Why take years for 1st official response to Dr Poh Soo Kai?

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

Govt responds to Dr Poh Soo Kai

According to the Straits Times news report “Singapore Government responds to allegations by ex-detainee Poh Soo Kai on Operation Coldstore (Dec 18) – “The fact that the operation shattered the CPM’s underground network throughout the island was acknowledged by no less than CPM secretary-general Chin Peng in his memoirs, it said.

“Misleading argument” merely quoting what one person said?

“Clearly Operation Coldstore had not targeted innocent, non-communist ‘socialists’.” – This “misleading argument” merely quotes what one person said. So, how do we explain for the following in the British archives? :-

Explain the British archives please?

“British Assistant High Commissioner, P.B.C. Moore wrote in 1961, “Lee, I thought was a little relieved to hear that there was no disposition on our part to abandon him as a future political prospect.”[6] High Commissioner Selkirk reported to London in 28 April 1962, “I must however warn you that Lee Kuan Yew is quite clearly attracted by the prospect of wiping out his main political opposition before the next Singapore elections.”[7]”

First official response?

“Mr Burhan’s letter is the first official response to cite the declassified documents from the British archives.” – Why did it take so long (years) for the “first official response”? Why was there no response over the years as the issues were raised in the light of the British archives that were released?

“Revisionists” “conveniently omit mention”

“Mr Burhan noted that “revisionists” like Singaporean historian Thum Ping Tjin “conveniently omit mention” of incriminating information in the declassified documents, like the colonial officials’ concern about the extent the CPM had penetrated the Barisan.

“The Barisan was not an ordinary left-wing political party, and its leaders were not ‘unwitting dupes’ of the Communists. It was the prime CUF body in Singapore in the 1960s, influenced, directed and led by CPM cadres,” he said.

In his nine-page letter, Mr Burhan outlined how the evidence showed “they were ready, when the opportunity arose, to use violent unconstitutional means to overthrow the Government”.

He said the British Commissioner to Singapore, Lord Selkirk, had by late 1962 recognised the extensive Communist hold on the party and said “it would be wise to make arrests of communists in Singapore as soon as possible”.

Mr Burhan also said there was “ample evidence” in the British archives, and accounts by CPM members, to show that Lim Chin Siong played a key role to advance the CPM’s cause.

“What is missing is an explanation from the revisionists as to why they have systematically ignored revelations by CPM leaders, as well as the many British documents that demolish their claims,” he said.

Dr Poh had also failed to explain his role in helping CPM elements between 1974 and 1976, he added, saying: “A mere ‘left wing’ anti-colonialist, as Dr Poh describes himself now, would not have given material aid surreptitiously to the CPM’s violent armed struggle as late as 1976.”

You also “conveniently omit mention” leh?

He also said Dr Poh and the revisionists’ disregard of the facts “is disrespectful to the many Singaporeans who chose a non-communist path at great risk to themselves, and contributed to the success of modern Singapore”.” – Aren’t you also equally guilty of accusing “revisionists” by your own same words – “conveniently omit mention” – of the following in the British archives – and how do we explain this historical record? :-

“[2] British colonial archive (CO: 1030/977 tel.256): At the Internal Security Council meeting on 28 June 1960, “Lee Kuan Yew (advocates) changes in TUC constitution, i.e. deregister unions rather than using Trade Union Bills. The PAP Government is concentrating on whittling down SGEU and “subsidiary unions”, and if necessary by “judicious” detentions.””

Note: All the above references on the British archives were taken from Mr Alex Au’s article “Democracy and human rights in deep freeze: the legacy of Operation Cold Store” (Feb 2, 2013).

Win battles lose war


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