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Singapore and the US get closer (again)

In 1963 Singapore inherited the Internal Security Act (ISA) from Malaysia which had inherited this legislation from British rule. Under the ISA (Chapter II Section 8 - 1.) any Singaporean can be detained at will by the government. Singapore has been slammed for this piece of legislation repeatedly (e.g. 2004, 2005, 2006). Nevertheless the US seems to have taken a clue from us when you follow the current legislative initiative. While our ISA at least requires a renewal of a detention order every two years and features a review board, the Military Commissions Act does away with these minimal checks and balances and even revokes 900 years of legal history voiding the " habeas corpus" practise. What is happening to the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Posted by on 30 September 2006 | Comments (2) | categories: After hours

Comments

  1. posted by Rob McDonagh on Sunday 01 October 2006 AD:
    What is happening to the US? Bad things, very bad things. Our government is dominated by people who hate freedom, and yet they call themselves patriotic champions of liberty - and 40% of the citizens don't see the contradiction. Come election time, they scare another 10% into believing that their opponents are "weak" and hold onto power for another term. It's a very bad time to be an American, although those of us who are sane have hopes that the election in November will help correct things.
  2. posted by Jonathan Wong on Sunday 01 October 2006 AD:
    Hah! That's nothing. Check out Singapore's newest tactic: commiting citizens who oppose the government against their will into a mental institution!

    http://singaporeelection.blogspot.com/2006/09/pap-govt-locks-up-m-ravi-in-mental.html

    Try to beat that, US! :)