TR EMERITUS

Written by Our Correspondent Former Romanian diplomat Dr Silviu Ionescu who was implicated in a fatal hit-and-run traffic accident last year December claimed that he "was not dwelling on the verdict" given by the Singapore Coroner's Court tomorrow. State Coroner Victor Yeo has ruled that Dr Silviu Ionescu, Romania's former Charge d'Affaires was the driver of the car involved in the hit-and-run accidents that took place on 15 December last year, according to a Channel News Asia. 31 year old Malaysian Tong Kok Wai was one of the victims knocked down by a vehicle from the Romanian embassy and he eventually succumbed to his injuries. He just got married a month ago. "'I don't think anything of it. I know the result already, pretty much," Dr Silviu was quoted as saying in the Straits Times. He has been denying that he was responsible for the accident and counter-accused the Singapore government for "framing" him because of his "political activities" during his stint as a diplomat here. Despite being the prime suspect in the case, Dr Silviu was allowed to return to Romania three days after the accident by the Singapore authorities which had received much flak for it. The accident sparked a massive outroar among Singaporeans who wondered if double standards are being practiced in the application of the law - if the culprit was a Singaporean, he would be arrested and charged the very next day. The Foreign Affair Ministry could have adopted a proactive stance by requesting for Dr Silviu's diplomatic immunity to be waived so that he could be remanded in Singapore for further investigations. Foreign Minister George Yeo did not comment on the case until two months later when he told the media that "what happened was very bad." In contrast, he responded immediately when his buddy Jack Neo's affair was leaked to the press by calling on all Singaporeans to "rally" around the adulterer. It is highly unlikely that Dr Silviu will return to Singapore to face the music. There are no extradiction treaties between Singapore and Romania. Though he is under investigations by the Romanian authorities for manslaughter charges, he has yet to be charged. Romania was ranked as the 73th least corrupted nation in the world by Transparency International in 2009.   Related articles: 1. Confirmed: Dr Silviu Ionescu is the driver 2. Email interview with Yenny Young, wife of Mr Tong Kok Wai 3. Dr Silviu Ionescu: fact remains that I was not in the car at the time of the accident 4. Investigating or procrastinating: Dr Silviu Ionescu still holidaying in Romania 5. George Yeo on Romanian embassy car crash: What happened is “very bad” 6. Online petition calls on Romanian govt to make ex gratias payment 7. Dr Silviu Ionescu: I took cab to notify car theft 8. Eye witness saw driver quarreling with a young girl in the car 9. Dr Silviu Ionescu: I have no connection with the case 10. Dr Silviu Ionescu flagged taxi at Sungei Kadut 11. From Romania with love: The Great Singapore escape of Dr Silviu Ionescu 12. Singapore police has not ruled out Dr Silviu Ionescu as a suspect in its investigations 13. Romanian diplomat suspected to be driver of Audi in hit and run accident at Bukit Panjang  Read More →

IVAN LEWIS, MINISTER OF STATE, UK FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE The message could not have been clearer. On Armed Forces day, as soldiers marched through Naypyidaw, Burma's Senior General Than Shwe set out his vision for "disciplined democracy".  A moment that could have been cause for celebration, is instead a cause for concern and regret. The Generals seem determined to squander a once in a generation opportunity to put Burma on a path to a better future.  Recently announced laws mean there is no prospect of forthcoming elections being free, fair or inclusive. Aung San Suu Kyi’s party are forced to either expel her, or accept that they will be disbanded. Prospective voters have already been warned to vote the ‘right way’.  Instead of a general election, there will be an election of Generals. This is why the UK secured an urgent UN Security Council meeting to discuss these developments, and why we supported the adoption of a strong resolution in the UN Human Rights Council on 26 March.  We remain determined to keep Burma high on the international agenda.  The human consequences of military dictatorship in the country demand nothing less: the sheer scale of the suffering, the monstrous human rights abuses, the tragic waste of human life and economic potential. We also have a duty to respond to the courage and determination of Burma's people. I have met young activists ready to risk their lives to help persecuted communities, who drew their boundless energy not from bitterness, but from a shared vision of a better future for their country. It is remarkable that in the face of such brutality, so many Burmese remain committed to a peaceful process of national reconciliation.  But I firmly believe they are right to pursue that goal: an inclusive transition to democracy would release the true potential of the country. For Burma’s people there is the prospect of a government that acts in the people’s interests rather than its own.  Economic mismanagement and endemic corruption have seen Burma go from being the ‘rice bowl of Asia’ to a country where much of the population lives in abject poverty. Spending on health and education is amongst the lowest in the world. In a newly-united, outward-looking Burma, people could begin to benefit from global trade, and the government could invest wealth generated by the country’s natural resources into public services and educating the next generation. There is a choice for Myanmar’s military leaders too.  Currently synonymous with brutal dictatorship and the worst abuses of power, they could instead find a place in history for bringing about a transition to lasting stability and security that restored Burma’s international standing. Or they can continue to live in fear and opprobrium.  For Burma’s neighbours, a genuinely inclusive political settlement would allow refugees to return home and end border instability. The Rohingya, Karen and other persecuted groups have fled in large numbers across Burma’s borders.  The problems will continue while the factors that drive people away from their homelands remain unchanged. This worrying trend, as well as the growing flow of drugs and human trafficking, could be tackled and eventually reversed. For these reasons, the UK remains determined to stand up for the people of Burma.  I am convinced of three things. First, that no-one should be selling arms to a country where the military’s primary purpose is to oppress and persecute its own people. A global arms embargo is long overdue, and the UK is urging others to follow the EU’s lead and stop the sale of arms to the Generals. Second, that we must make clear to Burma’s leaders that without the release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and full participation of opposition and ethnic groups, elections planned for later this year will not be credible, nor help to solve Burma’s many problems. Finally, that we should resist the temptation to accept the status quo out of frustration at the lack of progress. If Burma’s people can retain their optimism for the future, we have no right to turn away or give up hope.  Read More →

Written by Our Correspondent A Singaporean working in China on non-expatriate terms has lashed out at the complaints and grouses of some Singapore PRs like Mr Vishal Garg and his wife Shweta in last Saturday's report in the Straits Times. ('Almost Singaporean') in which they complaint about recent cosmetic changes introduced by the PAP to better "differentiate" Singapore citizens from PRs. "If my son can't get into a good school because of the balloting, what do I tell him? That it was because you are not Singaporean?" Ms Shweta was quoted as saying in the Straits Times. Ms Shweta sparked a massive outcry last year with a series of letters to the Straits Times Forum complaining about her child's predicament and triggering a spat of protests from angry Singaporeans. One Singapore writer suggested that her husband served two years of National Service before even contemplating enjoying the same rights and privileges as native Singaporeans. In his letter to the Straits Times Forum today, Mr Patrick Tan related his own personal experience in China where foreigners are regarded as "aliens": "I cannot afford to buy a home in China because prices are almost as stiff as in Singapore and I cannot use my Central Provident Fund savings. My two sons cannot attend local schools or participate in local sports because they are not Chinese citizens. They must attend an international school and their annual school fees alone cost more than for a pair of four-year degree courses at the National University of Singapore," he wrote. Due to the PAP's liberal immigration and pro-foreigner policies, foreigners now make up 36 percent of Singapore's population, up from 14 percent in 1990. Of the remaining 64 percent who are citizens, an increasing number are born overseas. Unlike other developed countries, it is relatively easy for foreigners to find work in Singapore and obtain a PR within a year. According to the Home Affairs Ministry, every two out of three PR applicants are succcessful, an astonishingly high success rate. There are some schemes like the landed PR scheme in which foreigners are able to obtain PR even before setting foot onto Singapore. Foreigners are hailed as "gods" by the PAP government while locals are described as being lazy, unmotivated and daft. In a recent interview with the National Geographic magazine, PAP strongman Lee Kuan Yew said it is a "good" thing that Singapore has welcomed so many Chinese immigrants (from mainland China) as they are more "hard-driving" and "hard-striving" than locals. Mr Patrick Tan obviously do not think too highly of some foreigners that the PAP has imported: "It is true that some foreigners, for example a top biomedical scientist, bring special talents to Singapore and we must always welcome such talent. But for every top talent, there are hundreds who are here because there is good money to be made and Singapore is a vibrant and accommodating country. For many years, Singapore PRs have enjoyed benefits as that of citizens without having to pay for it. In Singapore, citizenship has its privileges, but at least we treat foreigners and PRs with respect and provide them with decent benefits at a minimum cost. In some countries, foreigners are called aliens." Singapore is perhaps the only country in the world where the government has no qualms splurging millions of dollars of taxpayers' monies to provide free meals for foreigners and to celebrate their cultural festivals for them. It is time the PAP changes its name to FAP or Foreigner Action Party to better reflect its current aspirations and visions - to serve the interests of the foreigners and NOT native Singaporeans. Unless the FAP is voted out by the next general election, Singaporeans may really become "aliens" in their own country of birth one day.   EDITORS’ NOTE: Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans.   The UBS Series: >> Part 1: Singapore has lowest wages and domestic purchasing power among Asian Tigers >> Part 2: Moving towards a Russian standard of living >> Part 3: Why Singaporeans are paupers in a first world economy   Related articles: >> Eight reasons why foreign workers will be preferred over local ones >> Declining wages of Singaporeans and the continued denial by PAP leaders >> Halimah Yacob refutes UBS study findings >> Halimah Yacob: Productivity drive will be derailed if foreign worker challenge not addressed  >> Exposing the six major flaws in the PAP’s immigration policies >> Wong Kan Seng promises to tighten immigration policies >> SM Goh: Foreign workers numbers may still rise >> Malaysian car mechanic applying for Singapore citizenship >> PAP launches Singapore Citizenship Journey to help new citizens integrate >> Compulsory for new citizens to attend “sharing sessions” with grassroots leaders >> Wong Kan Seng urged Singaporeans to be more tolerant of foreign workers >> Tharman: Foreign workers increase income of low-income families >> Sylvia Lim: Pace and influx of foreigners over last few years is wrong >> Amy Khor urges Singaporeans to welcome foreigners >> PAP MP wants more money to be spent to make new citizens feel welcomed in Singapore >> Shanmugam: Foreigners generate jobs for Singaporeans >> Vivian happy there are 4,500 new citizens serving as grassroots leaders >> Cosmetic changes made to immigration policy >> SM Goh: New immigrants needed to make up population shortfall >> PAP ministers hailed contributions of foreigners >> SM Goh expressed support for Zhang Yuanyuan >> State media: citizens have more rights over PRs >> Zhang Yuanyuan got her Singapore PR in only 2 months >> Official reply from government on the Zhang Yuanyuan fiasco >> Singapore PRC PR proclaimed loyalty to China publicly >> PRC resident hung China flag to celebrate its National Day >> PRC student in Singapore wants more scholarships for foreigners >> PRC prostitutes solicit for customers on Singapore’s cyberspace >> ERA: 40 per cent of resale flats buyers are PRs  Read More →