Singapore shows who's the boss

tate · Aug 8, 2008

So not all foreigners are treated like king. Here we are Myanmar activists who are forced to leave as their visas are not renewed. They will never be able to enter Singapore again.

Pity the 3 Myanmar PR as once they leave Singapore, they will never be able to enter Singapore again as re-entry permits are not extended.

You can protest all you want, but once you do so, you should not expect life be made easy for you.

Ask Chee Siok Chin. She knows best. The price for her protest? A summer program at Stanford.

The lesson to be learnt here is don't piss off the government. Once you do, you will find a host of privileges withdrawn.

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_265770.html

Myanmar activists face visa problems in S'pore
SINGAPORE - 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.

Mr 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 spokesman 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,' Mr Myo said.

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

locky2ky · Aug 8, 2008

of course not all foreigners are treated like king, only people with money whether local or foreigners are.

pia · Aug 8, 2008

We invite the oppressive junta with open arms, but deport the commoners who want democracy... what kind of message are we giving our future generations?? :-( Are we stooping so low just for $$$?

tate · Aug 8, 2008

pia said:
Are we stooping so low just for $$$?

Yes, we are stooping really low for $$$. That's why each election, we get carried away by the goodies.

zack123 · Aug 8, 2008

I think some of us are suckers in the name of democracy. If someone visits your house and start painting the room as he feels he likes the colour would you allow it? And i bet you would be happy if someone visits your house bearing gifts.

Singapore dun need those types of characters here. Only creating more problems for an already problematic times.

gravure · Aug 8, 2008

I always think that people should not go and protest against their own country in a foreign land.

But in this case, it is against a cruel and tyrannical junta who is not the legitimate elected government of the country. It is a junta who deposed of the elected leader.

So I think we are going to get some political heat about it.

zack123 · Aug 8, 2008

Should send to them countries which are sympathetic to such causes such as US who is the moral leader for democracy. Let them handle these people.

Anyway think of it, John Lennon was once denied extension of stay in US when he supported against the Vietnam War. They should look at themselves before starting to shout.

pia · Aug 8, 2008

zack123 said:
Should send to them countries which are sympathetic to such causes such as US who is the moral leader for democracy. Let them handle these people.

Anyway think of it, John Lennon was once denied extension of stay in US when he supported against the Vietnam War. They should look at themselves before starting to shout.

Give them a break, Zack.. these guys were voicing out against the dictatorial junta after the clampdown on protests and the indifference of the junta during the cyclone disaster. Their protests were non-violent (correct me if I'm wrong)and definitely did not interfere with our domestic affairs.

Myanmese, wherever they were, were staging peaceful protests. If the developed world is magnanimous enough to accommodate them, why can't we, who boast we are a First World Nation? Sending them back is tantamount to certain persecution.

Sympathetic to such cause... why shouldn't we be sympathetic? Are we so apathetic to not feel their plight? Compounded with the apparent double standard when we exhibit when we welcome the junta for official and medical visits althoug Myanmar's human rights violaton is still a pending issue on the ASEAN table.

Live and let live.. just my humble opinion. :smile:

zack123 · Aug 8, 2008

pia said:
Give them a break, Zack.. these guys were voicing out against the dictatorial junta after the clampdown on protests and the indifference of the junta during the cyclone disaster. Their protests were non-violent (correct me if I'm wrong)and definitely did not interfere with our domestic affairs.

Myanmese, wherever they were, were staging peaceful protests. If the developed world is magnanimous enough to accommodate them, why can't we, who boast we are a First World Nation? Sending them back is tantamount to certain persecution.

Sympathetic to such cause... why shouldn't we be sympathetic? Are we so apathetic to not feel their plight? Compounded with the apparent double standard when we exhibit when we welcome the junta for official and medical visits althoug Myanmar's human rights violaton is still a pending issue on the ASEAN table.

Live and let live.. just my humble opinion.

In the short run yes they do not affect our domestic affairs. But what happens eventually is another matter. Letting these people run loose in our country and letting them speak against their own country is akin to meddling with other country domestic affairs. You are supporting such behaviours when you allow these people in here to demonstrate.

We're on a slippery slope. What next? Would we allow Tibetans to demonstrate against China here? You think our leaders would allow it? Nope becoz we know China is the powerhouse and dont like others to meddle with their affairs.

So let's be consistent here.

mustpaycashhhh · Aug 8, 2008

pia said:
We invite the oppressive junta with open arms, but deport the commoners who want democracy... what kind of message are we giving our future generations?? :-( Are we stooping so low just for $$$?

Of course, lah, must welcome pipper who got money mah.

madmansg · Aug 8, 2008

two interesting point here.

Does this means that if NS slave protest, then they wont be allow into country once they leave ? Does this means that this means auto exemption from NS ? Or are NS slaves once more always get worst treatment than PR ?

Also , burmese may be a different breed from Singaporeans. Maybe the 100,000 of them on hearing what happen to their leaders will go on a rampage to burn down istana.

pia · Aug 8, 2008

madmansg said:
two interesting point here.

Does this means that if NS slave protest, then they wont be allow into country once they leave ? Does this means that this means auto exemption from NS ? Or are NS slaves once more always get worst treatment than PR ?

Also , burmese may be a different breed from Singaporeans. Maybe the 100,000 of them on hearing what happen to their leaders will go on a rampage to burn down istana.

Dear Madman,

No such luck... get charged and report to DB!

Btw, lots of people might have asked, but can't recall if you had replied.. what traumatic experience didy ou have in NS to have developed such hatred? Care to share?

Big Sexy · Aug 8, 2008

when you are a guest in another country, you respect the culture and laws of that country. If you dont want to, dont go. It is quite simple. IMO.. they deserve it.. same for that 'returning lawyer' bigoted and not very bright...

tate said:
Pity the 3 Myanmar PR as once they leave Singapore, they will never be able to enter Singapore again as re-entry permits are not extended.

You can protest all you want, but once you do so, you should not expect life be made easy for you.

zack123 · Aug 8, 2008

Big Sexy said:
when you are a guest in another country, you respect the culture and laws of that country. If you dont want to, dont go. It is quite simple. IMO.. they deserve it.. same for that 'returning lawyer' bigoted and not very bright...

People like this only waste the time of law enforcers who needs to monitor them. Dats why you have all these mistakes done by the Home Team like MSK incident cos they got too many people to monitor with too few resources. You don't need another burden. Just throw them out of the country.

lost · Aug 8, 2008

pia said:
Myanmese, wherever they were, were staging peaceful protests. If the developed world is magnanimous enough to accommodate them, why can't we, who boast we are a First World Nation? Sending them back is tantamount to certain persecution.

Sympathetic to such cause... why shouldn't we be sympathetic? Are we so apathetic to not feel their plight? Compounded with the apparent double standard when we exhibit when we welcome the junta for official and medical visits althoug Myanmar's human rights violaton is still a pending issue on the ASEAN table.

yes, money talks, unfortunately.

Porfirio Rubirosa · Aug 8, 2008

"There is a tendency among Westerners who have forgotten their own history to view democracy dogmatically as an end in itself. In reality, democracy emerged principally as the best means to achieve other desirable social ends such as stable power succession, fair distribution of public goods, the resolution of conflicts between interest groups as well as government accountability for the use of tax money."
Arthur Kroeber

zack123 said:
I think some of us are suckers in the name of democracy. .

zack123 · Aug 9, 2008

Porfirio Rubirosa said:
"There is a tendency among Westerners who have forgotten their own history to view democracy dogmatically as an end in itself. In reality, democracy emerged principally as the best means to achieve other desirable social ends such as stable power succession, fair distribution of public goods, the resolution of conflicts between interest groups as well as government accountability for the use of tax money."
Arthur Kroeber

People tend to shout for "democracy" without even knowing what it means or what they want. Given the freedom to choose, are they able to guarantee the best outcome for themselves or their country?

Look at Iraq..remove the leader and CHAOS!
Look at Singapore's formative years....people complain that PAP restricts them but there is a need to prevent people from running around like headless chickens without direction
Look at Philippines....a closest ally of US democratic style. A flop of leaders one after another while the country lay in ruins

guy2100 · Aug 9, 2008

It is just a precaution on the PAP to prevent Singaporeans from emulating these protestors in civil disobedience. Freedom of Speech is guaranteed but Singaporeans just do not know how to utilise it.

KannyTong · Aug 9, 2008

Send the mynammar activists back. Let the junta welcome them at the burmese airport and send them straight to the labour camps/jails for torture.

These activists have already contributed to Singapore over the last few years and now that they're too much trouble, we should eject them and let them perish. There's no place for compassion in an efficient, pragmatic society like Singapore.

That's how it is here... same goes for any singaporeans who disturb the status quo.

angry_one · Aug 9, 2008

zack123 said:
In the short run yes they do not affect our domestic affairs. But what happens eventually is another matter. Letting these people run loose in our country and letting them speak against their own country is akin to meddling with other country domestic affairs. You are supporting such behaviours when you allow these people in here to demonstrate.

We're on a slippery slope. What next? Would we allow Tibetans to demonstrate against China here? You think our leaders would allow it? Nope becoz we know China is the powerhouse and dont like others to meddle with their affairs.

So let's be consistent here.

I'm assuming that they don't come here JUST to protest. Visas should only be given to those who got a job here, no? So the protest is something they do on the side, and they have the right to.

If a govt wants to ban protests, they have to do it wholesale. Why are they selective? WTO can allow protests, PETA can also protest here. But these Myanmese can't??

Obviously they were kicked our becos their regime are GOOD KAKIS with our rulers! :mad:

Singapore shows who's the boss

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