Published by The Online Citizen on May 31, 2012 (source)
Tan Tee Seng
(source)
In 1987, a group of civil activists were arrested in relation to an alleged plot
to overthrow the government through violent means and to bring about social
revolution through Marxist inspired practices. Till today, the 16 of those who
were detained without trial claim that they were innocent and have committed no
crime against the state. Yet, the government is steadfast in their claim that
these individuals were indeed conspirators and their intention was to "subvert
Singapore's political and social order using communist united front
tactics.”
| KP | Tell us more about yourself in 1987 and what were you doing back
then? |
| TS: | I was a 28 years old Marketing Executive
with a publishing and design company as well as a specialist in publishing
technology. I was in the midst of the preparation for my wedding. All
invitations were already sent out and our big day was just a few days
away. |
| KP: | The newspaper reports labelled you as a Marxist and said that you
wanted to use violent means to overthrow the government of the day. What is your
reaction to that? |
| TS: | Consider the following facts: (1) I was supposed to be a “conspirator” of a conspiracy which I did not know existed. My activities were all open and I was involved in legitimate organisations that existed. (2) I did not know many of the people that were detained. (3) I was not personally acquainted with Tan Wah Piow, the alleged master mind. I finally got acquainted with Tan Wah Piow in 2002 some 15 years later. (4) I was in solitary confinement for first six weeks of my detention and did not have any clue of the “network” published by the government. When I first got a glance of the newspaper clipping during my lawyer’s visit, I almost fell off my chair. By then I was already served with a detention order – indefinite detention without trial. During my detention, I was constantly reminded by ISD officers of Chia Thye Poh, who was still languishing in detention after more than two decades of imprisonment without trial. My release and freedom lied in the hands of a small group of people – it was not for what I did, it was for what they thought I did! I wanted to get out. |
| KP: | How were you arrested and where were you at the time of
arrest? |
| TS: | I was arrested at our matrimonial home, a flat in Serangoon Central. I
remember watching Miss Universe contest with my young fiancée till early in the
morning and went to bed only at about 2 am. They came at 4ish in the morning.
Before I unlocked the gate of my house, they showed me an Immigration Officer’s
ID and told me that they were looking for illegal immigrants. When I unlocked the gate, the officers then identified that they were from ISD and I was under arrest. They handcuffed me and pushed me into one of my room while they proceed to search the house. I was not allowed to see what they did; this was upsetting because I wouldn’t know if they had planted anything in my house. I was not given a list of what they had taken. The search took about 2 hours and I knew that because I noticed the first light of the day was already coming through. I was blind folded before I stepped out of the house; my fiancée was detained as well. We were then led by two agents on each side into a car, presumably unmarked. |
| KP: | What was going through your mind when you were in
detention? |
| TS: | I was confused and tried to search for the reason for what was happening. I thought I was very careful and had put a ten-foot pole between my activism and what I considered subversive. The initial interrogation was over a continuous period of more than 65 hours. I practically collapsed and was dragged to the cell by two Gurkhas. I was concerned of the impact of my detention on my family and my friends. |
| KP: | Can you share with us what happened during the
interrogation? |
| TS: | I was brought to the basement of Whitley Detention Centre, stripped of all
clothing and forced to wear prison garb with no footwear. The interrogation took
place in a dark cold room 10 feet by 8 feet (about the size of a standard HDB
flat room). The air con was turned on full blast and I was interrogated
continuously by 2 teams of 3 people (1 investigating officer and 2 ISD officers)
on rotating shifts. I was confused and disoriented by their continual harassment
to admit because I was not sure what I was admitting to and if they even had
evidence to support the charges against me! At one point during the interrogation the ISD Deputy Director entered the room and asked the team if I was cooperating. Suddenly, he threw a full blooded slap to my face before anyone could answer him. Despite the physical abuse, the worst aspect of the interrogation was the mental torture – “We can lock you up indefinitely and throw away the key”. I was afraid I would remained imprisoned till I die and never get to see my loved ones. |
| KP: | What followed next? What was the first thing you did after you were
released? |
| TS: | After the exhausting 65 hours interrogation, I was put in solitary
confinement for 6 weeks. The cell had barely enough ventilation and only one
small fluorescent light that was turned on 24/7 so that I would have no sense of
time. I had to bang the door and ask the guards permission to use the toilet.
They did provide me 3 square meals daily and 20 minutes of ‘outdoor time’. For
“outdoor time”, they just brought me to a bigger room than my cell with an
air-well to see outside. I was allowed my first family visit after 2 weeks in solitary confinement. After I was released, I went back to work almost immediately but was placed under restriction orders. |
| KP: | Now, you have been asking for a full investigation into your arrests
and detention. How is your progress on that front? |
| TS: | ISA is a bad law and it has strangled the political development of this
country. Look at countries in the region such as South Korea, Taiwan,
Philippines and Indonesia. They have undergone political reformation and we are
witnessing now is an active citizenry in place of dictatorship. The young people
are striding ahead confidently. Here in Singapore we are still stuck in
political divisiveness carried forward from the politics practiced some 50 years
ago. ISA is a divisive law and it has no place in modern society. It is more important that we abolish the law than conducting any inquiry at this stage. With the abolishment of the ISA, the country can then move on. Another important step is to embrace political diversity and allow all our political exiles (from abroad) to come back to rebuild their lives in Singapore. I am optimistic, I believe that I will live to see the change because all we need is the political will from the ruling elites and if that is not forthcoming, then civil societies of Singapore with increased political awareness of Singaporeans of the current political repression and with the a politically awaken citizenry, the government of the day shall be persuaded towards a more liberal democracy – ISA will have to go! I agreed to this interview because I want Singapore to move forward, not settle political scores or personal vendettas. After the Operation Spectrum incident, civil society shut down in fear of not knowing what the OB markers were. It took a whole generation to find their voice and active citizenry was reborn. I don’t want history to repeat itself. The government cannot see all the problems from their perspective and they certainly cannot provide all the solutions. This is the gap only active citizenry can fill. |
| KP: | Thank you for this interview and I wish you all the best in your
endeavours. |
| TS: | You too! |
Related: Where are the "Marxist conspirators"? (here)
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