So yeah.
This: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/agc-sends-warning-to/710314.html
A warning was sent to a filmmaker by the Attorney-General's Chambers who had recorded interviews with
the 2 PRC bus drivers (apparently the 'ring-leaders')(has a villainy ring to it, don't you think?)
about how they were treated by the police,
about how they were coerced into making 'confessions'.
Now before I continue,
I gotta say,
that these guys do indeed have my support.
They'd gone through all the available avenues
FOR A FUCKING YEAR
to remedy their deplorable living conditions...
And as a last resort,
they all went on Medical Leave (you know, take a 'sickie')
at the same time as a protest.
Now if you'd heard about the news
only through the official channels...
Holy shit! You'd think these were the
most dangerous motherfuckers
to enter Singapore since the British,
and would've brought about Armageddon!
Because you know,
standing around peacefully
at their workplace
is a grave, grave danger to the stability of the country,
and your sanity,
not to mention the sanity of your cute little kittens.
WE MUST PROTECT THE KITTENS AT ALL COST
So yeah.
Back to the story.
Something bothered me about the story.
Not the warning itself.
That's par for the course here.
It bothered me so much,
that even though I'm exhausted,
and it's 1am,
here I am,
posting about it.
Yes, yes... you really appreciate it, I know.
Now shut the fuck up.
Was it the flimsy-as-a-stripper's-thong justification?
"The AGC in a statement said that Ms Lee
was aware, at the time of publication, that criminal proceedings against
He and Liu were ongoing, and thus her conduct had created "a real risk
of prejudice" to the proceedings through subjudice.
This may lead to parties connected with
the trial "would be improperly influenced" by the publication, in their
making of findings of fact, the AGC said. It added: "These are matters
that should be determined at a trial and not by publications that are
made outside the court."
It sounds so very... reasonable.
Sounds like common sense.
How could you possibly argue against it?
Yep. Ok then!
Accepted!
I shall continue on my merry way-
Now wait.
Hang- Just wait a second...
Something... something's forming in my mind...
Oh yeah. Go fuck yourself.
What bothered me was how
I was initially unable to counter their justification.
So why was my first reaction of...
what's the right word here...
incredulity?
Yea. That's it.
Incredulity.
Now don't get me wrong,
what she done could've well been against the current laws.
You see the thing about the system here in Singapore,
the laws (and constitution)(ha what a joke) pretty much reflect
what the PAP allow and don't allow.
Something happens to be currently legal?
They don't like it?
No problem!
Just amend the law... or hell, create a new one!
BAM! Legal justification, baby!
And if that doesn't suit their fancy,
there's always the Internal Security Act...
indefinite detentions without trial.
You know... for our own protection.
It reminded me of how I was falsely accused,
then railroaded into a motherfucking 'confession'.
Yeah, not too much faith in the legal system.
But why should the filmmaker NOT be punished?
Well for starters,
you can't give interviews while out on bail?
Are you fucking serious?
Is that a law now?
I don't know. Maybe. Knowing Singapore,
it might be.
Now here's the thing.
Those guys gave the interviews.
She reported it.
And she is guilty?
Seriously?
Besides that, though.
Let's do a bit of a recap.
These guys went through
all the proper channels to air their legitimate grievances...
they were literally suffering...
and nothing happened.
So their last resort was a harmless protest.
And what happened?
They get arrested,
demonized,
charged with something along the lines
of threatening to rape the constitution and coconuts or something...
Oh, and did I mention while they were being detained (I forget how long),
they didn't have access to a lawyer?
OH! OH!
And there are no video recordings during police interrogations.
So you expect these guys to do what, exactly?
REPORT THE ABUSE TO THE EXACT SAME PEOPLE WHO WERE ABUSING THEM?
Right.
Now I'm not saying anybody
who makes an accusation should be immediately believed.
But the circumstances are different here.
This, plus the record of the legal system and police
isn't exactly stellar.
Why not give them access to lawyers?
Why not record the interrogations at least?
And lastly,
are you telling because of these two interviews,
a judge (not jury, by the way) (and not an elected judge either)
is suddenly gonna fling his hands in the air,
and toss out all his training and exclaim 'Oh shit! OK you guys are free to go! Fuck the facts! You are clearly innocent!'
You have THAT little faith in your judiciary?
What, are they little children?
Do they still believe in Santa?
Or maybe they really are that dumb.
I could go on and on about how the legal system
is stacked heavily in favour of the politically-connected
and wealthy...
but I really need to get some sleep.
Go fuck yourselves.
Well enough of that
