down since late January this year and issuing warnings for marching in a quiet and orderly manner is taxpayers wasted money but, Singapore is well known for their deceit not for their economy-brains. When a country’s economy declines is only because of mismanagement and it does not happens overnight, it takes months to 2-3 years to forecast minimum or deep slips. This show us that the Burmese dictatorship war with activists abroad has just started and distressing to see that the Singapore government “expects” to be seen as a trustworthy authority when they are just puppets under the Burmese junta strings. Singapore and the Burmese junta are not interested in human rights they prefer to play with humanity. Singapore and Burmese rulers are so afraid of sustainable freedom from what I have observed since the turn of the century. Jeg 7 August 2008 http://paraussies.blogspot.com/2008/08/dictators-and-puppets.html Quote 19   0

Carlson  -     Sat, 09 Aug 2008 4:54 am Great, PAP prosecutes on behalf of the junta? Quote 16   0

maxChew  -  Scumbags & F@#$%^&*S    Sat, 09 Aug 2008 6:40 am Don't you guys know? We are always on the side of the rich and powerful but especially the filthy rich.Does not matter if the lucre they bring in is from corrupt practices nor plain national robbery/theft. I just read F Seow's "The Judiciary-above suspicion? and looked at the list ( 1995) of the names of the wealthy buyers of Nassim Jade the luxury condo of Ong Beng Seng priced at $2million and above per unit. Besides names of the Lee Family and associates, there were also at least 20-30 Indonesian names.I was wondering whether these were some of the "fugitives" the present Indonesian Govt were looking for to return to Indonesia for trial for corruption etc.? I may be wrong as these could very well be honest but vrich Indon businessmen/professionals. Forgive me if I am wrong, pak chiks? The top-dog of the SLORC Burma Junta Gen Than Swee was here recently getting VIP medical treatment as he's an octogenarian like LKY.So also another octo Bob Mugabe who refused to leave his throne in Zimbabwe but that's another story...I'm sure Than Swee has purchased luxury condos here etc.OK, ok.... But pl don't go out of yr way to please these horrible tyrants by making life difficult for their poor detractors, can or not? It's just not nice and CRUEL! Don't you have any conscience or humanity left in yr quest to make yr millions and billions? Scumbags & F@#$%^&*s! Quote 11   0

Kai XIong  -     Sat, 09 Aug 2008 6:52 am Local sensitivities my ass. Last I checked, plenty of Singaporeans sympathise with the Burmese' cause. Once again, we have the PAP government pretending to speak for the people. Quote 20   2

Seelan Palay  -     Sat, 09 Aug 2008 9:41 am Atrocious! Quote 6   1

betray  -  PAP Help Bloody Murderers    Sat, 09 Aug 2008 10:13 am Unbelieveable! Our Govt aka PAP allowed murderers such as Myanmar generals and Zimbabwe president whose hands are stained with innocent people blood into Singapore, while stopping peace loving patriotic Myanmar activists from entering. What kind of PAP people they are, you all be the judges. Murderers!!! I'm calling out to you, PAP! Quote 11   1

MuangOO  -  Burmese issue is for the Burmese people to settle    Sat, 09 Aug 2008 5:02 pm Hello Singapore Hypocrites, I'm a Burmese working in Singapore. Please don't use Burmese issues to push for your own poltical agenda. I don't like the military junta but we have to abide to the law of the country where work or live in. Where are you guys when the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis in Burma destroyed our homes and left many dead and missing. Quote 3   11

MuangOO Hyporcrites  -  PAP Hypocrites    Sat, 09 Aug 2008 6:14 pm Hey MunagOO do not call names w/o checking your facts! We did help for the Cyclone Nargis devastation directly unlike PAP Junta thru the Military Junta! Quote 7   2

AnnA  -  MuangOO    Sat, 09 Aug 2008 6:53 pm MuangOO wrote: Hello Singapore Hypocrites, I'm a Burmese working in Singapore. Please don't use Burmese issues to push for your own poltical agenda. I don't like the military junta but we have to abide to the law of the country where work or live in. Where are you guys when the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis in Burma destroyed our homes and left many dead and missing. Where were you then? Didn't you know that everyone outside Myanmar were not welcome to aid and rescue for the first many weeks? Abide , Yes. Exploitation, No. By right, you people are also considered as FT (talents or trashes depending what you are doing in Singapore) but due to the overwhelmed outrageous and bias actions by the PAP govt., SDP is simply highlighting how unfair humans were treated in Singapore. Quote 9   2

Myo Myint Maung  -  Human rights is a concern to all humanity    Sat, 09 Aug 2008 6:54 pm To all Singaporean friends: Thanks for your concerns and support for the Burmese activists facing immigration problems in Singapore. I'm very glad to know that you care. No matter what the Singapore authority and some pro-PAP Burmese would say, I have no doubt about the genuine goodwill and unselfish support of justice-loving Singaporeans for all Burmese people. During the donation drives in Singapore in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis disaster in Burma, I did personally see generous contributions of many kind Singaporeans. For that, now I say again "Thank you." In principle, it is improper for foreigners to interfere in the internal affairs of a country. However, there are no so-called "internal affairs" with regards to human rights. Human rights is a concern to all humanity and to be cared for by every member of the human race. I truly support the concerns and advocacy of Singaporeans for the human rights of Burmese and vice versa. By the way, all those Burmese activists, including myself, know and acknowledge that we should respect the law of Singapore where we live in. However, true law must be based on justice rather than the power of an authoritarian government. To me, abiding by an unjust law is an act of desecrating justice, and that conflicts with the dictates of my conscience. Sincerely, Myo Myint Maung Quote 7   1

J Moe  -  To Maung Oo    Sat, 09 Aug 2008 7:16 pm Quote: Please don't use Burmese issues to push for your own poltical agenda. I don't like the military junta but we have to abide to the law of the country where work or live in. Dear Maung Oo, I would like to advice you to go back and search The Straits Time newspaper (09 May 2008) By Kor Kian Beng – "Myanmar nationals in S'pore help raise funds" and read how Singapore Overseas Burmese Patriots get involved in Nargis's cyclone and also plenty of Nargis cyclone news on the media. Dear Maung Oo! According to your quotes "Burmese issue is for the Burmese people to settle" yes! I do agree with you! I would like to welcome you to get involve in the case of someone who left to Cambodia after graduated in Singapore. Other guys left to Thailand and Malaysia as their work permits and/or visas have been rejected by MOM-ICA (Immigration Check-Point Authority). There amongst the Burmese communities identifiable those whose are still pending approval for re-entry permit it's know to be taken 30minutes to process. Actual figures are more than what we read in the news. By your words which you quoted "Burmese issue is for the Burmese people to settle "Dear Maung Oo "Kindly get involve and help them instead of blaming others" Quote 7   1

Chew  -  Hypocrisy    Sat, 09 Aug 2008 7:48 pm Quote: Singapore's home ministry said in a statement that the right of a foreigner to work and stay in Singapore "is not a matter of entitlement by political demand". And I say that the right of a politician to work and stay in Singapore's parliament is not a matter of entitlement for the PAP. Get rid of GRC and all the walkovers crap before you issue your juvenile statement. Quote: "Foreigners who work or live here are expected to at least respect the law and local sensitivities in Singapore," said a spokeswoman from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Politicians and civil servants who work or live here are expected to at least respect the constitution and local sensitivities in Singapore. In other words, PAP MPs, get out of our non-elite caring face and stop prancing around thinking that you own Singapore and quit messing with our lives. And civil servants, keep in mind that you serve the people, not the ruling party. Quote 8   0

Charles  -  (Singapore's) National Day and its unfulfilled obl     Sat, 09 Aug 2008 8:02 pm The issue of evicting the Burmese activists is a serious matter given that we know that they face possible serious repercussions. I have written a blog on this issue (which also coincides with the celebration of National Day)... Quote 7   0

Aung  -      Sat, 09 Aug 2008 8:44 pm As a Burmese national, I truly appreciate the sympathy and support shown by SDP and many other ordinary Singaporean citizens towards the Burmese democratic movement. Singapore goverment has always been telling the whole world that Singapore is stable and good for business opportunities by describing Singapore as a city of possibilities. But once one started pursuing in either social or political activitism, one will certainly face the crack down by the authorities and this will finally lead into the wrapping up of one's own business or end of one's career here. In case of the three activists mentioned in the news report, it is very obvious that Singapore authorites do not want to welcome the socially and politically active foreign talents into Singapore. In all three cases mentioned in the news report, all of them are not convicted by the court. There is absolutely no justified reason to penalize them. And this crack-down itself is against the Universal declaration of Human Rights which clearly states that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Furthermore, making Burmese activists leave Singapore won't solve the problem either. As long as the brutal Burmese military junta is still in power, there will be ongoing struggle among Burmese nationals residing in Singapore. The Singapore government should acknowledge the root cause of the problem and tackle it in a logical and proper way instead of penalizing on the innocent Burmese people for their patriotism. Quote 5   0

Jeg  -  Art of Patience     Sat, 09 Aug 2008 9:25 pm Thanks guys for your strong support and sympathy... The moo Maung Oo is a pro-junta, I learned to recognise them, it 's better to invest our time in achieving real democracy. The sad thing of these cases is that the boys were "chased out" of the country like infected animals... that is so sad for a government that preaches "itself" a 1st class country... These are the rulers of Singapore, Burma, Zimbawee, sweet & sour China etc etc... Singaporeans want employment and the proper award for the job done. Unfortunately the government promotes foreign labour to exploit towards the benefit of the few. If Singaporeans are happy with the way things are, then we sit and watch TV. If Not, then we better invest our best thinking in finding a way towards a full change into real democracy where humans are treated with dignity and respect. In my interpretation, Asian Values = slavery, undignified etc... Let's make a choice I sincerely appreciate your support. Quote 5   0

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