There he joined the Anti-British League (ABL) and published Malayan Orchid, which attacked British colonialism and demanded independence for Malaya. All 6 members of the Malayan Orchid group were detained by the British in January 1951, and James was released only in 1951. Resuming his studies at the University of Malaya, he joined the University Socialist Club (USC) in 1953, and the editorial board of Fajar in 1954. The entire editorial board was subsequently charged with sedition for the "Aggression In Asia" article, but eventually acquitted.
In October 1956 he was with the Middle Road group of trade unions when he was detained together with Lim Chin Siong, Fong Swee Suan, Devan Nair and Sydney Woodhull. They were under political detention until 1959, when the People's Action Party won the general elections.
He was detained a third time on 2 February 1963 under Operation Cold Store, a mass arrest of political opponents originally planned for December 1962. The justification for the round up was debunked in official classified British documents: "The fact that interrogations have so far produced little evidence about the Communist Conspiracy or the link up between the Barisan Socialis and the Brunei revolt... This is embarrassing but not altogether unexpected." (CO:1030/1573 p.75, 2 April 1963)
Three detentions are one too many, and James, together with Sydney Woodhull and Lim Shee Ping, were the first among the Operation Cold Store victims to capitulate and sign personal renunciations of their political beliefs as a price for freedom. Lee Kuan Yew himself said in January 2008, "The biggest punishment a man can receive is total isolation, in a dungeon, black and complete withdrawal of all stimuli. That is real torture."
Not everyone has the steel and resolve of Dr Lim Hock Siew, who spurned the Special Branch's offer of unconditional release "so that Lee Kuan Yew would be in a position to explain why you have been detained so long":
"I am not interested in saving Lee Kuan Yew's face. This is not a question of pride but one of principle. My detention is completely unjustifiable and I will not lift a single finger to help Lee Kuan Yew to justify the unjustifiable." (The Fajar Generation, Poh Soo Kai et al, page 151)
A stroke rendered Puthucheary speechless for the last 5 years of his life. He passed away in 2000 after suffering a second stroke. Among the many who gathered to pay tribute to the true politician was former Malaysia Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
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"The biggest punishment a man can receive is total isolation, in a dungeopn, black and complete withdrawal of all stimuli. That is real torture."
ReplyDeleteSelf fulfilling prophesy?
Famous last words?
Yesterday's rooster is but a feather duster soon. Justice is sweet poetry.
DeleteYesterday's champion racehorse will be fertilizer tomorrow.
DeleteThe constant, niggling fear generated in his own mind that his idiot son cannot keep a firm grip on power to retain the skeletons in the cupboards must be a punishment greater than any that can be administered by any other men.
ReplyDeleteWhat goes around..... he is only starting his journey on the road of torture, drooling gaping mouth, probably still an active mind but cannot annoy anyone with speech. Goh Keng Swee and S Raja spent over 10 years in abject senility, most deserving for lackeys with no conscience. But wait till old fart start curling up in the foetus position, I wish not any Man to go into that state, except one.
ReplyDeleteBtw, its "Tun" Dr Mahathir... the man may be a big mouth and headed a huge patronage system, but and Zeti did save Malaysia in 1998 with capital controls, spared many innocents the indignity of sleeping on subways of Seoul or the pillage and rape of Chinese in Jakarta. I won't hold my breath for dear leeders to make the correct decision when the time comes for us.
The biggest punishment is enticing the son to betray the father.
ReplyDeleteYes, this Puthucheary is rolling in his grave right now.
DeleteIn a 2013 interview, Datuk Dominic Puthucheary said about his son Janil standing as a PAP candidate in 2011 and winning: "The differences we had with the PAP no longer existed -- on merger, anti-colonialism, the Internal Security Council." Dominic has accepted that there are new realities. "To live in the past would be absurd".
DeleteWhat is it about this party that seems to attract and embrace traitors? We know the old realities - to survive. What are the new realities - money, prestige, power? What about principles? Devan Nair must also be rolling in his grave now. Salute to Kenneth Jeyaretnam!
/// What is it about this party that seems to attract and embrace traitors? ///
DeleteHmmmmm.
Maybe it's the million dollar salaries.
Or the $13K/month for part time work.
It's pretty amazing what whores will do for money.
Don't insult whores. Most of them have more honourable principles than politicians who need high pay to win respect; and most are forced by circumstances to ply their trade.
DeleteA man prepared to rise from his grave will never concede defeat.
ReplyDeleteHis knuckle duster was used sparingly. There was no political death in Sin and that was probably due to the fact that he need not have to use his hatchet.
The Knuckle Duster was sufficiently effective to cower much dissent.
Whatever it is, no dynasty last forever and no man is invincible.
All will be dust if not ash when time is up.
Is it serenity before the Sunset or it is a final journey full of worry and guilt? The One on the Journey should know.
patriit
That is putrid Mr Patriot.
DeleteIt is neither putrid nor foul.
DeleteIt is reality plain and simple.
Since the beginning of civilization, dynasty comes, dynasty goes and strongman comes and goes. They never die, only replaced by politicians (whatever your flavour)
DeleteTime to walk around the walls and blow the trumpet for the curtain to fall forever?
The apple has fallen very far away from the tree.
ReplyDeleteDid he betray his father?
DeleteDid he join a political party that is betraying Singaporeans?
Do birds of the same feather flock together?
Rotten apples do roll further...
DeleteJanil has lost his umbrage, and so parachutes into the Party Absent Principles, sans national service; but Kenneth still carries on his father's fight, showing that you don't need to live in the past, but you can still live, stand and die by your principles, as demonstrated by his father, Lim Hock Siew, Chia Thye Poh, and many others.
ReplyDelete