Political Asylum Anyone?

An interesting topic came up during a conversation with a friend. We spoke about the political climate here in Singapore and the conversation touches on the freedom of speech and expression here in Singapore. Well, the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore actually guarantee this right of its citizens and that we can indeed invoke this right. But really, do people really invokes it? What I'm doing now - by writing this - I'm invoking that right. Hopefully, I don't get sued or asked to go for an interview........ Anyway, when invoking this right, we just have to be responsible in what we are saying. In other words, speak objectively. Then we are fine..... Yeah, maybe.......... Looking at the Sedition Act (Chapter 290), it is a chargeable offence to excite disaffection against the Government and the administration of justice in Singapore. Looking at it in perspective, the Constitution paradoxically allows for free speech/expression when the Sedition Act prevents it when it is directed towards the Government. Strange........... Same theory applies in the freedom of assembly clause guaranteed in the Constitution and the enforcement of the unlawful assembly law when you really do exercise that right of assembly. So, what is what? Allowed to speak freely against the Govt? Allowed to assemble peacefully? All this legal mambo jumbo is really confusing. I realised something though. As long as it is not political, your rights as stipulated in the Constitution can be exercised without fear of reprisals. For example, a company having a family day at the park or beach with hundreds or even thousands of participants, dressed all with the same t-shirt or cap, assembles to participate in the event. This will not constitute unlawful assembly because if it is, the police stations and the courts will have a field day just dealing with this. But, if 10 person will to assemble in front of say Temasek Holdings to voice their disagreement on the billions lost in botched business deals like Shincorp, Optus, Chartered Semi-conductors, Micropolis, etc, they will be arrested? Maybe..... Maybe not...... well, we'll have to try and see then. The crux of the question is: Are we afraid of persecution for our beliefs in our rights and the exercise of our rights? Probably. If we are not, we will be demanding for Mdm Ho Ching to be removed immediately and remedial actions to be taken to safeguard the people's money against blatant wastage. In business, there's always a risk and I accept that. However, if it is due to negligence or just simply attributed to ineptness, it is unacceptable. I hope Temasek can enlighten the Singapore masses on what actually went on and show us that ineptness and negligence is not the cause. So, do we fear about getting persecuted? In some sense, we do. Look at examples of Dr Chee, JBJ, Francis Seow, Tang Liang Hong, Far Eastern Economic Review, etc. These above examples is enough to instill fear........ So, we do have a well founded fear then? If that's the case, we will be eligible to apply for political asylum in other countries like Australia and the US under the United Nation's definition of asylum seekers that are "unable or unwilling to return or to seek the protection of that country due to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. " I wonder did anybody even try that.............. In any case, with condemning reports about human rights in Singapore from the UN, US, Reporters Without Borders, Amnesty International, European Union, etc...... it should not be that hard to get political asylum. It may seem far-fetched, but it could happen....... Do we really want to leave our homeland behind? The place where we grew up, fell in love with, cried with, strived with? What can be changed for the better to make us stay? First, it would be the way our Govt works. Secondly, the diversification of power into the hands of not only one person or family. Let's be fair, the country belongs to all of us Singaporeans. We are the country. Without citizens, there are no country to even speak of, let alone a Government. Be open to suggestions. Apologise for mistakes and the people will forgive. Keeping it under wraps will only incensed the masses when it is uncovered. Everybody makes mistakes, but importantly, it is the willingness to admit and embrace change than to stubbornly refuse responsibility, instead attributing it to the masses of other external factors. Be humble and the people will love you. Trample them and they will reciprorate, with an even greater force than you can ever imagine. Hope that change is on the way..............