Dr lim was detained without trial for 19 years, from 1963 to 1982, under the internal security act. You can see there is only one chair on the cover and a void surrounding it. Dr hong lysa, a singapore historian, describes the book to be not just only a historical memoir but also a historic publication, a landmark publication because this book is the first publication that accounts for the singapores 1950s and 60s, linking singapore from its postwar era right up to present day. Singapores battle for merger revisited part ll the historical background for the benefit of the younger generation, it is necessary to describe the historical. The 1963 operation coldstore in singapore commemorating 50 years. Function 8 lee tee tong mr lee tee tong joined the pap. Jun 05, 2012 filmmaker martyn see, who recorded a banned video of lims first public speech at a book launch in 2009, said lim was one of singapores greatest patriots. Feb 02, 2014 historian wade wrote further that operation coldstore removed the key opposition leaders challenging the pap in the general election which was to be held seven months later.
The original campus is now occupied by nanyang technological university. Dr chee soon juans acceptance speech of lis prize for freedom 2011 duration. Tick box this program requires additional permissions. I am privileged to be given this opportunity to speak at this historic event and in this historical hong lim park. Original sin revising the revisionist critique of the. The organisers for working so hard in making this commemoration happen. Book launch for living in a time of deception, hong lysa youtube. The 1963 operation coldstore in singapore tan kok fang. Operation coldstore roundtable why did dr poh trust lee kuan yew.
Thum ping tjin, a historian in the book launch of the 1963 operation coldstore in singapore describing what do the two significant happenings in singapore have in connection and. It is an inspiring testament to liberty, and a warning against public indifference to attacks upon civil and political rights. In his speech, he said, history is not a tale that can be fabricated or conjured. Revising the revisionist critique of the 1963 operation coldstore in singapore. I was detained in coldstore operation in february the 2nd 1963, and i was the last one to come out from the batch of detainees almost 20 years later. Jul 21, 2010 dr lim hock siew a founding member of the ruling peoples action party, lim was accused of being a communist and was arrested without trial in 1963, and had his detention prolonged by the then prime minister lee kuan yew until his release in 1982. Instead, operation cold store was a security operation that took place in 2 february 1963. Dr lim hock siews speech at the launch of the fajar generation. Operation coldstore was a massive police action jointly organised by the british. Jun 05, 2012 filmmaker martyn see, who recorded a banned video of lims first public speech text below at a book launch in 2009, said lim was one of singapores greatest patriots. Nov 20, 20 dr chee soon juans acceptance speech of lis prize for freedom 2011 duration. Commemorating 50 years, launched in late 20, they argued that the arrests were politically motivated against the. On april 1, 2015, i launched at the national library my book original sin. Nanyang university was established in singapore during 19531980.
This book is an account of lims significance in singapores political developments in the decade preceding. Those who were detained under 1963s operation coldstore, long painted by. I was detained in coldstore operation in february the 2nd 1963, and i was the last one to come. He has been relatively lowkey since then, although he made a public speech at a launch of the book, the 1963 operation coldstore in singapore. Yet, in recent years and weeks these detentions have come under intense scrutiny. Why coldstore is a hot topic operation coldstore is in anything but cold storage. Ministry of home affairs, speech by mr teo chee hean, deputy prime. Operation coldstore took away four years of fongs life. On 2 february 1963, the special branch mounted operation coldstore to safeguard against any attempt by the communists to mount violence or disorder in the closing stages of the establishment of the federation of malaysia and ensure that singapore joins malaysia in a more secure and sound state. The most important thing to remember when writing a speech for any event is to connect with the audience. Operation cold start continues to educate the public. Operation coldstore remains the most controversial, as it paved the way for the paps unbroken rule and constitutes its founding myth of riding the communist tiger. I would also like to thank all my friends who have worked so hard to organise this event for me.
Revising the revisionist critique of the 1963 operation coldstore in singapore kumar ramakrishna revisionist or alternative historians have increasingly questioned elements of the singapore story the master narrative of the nations political and socioeconomic development since its founding by the british in 1819. Martyn see complies with mdas order but video goes viral. Most recently, on 16 november, dr thum gave a 20minute speech at the launch of the book on the. We were in singapore but our heartbeat was in malaya. President trump march for life 2020 full speech duration. Singapore story cannot masquerade as history of singapore. Dr poh soo kai giving his speech at the book launch of living with deception.
So the us air force, with the cooperation of the cia, built a top secret radar base on a 1,700meter 5,600 ft mountain in laos, a country bordering vietnam located 25 kilometers 15 mi from the laosvietnam border, the base was manned by cia personnel and used to direct us heavy bombers in the ongoing attempt to. The easiest way to do this is to be authentic with them. Operation coldstore became a watershed in singapores politics. A new book on the 1963 operation coldstore debunks attempts by revisionist writers to portray the operation as driven by political motives rather than security grounds. Filmmaker martyn see, who recorded a banned video of lims first public speech at a book launch in 2009, said lim was one of singapores greatest patriots. British and federation of malay governments, duly carried out operation coldstore on 2 february 1963 and subsequent weeks, with a total of 3 arrested. Dr poh and other revisionists like dr thum ping tjin have alleged that operation coldstore was a political.
Speech by dr tan cheng bock at the official launch of progress singapore party psp on saturday. The citywide initiative, which is in its second year, began on monday, jan. The arrest of over 100 people one morning in 1963 by the special branch happened over 55 years ago. On 14th of nov 2009, lim made his first postdetention speech in singapore during a book launch. Targets deep in north vietnam could not be bombed when it was dark or cloudy. Show your personality and your audience will be engaged and connect with you. Published in a book dedicated to the memory of lim chin siong. The movie, you watch the movie you think its a documentary. The books clear division of chapters of academic insights why operation coldstore matters and chapters on personal views for. Posted on september 1, 20 by jonathan i was going to write a detailed account of the book launch until i realised most of what i wanted to say id already said in my speech. In official accounts, the operation was a security. Apr 04, 2018 on april 1, 2015, i launched at the national library my book original sin. The day coincided with the arrival of us president barack obama in singapore for the apec summit. He earned a bachelor of business administration from kensington university in 1991, and a masters and phd in business administration through a distance learning programme.
Except for the 1990s, the isa has been used in every decade in postwar singapore. Thum ping tjin, a historian in the book launch of the 1963 operation coldstore in singapore describing what do the two. Special branch mounts operation coldstore 2 nd feb 1963 on 2 february 1963, the special branch mounted operation coldstore to safeguard against any attempt by the communists to mount violence or disorder in the closing stages of the establishment of the federation of malaysia and ensure that singapore joins malaysia in a more secure. Fiftytwo years ago this month, on 2 february 1963, a historic internal security dragnet known as operation coldstore was conducted in singapore. A movie is different from a book, you write a book i can write a counter book, you can read together with the counter book. The 1963 operation coldstore in singapore poh soo kai. In official accounts, the operation was a security operation aimed at crippling the communist open. Dr poh soo kai dr poh was also cognisant that his was a historical memoir of how he lived through the early years of singapores history, and as such, he and his cowriters have taken great. Dr poh soo kai talks about the making of his book along with the difficulties that the organisers faced in the booking of the venue for the book launch.
The book s clear division of chapters of academic insights why operation coldstore matters and chapters on personal views for the record helps readers navigate the book. Book launch of living in a time of deception dr poh soo kai. Operation coldstore remains the most controversial, as it paved the way for the. Her book deserves to be read by everyone who cares for free speech and justice under the rule of law. The peoples hero 2514 dr lim hock siews speech at the. The peoples action party pap was elected to office in june 1959 on a platform that called for the merger of singapore and malaya. Another historian, singaporean dr thum ping tjin also cited declassified british documents in his speech at the 16 november 20 launch of the book the 1963 operation. Dr lim hock siew a founding member of the ruling peoples action party, lim was accused of being a communist and was arrested without trial in 1963, and had his detention prolonged by the then prime minister lee kuan yew until his release in 1982.
Thank you so much for making time to attend the launch of my book. The book is a collection of personal stories, peppered with a handful of academic insights into controversial operation coldstore. He has published three other books of poems, a book of essays, and a book of zuihitsu. Jee leong koh is the author of steep tea carcanet, named a best book of the year by uks financial times and a finalist by lambda literary in the usa. The book is a comprehensive account of the lives of the remaining exdetainees. In his speech, he said, history is not a tale that can be fabricated or conjured out of thin air. That operation coldstore was necessary for national security is at the very heart. Historian wade wrote further that operation coldstore removed the key opposition leaders challenging the pap in the general election which was to be held seven months later. First of all, the operation has nothing to with a certain supermarket we all know and love.
Operation coldstore in 1963 was a continuation of security operations that had been mounted since 1948 to contain the cpm. By 1968, within 5 years of oc, lee kuan yew had created a oneparty state. Lim chin siong was the most prominent leftwing leader in singapore for a decade until he was eliminated from the political scene by the infamous operation coldstore on february 2, 1963. Sep 01, 20 writing a speech tips for a book launch. Singapores battle for merger revisited din merican. Commemorating 50 years, launched in late 20, they argued that the arrests were politically motivated against the leftist opposition and overstated. In terms of a book launch, you could connect with your audience by telling them the story of how the book came to be what motivated you to write it, do you remember the moment you decided to write it, what brought you to this moment in time, your background, etc. Few singaporeans and even fewer malaysians are aware of what happened on 2 nd february 1963. Keep an open mind on history of operation coldstore. The book essentially critiqued the notion by dr thum and similar revisionist historians that coldstore was mounted for crass political reasons rather than legitimate security ones. After his release in 1967, he started working in kuala lumpur and johor bahru.
Apr, 2015 in the 1963 operation coldstore in singapore. Singapore government bans martyn sees film expolitical. Document from the national archives of uk which dr thum. At the book launch, teo stated, i call for the isa to be abolished. Beyond the blue gate book launch posted on march 12, 2020 by fn8org the launch of beyond the blue gate, recollections of a political prisoner at the legends, fort canning park, singapore on 26 june 2010 marked the beginning of function 8 which was formed by a group of former 1987 isa detainees and their friends. It may be like fahrenheit 911, very convincing, but its not a documentary.
Martyn see complies with mdas order but video goes viral the singapore government has banned martyn sees video recording of a speech by dr lim hock siew during the launch of the book the fajar generation in november 2009. Living in a time of deception is expected to cover his personal account of operation coldstore. A set of books that run counter to the dominant national narrative on operation coldstore. Jan 15, 2015 the british then used the lefts endorsement of the brunei revolt of 7 december as a pretext to launch operation coldstore.
The singapore government has banned martyn sees video recording of a speech by dr lim hock siew during the launch of the book the fajar generation in november 2009. On 2 february 1963, dr poh along with 112 other individuals were detained without trial under operation coldstore, an operation which the government claimed was meant to cripple the communist open front. As one of the founding members of the peoples action party, lee is recognised as the nations founding father, credited with rapidly transitioning the. Because of my illhealth, ive not been able to write too much. It is a securom issue on windows 10 that prevents the game from starting, but i managed to make it work. Friends, relatives, dr lim hock siew, my fellow former isa detainees, a very good afternoon to all of you. Jan 30, 2015 the background of operation cold store. They would only know of these years through history books, or from their. I was very glad to receive this book the 1963 operation coldstore in singapore, commemorating 50 years edited by poh soo kai, tan kok fang and hong lysa yesterday. Book launch for living in a time of deception, hong lysa. The public gathering was a precursor to the launch of the book the 1963 operation coldstore in singapore.
The british then used the lefts endorsement of the brunei revolt of 7 december as a pretext to launch operation coldstore. Remembering dr lim hock siew, barisan sosialis leader detained without trial by pap. Singapores battle for merger revisited new mandala. Today, we commemorate the 55th anniversary of operation coldstore oc. Operation coldstore remains the largest round of arrests and. Commentary fiftytwo years ago this month, on 2 february 1963, a historic internal security dragnet known as operation coldstore was conducted in singapore. He was detained twice for a total span of 17 years. Soh lung is a woman of outstanding integrity and remarkable courage.
There they collected the names of deceased and forgotten fighters. Dr thum pjs speech during the book launch of the 1963 operation coldstore in singapore. Original sin revising the revisionist critique of the 1963. Spores 50th anniversary time to have open dialogue on. Apr 10, 2018 a set of books that run counter to the dominant national narrative on operation coldstore. The last was shortlisted for the singapore literature prize. If he and his colleagues at barisan sosialis hadnt been arrested and detained in 1963, singapore would have benefited greatly from a twoparty political system. In the weeks that followed, 3 political leaders, activists, students, and leaders of civic organisations, were arrested in singapore. During the operation, officers on patrol keep an eye out for vehicles that are left running a. Dr poh soo kais commentary singapores battle for merger revisited in new mandala on 3 dec 2014 is a misleading account of operation coldstore, singapores merger with malaya, the barisan sosialis singapura barisan and his own role in that period.
Launch of the reprint of the battle for merger speech by mr teo chee. Now this statement mainly stated my stand on my detention. If he and his colleagues at barisan sosialis hadnt been arrested and detained in 1963, singapore would have benefited greatly from a twoparty political system, he said. Special branch mounts operation coldstore singapore history. The art of charlie chan hock chye by sonny liew, the 1963 operation coldstore in singapore commemorating 50 years, comet in our sky a collection of essays on secretarygeneral of barisan sosialis lim chin siong, and living in a time of deception by ex. The calgary police service has wrapped up the first week of operation cold start, which has resulted in over 540 citizens being educated about auto theft prevention.
Selkirk is portrayed too sympathetically and given too much credit for the political success of lees government after coldstore this is hardly surprising given its devastating impact on. At the launch of the book the 1963 operation coldstore in singapore, commemorating 50 years. Operation coldstore, sometimes spelled operation cold store, was the code name for a covert security operation carried out in singapore on 2 february 1963 which led to the arrest of 1 people, who were detained without trial under the preservation of public service security ordinance psso. Before singapores 1959 general election when pap came into power, lee was looking for candidates and asked dominic to stand. Most recently, on 16 november, dr thum gave a 20minute speech at the launch of the book on the february 1963 arrests, titled. An annotated bibliography of operation coldstore new mandala. Dr hong lysa shares about the significance of dr poh soo kais book, living witth. Jul 07, 2010 on 14th of nov 2009, lim made his first postdetention speech in singapore during a book launch. Police denies permit for march for minimum wage october 1 september 1 august 1 february 1 january 1 2012 28. Revising the revisionist critique of the 1963 operation coldstore in singapore kumar ramakrishna revisionist or alternative historians have increasingly questioned elements of the singapore story the master narrative of the nations political and socioeconomic development.
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