Gopalan Nair’s Mention No. 4
9am Court 26 16th June 2008 was the 4th court mention for Gopalan Nair.
I arrived at Court at 850am. The case was first mentioned at 920am after DPP Francis Ng confirmed with me that we were seeking for the trial to be conducted in the High Court. In such a situation, it would be apt that the trial of both charges be conducted in the High Court.
It then transpired that the Prosecution was already in the process of amending the 1st charge from Section 13D (1) (a) Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order & Nuisance) Act to Section 228 of the Penal Code. The Prosecution thereafter needed to submit the amended 1st charge for renumbering. The matter was stood down for the Amended Charge to be renumbered.
Thereafter when the Court re-mentioned the case, it turned out that the IO ASP Razak Jakaria had somehow misplaced the amended charge and the Prosecution was looking for it. There seemed to be some issue about renumbering the wrong charge by the Crime Registry. There was also the question raised by the Magistrate on the Public Prosecutor’s sanction required in for Section 228 charges to proceed. The matter was then stood down till 11am for the Public Prosecutor’s sanction to be obtained.
When the case was re-mentioned, the Magistrate fixed the matter for PTC in the high Court. It was also stated that the matter would go through the process of preliminary inquiry. The Magistrate wanted to know the frequency of the High Court’s PTC, DPP Francis Ng was not able to give a definite answer, to be fair DPP would not know the workings of the High Court Registry to give a definite answer. The Court then fixed the matter for mention in 4 weeks time - 14th July 2008 Court 26 9am.
A further request was made by the prosecution to vary the conditions of bail such that Gopalan Nair had to report to Central Police Station at 9am on a daily basis.
I explained the inability of Gopalan Nair to attend as requested during the previous week was because of the short notice, tight schedule of both parties and miscommuication and that in order not to inconvenience Gopalan Nair, some restriction of his attendance at the Police Station is required, i suggested that each session be limited to 2 hours since he would be there everyday and he be given time to arrange his personal affairs.
The Court ordered Gopalan Nair to attend at Central Police Station at 9am daily until his attendance at the station for investigation was not required. Subject to the restriction that I/O ASP Razak Jakaria would have to decide every morning when Gopalan attended whether or not he will be needed that day and release him accordingly if he was not needed.
The ramifications flowing from the Amendment of the 1st charge - in my next post.
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About Me
Who is Chia Ti Lik? Who is Chia Ti Lik?
2 persons had asked me that. Yes, right in my face.
One of them was an angry man. Angry with the way i criticised the Ruling Party in Singapore a.k.a. PAP. his point was that i should not have done that.
He had obviously had tried to hint that i was a nobody and make me feel small. He need not have done that.
Because i acknowledge my smallness and i do feel small. Small enough to be a digit in the blogosphere, small enough to be dismissed by anyone with fear.
In Singapore, and especially in opposition politics, one needs to grow an extremely thick skin. I have always prided myself for that, being small yet thick skinned. And why not?
To be a politician, one must be thick-skinned enough to step forward. Be willing to speak of things that are not so nice to hear. To persons whom many people in their sane minds would not want getting into their bad books.
But most of all be willing to speak when one feels right without the fear of being shown to be wrong.
At the very core of vying for political power, at the very core of acting on one’s beliefs. One must acknowledge that one cannot be right all the time. One cannot also try to be right all the time. For to do so would mean jumping on someone else’s bandwagon and picking up your rifle when the war is already over.
There will be times when a majority do not see the flaws which a minority can and public opinion is clearly against you.
Does the minority then choose keep quiet? For the sake of being politically correct? Even though the minority claims to be the alternative leaders who are supposedly at the cutting edge of problem highlighting and solving?
Fear is the last thing an opposition party should have. Fear is what paralyses a people when they face an arrogant and high-handed government.
An viable opposition party must dispel that fear and rise to the role it is supposed to take. You have to face the fear head on, look at it inside out - face the fear within you, come to terms with it and not be controlled by it.
When you are similarly paralysed by fear like the people you wish to lead. What difference can you actually make?
Singapore after GE2006, was abuzz with the recent growth of a potentially viable opposition. What can be the biggest internal impediment to a potential opposition challenger? Fear and Complacency.
I had set out from the Workers’ Party to do the things that are needed to be done. Pointed and marked criticism of the ruling party without fear.
If opposition party members are unwilling to engage and criticise the Government, do you think they will engage in robust debates with ruling party MPs in parliament?
I am one person who believes that what needs to be done must be done. I left the ruling party (the PAP) to strengthen the Workers’ Party when there was a need to do so. I have now left the Workers’ Party to cover a role left empty.
Time and truth will tell whether my criticisms alone amount to more barbs and stings to the Ruling party than that offered by our opposition parties.
I have in this blog, set up a record of my letters raising issues and potential problems to the mainstream press. Whether or not the press decides to filter this feedback, the record of which will be made for all to view. Available for all who care enough to search and wise enough to see.
The 2nd person who asked “who is Chia Ti Lik?” was myself.
Sometimes, you won’t know who you are until you are there face to face with the situation and face to face with the fear.
I have yet to find an answer to that question.
I have been content to sit in its silence for sometimes in silence, if you be still and listen, you might be able to hear echoes.
Echoes which herald the birth of something to come.
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Why is the rest of the world - including the blogosphere - ignoring the case of Gopalan Blair?
It is a real shame that the champions of democracy do not realise the sickness in Singapore and do something about it.
Freedom for Gopalan Nair.
Comment by ethicalmartini | June 17, 2008