March 8, 2006
Ex-detainees took part in communist subversion
IN 'EX-POLITICAL detainees want their story told' (ST, Feb 27), The Straits Times reported that ex-ISA detainees Tan Jing Quee and Michael Fernandez claimed that they and fellow ex-detainees should be recognised as 'loyal citizens, contributing to Singapore's progress', and that their detentions were not justified.
In a subsequent article, 'Time to let dissidents' tales out of the closet' (ST, March 3), Ms Chua Mui Hoong argued that 'it is time for these other stories to come out of the closet' and only then 'can Singapore truly live up to the stirring slogan of an 'open and inclusive' society - embracing not only those with similar views but also dissidents'.
Mr Tan and Mr Fernandez were not political dissidents or opposition members engaged in the democratic process. They belonged to the Communist United Front (CUF) which supported the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM). The CPM was an underground organisation which used terror and violence to subvert the democratic process and overthrow the elected governments of Singapore and Malaysia. Many innocent lives were lost, victims of the CPM's armed struggle.
The CUF was a key part of the CPM's strategy to infiltrate, subvert and exploit legally-established organisations, such as trade unions and student associations, to create civil disorder and destabilise the country.
Together with the CPM, it was responsible for violent demonstrations, sit-ins, boycotts, illegal strikes, sabotage and riots that resulted in deaths and injuries, destruction of property, political instability and economic losses. Mr Tan and Mr Fernandez took part in this communist subversion. They were detained for threatening the security, stability and economic well-being of Singapore, and not for holding different political views or pursuing lawful, democratic political activities.
Mr Tan and Mr Fernandez were arrested in October 1963 and September 1964 respectively for carrying out CUF activities in the University of Malaya (Singapore) and in trade unions.
Mr Tan was released in 1966 and Mr Fernandez in 1973. Both were re-arrested in February 1977 for joining a group and undertaking activities which aimed to rebuild the CUF to support the CPM's continuing violent struggle. They were released later that year, and both renounced communism.
With the communists having lost the battle for the hearts and minds of the people, Mr Tan and Mr Fernandez are now trying to project themselves as nationalists and democrats who also contributed to Singapore's progress. They may be hoping that a younger generation of Singaporeans with no personal memory of the past will be taken in. As they had renounced communism, the Government had let them put the past behind them, and enabled them and their families to enjoy the progress and prosperity of Singapore, like everyone else.
However, they and other ex-communists and supporters cannot be allowed to re-write history by watering down communist atrocities, subversion and other unlawful activities and glossing over the harm they caused to so many victims and the threat they posed to our country. Had the CUF and CPM succeeded, Singapore would never have achieved what we have today - a peaceful, prosperous and multi-ethnic democratic society.
Ong-Chew Peck Wan (Mrs)
Director
Corporate Communications Division for Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Home Affairs
