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Elite Junior
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Here is the letter to PM Lee in full:
The Prime Minister
Mr Lee Hsien Loong
Republic of Singapore
CC: The Minister for Home Affairs
The Minister for Education
Attorney General
04 July 2015
Dear Prime Minister,
We are writing to register our deep concern as citizens and as parents, teachers and other adults who work with children and young people, over the State’s prosecution of Amos Yee. Besides the negative impact on his wellbeing and that of his family, the harsh treatment he has faced creates a negative environment for all younger members of our society.
We trust and hope that this statement of our concerns will be received in good faith – as a demonstration of our commitment to just and reasonable processes, and our shared concern with the State toward the safe-guarding and nurturing of our young.
In considering our letter, we also urge you to honour Singapore’s commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child to always act with the best interests of the child as a primary consideration in all actions undertaken by public institutions.
We are aware of the negative aspects of Amos’ communications. Nonetheless, we are troubled by the State’s harsh reactions to them, including the prosecution’s request for reformative training lasting at least 18 months.
Many of us have been working to nurture our young to take ownership of and participate in matters concerning the wellbeing of Singapore society. As reflected in changes in our education system and programmes targeted at young people in recent years, we want young Singaporeans to be empowered to articulate their thoughts and to present and defend their ideas, even if we disagree with them. As you said only this week, “You want people to stand up, not scrape and bow.”
To learn to conduct themselves, including to forge norms around mutual respect and civil disagreements, young people need to feel safe. Likewise, to continue to encourage our children or students to think creatively, to be active participants in their learning journeys, to enthusiastically stake their claims on social matters, we too have to be assured that such parenting and pedagogical practices will not bring them harm.
The prosecution of Amos Yee has already undone some of the progress we have witnessed among young people, and the prosecution’s call for reformative training threatens to undo even more. Growing up with access to rich sources of information as well as outlets for expression, young people have great potential for being engaged citizens. While we may not agree with everything that they say or do, we must ensure that they continue to feel safe in venturing out, and that making mistakes will not mean they will be punished in ways that compromise their well-being and/or stigmatise their futures.
We are deeply concerned by information circulating in social media that Amos has been shackled and subjected to treatment that is generally meant for mature offenders charged with more serious offences.
Moreover, whether or not Amos Yee has mental illness and/or autism, we are concerned that the use of physical restraint and institutionalisation in response to his alleged condition(s) will contribute to the stigmatisation of young people with mental illness and/or autism. Mental health and autism-related needs should be met on a welfare-centred basis, not treated as inherently threatening or violent.
As Amos’ sentencing is due to take place imminently, we ask that the State discharge its prosecutorial functions with caution, sensitivity and generosity in its position and treatment of the child.
While all persons, including young people and children, should learn to respect other members of society, prosecution and detention is not the best way to teach/learn. Witnessing the severe consequences faced by Amos and his parents, many young people will hold back from genuine engagement and exploration; parents, teachers, and other adults who work with our youth will be wary of encouraging young people to be courageous and unafraid of making mistakes. We can make every claim to encourage independence of thought and creativity, but if our actions reveal an inability to tolerate non-conformists, young people will view our exhortations to speak up as mere platitudes. This will be a deep loss not just for Amos and his family, but also for the future of Singapore society.
Yours Faithfully,
Adlina Maulod
Aishah Othman
Alfian Bin Sa’at
Alvin Tan Cheong Kheng
Andre Goh
Annamalai Kokila Parvathi
Audrey Wong
Aw Yang Xun
Bernard Lim Chee Guan
Braema Mathi
Carlyn Law
Catherine Lim Suat Hong
Chan Wei-Yin Jaclyn
Cheng Seow Wee Michael
Cheng U Wen Lena
Cherian George
Chong Ja Ian
Chiong Ai Ni Irene
Chng Nai Rui
Chng WeiJie, Ivan
Choo Zheng Xi
Christina Lee
Colin Goh Yong Ping
Constance Singam
Damien Chng
Dana Lam Yoke Kiew
Denvy Lo
Dickson Su
Elaine Ee
Elia Corina Dorine
Eng Kai Er
Faeza Sirajudin
Foo Jong Soon
Georgina Lee
Goh Li Sian
Indira Arumugam
Jialiang LIm
Jolene Tan
Jolovan Wham
Kevin Chua
Lim Siauw Chong
Little Ong
Lau Seok Yee
Liew Kai Khiun
Lo Dening
Low Peter Cuthbert
Lynn Lee
Mandakini Arora
Malvina Tan
Ngiam Su-Lin
Ong Keng Sen
Prashant Somosundram
Priscilla Chia
Rachel Zeng
Ranjana Raghunathan
Shelley Thio
Sheena Kanwar
Siew Kum Hong
Siew Meng Ee
Soh Seok Keim Shirley
Stephanie Chok
Sun Koh Boon Luang
Sudhir Vadaketh
Tan Joo Hymn
Tan Pin Pin
Tan Tarn How
Teng Qian Xi
Teo Liak Theng
Teo You Yenn
Thiagarajan Kanaga Sabapathy
Thirunalan Sasitharan
Thum Ping Tjin
Wee Sheila Moira nee Wilson
Wong Pei Chi
Woon Tien Wei
Yogeswari
Zubaida Ali
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