Skip to main content

Will the children and grand children of our ISA exiles be given citizenship?



  Happy New Year 2012 from the children of Jiangxi

This looks like an unthinkable question and most likely a stupid question from a wise man’s point of view.

But who know many years down the road when Singapore becomes more mature and achieve the first world democratic status.  A history relooks and re-evaluates may ‘correct’ the political norm of today. This will give a fair assessment to those people who left or forced to leave Singapore for political reasons.

The BBC report on “Latin American exiles queue for Spanish citizenship” is an interesting article. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16342340

The report said:

<A provision added in 2008 - known as the Law of Grandchildren - offered citizenship to anyone whose parents or grandparents were born in Spain but left the country because of their political beliefs or economic hardship between 1936 and 1955.>

And interestingly children and grand children of foreigners who helped to fight against the dictator are also eligible:

<Citizenship was also offered to foreign volunteers who fought for the Republic in the International Brigades.>


Political exiles are small in numbers and few have noticed their existence. However, they are people who are forced to leave or asked to leave (renouncement of citizenship) due to language or political reasons.

In fact, the word ‘prisoner’ may not be a correct word for an ISA detainee. ISA detainees have not been charged in courts so far.  And very likely, in view of the recent withdrawal of Malaysian ISA, the ISA in Singapore will not be used for political purpose. It is now a political liability to detain a person under ISA.

Everything looks possible in politics as happened in Arab and North Africa and even Europe. Changes may not be 100% right and good but it seems unavoidable.

What kind of springs will we have in years to come?

In the mean time, when we approach the end of 2011, let’s celebrate the New Year with a greater confidence of change. 2012 will be a difficult year for our economy – job security, income stagnation, inflation, etc.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Sub-standard PAP and the Singapore education system

I make a 'policy shift' when I hear the debate of right politics, constructive politics and sub-standard opposition. My original aim is to discuss about “Su Dongbo, Zhang Juzheng and Singapore education system”. The discussion will end with a sub-standard PAP, in particular from the assessment of the quality of PAP potential candidates. Another policy shift is to discuss it like a play, a drama and make it more entertainment rather than a sub-standard political discussion. Act 1 Gangster’s demand Imagine a sense in the Hong Kong's gangster movie (or a godfather movie), the gangsters' master is shouting at his poor opponent and demand him to give a price for his wrong act. The poor guy without any resources can only offer his body or his service to work for the master. Back in his own chamber, the master is still not satisfied and continues to shout 'don't play, play, you think you are hero, you think you are tiger, or superstar or acting

因为有比较, 才知道做得不够, 才明白什么叫做易通。

  因为有比较, 才知道做得不够, 才明白什么叫做易通。 如果只有一套解决方法,很难看出好坏,方便还是不方便,易通还是不容易通。用新方法代替旧的系统,人们当然会做比较,尤其是科技产品,使用的人很多,一用就马上看到结果。 这是一个竞争的世界,即使一党独大,也要考虑到便民。当人民觉得不方便,不好用,不易通,就会反映,发声,不满。为什么没有预先想到,最可怕的是测试时,已经接到反应,还是不加改善。或许,行动党还抱着“令伯”最大,用者自行解决问题。 易通公交收费系统的整合,似乎缺少一种人文,沟通,反而更加多表现出政府的独断独行。尤其重要的是,如果只有一套系统,我们是看不出问题,做不出好坏的评价。 这其实证明国会里不可以只有一把声音,没有比较,没有进步。

After 60 years, after 3 failed political imaginations, the PAP is deteriorating...