Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Chee Soon Juan: "I occasionally receive foreign funding"

The following is extracted from Lianhe Zaobao. Its reporter conducted an interview with Singapore Democratic Party Secretary-General Chee Soon Juan. In the interview, Chee mentioned that he occasionally receives foreign funding.

徐顺全:现在是民主党30年来巅峰时刻
Chee Soon Juan: This is the peak of Singapore Democratic Party's peak in 30 years

游润恬 (2010-02-28) Reported by: Ms Yew Lun Tian

 针对大戏党网站(淡马锡评论)是由民主党幕后操纵,目的是打击其他反对党并提升民主党地位的传言,徐顺全矢口否认。他说:“我们不做诋毁其他反对党的事。”
Referring to the claim that Temasek Review is being operated by the Singapore Democratic Party, with the aim of discrediting the other opposition parties to strengthen SDP, Chee Soon Juan denied it. Chee: "We do not criticise the affairs of other opposition parties."

  民主党成立30年,巅峰时刻是什么时候?最低潮的时刻又是什么时候?
Singapore Democratic Party is 30 years old. When's the peak? When's the trough?

  徐顺全博士(48岁)的答复似乎会让人们大感意外。他说现在是它的巅峰时刻。
Dr Chee Soon Juan's (48 years old) answer was surprising. He said the SDP is at its peak now.

  “我相信民主党还没有达到真正的顶峰,不过到目前为止,现阶段必然是最光辉的。”
"I believe Singapore Democratic Party has not reached its actual peak, but as of now, we are at our highest point."

  他表示民主党过去五年吸引了许多新人,党员的整体素质也比从前高了。这些新人不但可提供新的政治视角,还懂得善用新媒体进行宣传,使民主党可以做很多以前做不成的事。
Chee says that SDP has attracted many new members over the past 5 years. The quality of the members is higher than before. The newcomers not only provide new political perspectives, they are also savvy with new media, empowering the party in ways it has never done before.


  五年前没有资源办25周年晚宴
No resources to organise anniversary dinners 5 years ago

  比方说早在五年前,他就想举行民主党25周年晚宴,却因缺乏资源,只好打消念头。今天,民主党不但能在乌节路的凯煌酒店办30周年晚宴,还能出版第一本纪念特刊,80页全彩色印刷。
For instance, 5 years ago, Chee Soon Juan wanted to organise a 25th anniversary dinner. However, due to scarce resources, he called off the idea. Today, SDP not only organised its dinner at a hotel in Orchard Road, it also published its first 80-page full colour commemorative magazine.

  他认为最重要的是全体中央执行委员的团结。
Chee believes that of upmost importance is the unity among the Central Executive Committee Members.

  “对他们来说,集体奋斗的目标,凌驾于个人理想之上。”
"For them, fighting in unity precedes personal ambitions."

  民主党在1991年大选时,一举把当时的秘书长詹时中(波东巴西区)、主席林孝谆(前武吉甘柏区)和蒋才正(义顺中区)三名候选人送入国会。自从詹时中在1996年离开后,民主党在国会里再也没有代表。照理说,上世纪90年代在詹时中领导下的民主党,应该已达到巅峰,徐顺全却认为那是最低潮的时刻。
In the 1991 General Election, then Singapore Democratic Party's Secretary-General Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir SMC), Chairman Ling How Doong (Bukit Gombak SMC) and Cheo Chai Chen (Nee Soon Central SMC) won their seats in Parliament. Since Chiam's departure from the party in 1996, there had been no representatives from SDP in the parliament. As such, SDP under Chiam See Tong should be considered as the peak period of the party. However, Chee Soon Juan thinks that was the lowest point instead.

  “我加入民主党不到几个星期,就已感觉到党内领导人之间强烈的紧张关系。当时的民主党不是一个党,它从来就不是一支有共同理念的团队,只不过是一群同床异梦的人凑在一起。出现状况时,大家各有主张,要往不同的方向走,结果是树倒猢狲散。”
"A few weeks after I joined the SDP, I could already feel the strong tension in the ties between the party leaders. The SDP back then wasn't a party. It was never led by a team with a common ideology. It was just a group of individuals with different beliefs. When incidents occur, everyone has their own views and wants to pursue their own paths, resulting in disunity."

  詹时中在1992年一手把当时在新加坡国立大学担任心理学讲师的徐顺全带进民主党,参加马林百列集选区补选。当时的总理吴作栋为了把现任副总理张志贤引进国会,而让马林百列集选区的议员集体辞职,以举行这次补选。
Chiam See Tong single-handedly brought then NUS Psychology Lecturer Chee Soon Juan into the party in 1992 and fielded him in the Marine Parade GRC by-election. Then PM Goh Chok Tong wanted to Teo Chee Hean to be in Parliament and arranged for Marine Parade GRC MPs to resign so that a by-election could be held.

  徐顺全竞选失败,隔年因呈报德士车资不实等遭国大开除。詹时中原本支持他,后来却动议中委会谴责他。党内其他中委不赞成詹时中的做法,民主党于是陷入分裂。詹时中跟着辞去秘书长职务。
Chee Soon Juan lost in the election. The following year, he got fired by NUS after he was found to be overstating his taxi claims. Chiam See Tong initially supported him, but subsequently passed a motion to the CEC to punish him. Other CEC members didn't agree with Chiam's actions, leading to a stalemate within the party. Chiam then resigned as Secretary-General.

  徐顺全追述道:“当年他提出辞职的那场会议,是在我家召开的。过后的一个月,我三番四次上他的办公室请他收回辞职信,并表示他仍然是我们心目中的领导。”
Chee Soon Juan continued: "The meeting when Chiam tendered his resignation, was held at my place. The following month, I repeatedly went to Chiam's office to request him to keep his resignation letter, and expressed my loyalty to him."

  尽管徐顺全如今这么解释,但不争的事实是民主党中委当时却做出了比接受詹时中辞去秘书长职位更为严重的决定——投票将他逐出党。詹时中一旦失去党籍,也将丧失国会议席,反对党在国会里也将少一把声音。我国宪法不允许议员在任内跨党。詹时中尽力保留党籍,直到1997年大选才离开民主党,转以新加坡人民党秘书长的身份竞选。
Despite Chee Soon Juan's explanation, the fact is that SDP CEC went on to vote to expel Chiam See Tong from the party. If Chiam were expelled, he would lose his parliamentary seat and the opposition would lose a voice in parliament. Singapore's Constitution prohibits MPs from switching party membership. Chiam See Tong fought hard to retain his party membership. In 1997, Chiam left the party and set up the Singapore People Party where he became the Secretary-General and retained his Potong Pasir seat.

  詹时中事后对外表示他是被徐顺全逼走的。
Chiam See Tong procliamed that he was ousted by Chee Soon Juan.

  徐顺全辩称詹时中的“一言堂”作风,才是其他中委背弃他的原因。
Chee Soon Juan claims that Chiam got ousted because of his dictatorship style.

  “即使在林孝谆等党领导人眼里,詹时中的领导地位也是毫无争议的。不过,我们希望他能以更加民主的方式做事。”
"Even in the eyes of Ling How Doong and other members, Chiam See Tong's leadership was undeniable. However, we hoped he could be more democratic in the way he carried out the tasks."

  他说:“直到今天,我仍对詹时中不怀芥蒂,还出席了他担任议员25周年的晚宴。如果在外头碰面,我也会跟他打招呼。”
Chee: "Until today, I don't bear any grudges against Chiam See Tong. I even attended his 25th Anniversary Dinner. Even when I meet him in the streets, I would greet him."

  詹时中在1992年把徐顺全引进民主党时,他一时被视为反对党的希望及一颗闪亮的政治新星。如今,被他取代的詹时中仍保住国会议席,自己却始终无缘进入国会。
Chiam introduced Chee Soon Juan into the party in 1992. Chee was seen as the hope of the Opposition and a rising star in the political realm. Until today, Chiam is still in parliament, but Chee had never made it in.

  问他如今是否后悔从政,他说:“绝不。我这么说不是为了逞英雄。我的确喜欢教书和做研究,那是我的初恋,但是为新加坡争取民主是一个更大、更迫切的使命。我一点也不后悔。”
When asked if he has ever regretted joining politics, Chee said: "Never. I'm not saying this because I want to be a hero. I really love teaching and research work. Those were my first love. However, fighting for democracy in Singapore is an even greater and urgent mission. I have no regrets."

  他在2006年破产,一家现在住在大巴窑的三房式组屋。妻子黄志美(48岁)留在家里照顾三个分别是10岁、7岁和5岁的孩子。
Bankrupted in 2006, he stays in a 3-room flat in Toa Payoh. His wife Huang Chih Mei (48 years old) stays at home to look after 3 children aged 10, 7 and 5 years old.

  夫妇没有工作怎么养家?
So how does the couple derive an income without a job?

  夫妇俩都没有工作,那怎么养家?询及收入来源时,他表示多数从卖书赚来,偶尔也接受亲戚朋友的接济。
The couple is not employed. When asked about income, Chee expressed that he derives the majority of his income via the sale of his books. Occasionally, he also receives financial help from relatives.

  “我们过着简单的生活。有多余的资源,我都会投入民主抗争。”
"We lead a simple life. I contribute my excess resources to the party cause."

  坊间流传他是拿了外国机构的资金,所以才能继续在新加坡无后顾之忧地进行公民抗争式的斗争。左问右问,他回答说:“我是学者,偶尔也领一些外国的研究基金。我的著作有时获奖,有时也参加海外的研究计划。”
There are rumours that Chee Soon Juan is financially supported by foreign agencies, and that's why he could continue protesting without any worries. After asking him several times, Chee said: "I'm a scholar, I occasionally receive foreign funding for my research. My works have bagged awards, and I participate in foreign research programmes."

  哪方面的研究,是有关民主的研究吗?他含糊地说:“嗯,或者是人类行为之类的。”
What kind of research? Is it related to democracy? Chee dodgingly replied: "Hmmm, it's about human behaviour."

  “打不打算脱离穷籍这个问题不应该问我”
"The question of whether I want to leave poverty shouldn't be answered by me"

  跟已故反对党巨人惹耶勒南一样,徐顺全也是因被政府领导人起诉诽谤而拖欠巨额名誉损失赔偿金,最终在2006年2月被高庭宣判破产,失去参加同年5月大选的资格。不同的是惹耶勒南生前无时无刻不在努力筹钱偿还债务,终于在生前脱离穷籍,还成立了新的政党,开始为参加大选部署。而徐顺全却不打算这么做。
Similar to the late Opposition leader Jeyaratnam, Chee Soon Juan was also sued for slander by government leaders, failed to pay the damage and finally was declared a bankrupt in February 2006, losing the chance to contest in the 2006 General Election. The difference is that Jeyaratnam strives hard to recover from his bankruptcy and finally succeeded before his death. Jeyaratam even set up a new political party and prepared for the GE. However, Chee Soon Juan had no plans to recover from his bankruptcy.

  他说:“打不打算还清债务以脱离穷籍,这个问题你不应该问我,而应该去问李光耀。如果他不怕我,大可行使债权人的权利把我所欠的债务一笔勾销。只要他不挡住我参选的去路,对我亮绿灯,我马上就去提出脱离穷籍的申请。”
Chee: "Whether to recover from poverty is not a decision I make. You should ask Lee Kuan Yew. If he's not afraid of me, he could call off the debt. If he doesn't stop me from contesting in the GE, gives me the green light, I will immediately apply to be delisted as a bankrupt."

  民主党在2006年大选时的得票率是反对党中平均得票率最低的,徐顺全把这都怪到主流媒体头上。
In 2006, SDP performed the worst compared to other political parties. Chee Soon Juan blamed this on the mainstream media.

  他认为主流媒体刻意丑化他,以致至民主党在大选时的表现不如其他反对党。
He feels that the mainstream media portrayed a very negative image of him, causing SDP to perform badly at the poll.

  “因为民主党提出有别于政府的可行经济方案,我们也提倡要对现有的机制进行大刀阔斧的改革,因此被行动党政府视为威胁,要把我们铲除。主流媒体也把攻击的矛头对准我们。”
"Because SDP proposes alternative economic plans, we also encourage major changes to the current political system, therefore the government sees us as a threat and wants to get rid of us. The mainstream media also points their guns at us."

  下次大选将以网络作为主要竞选渠道
New media as the main site for political battle in the next GE

  为突破主流媒体的局限,他声称民主党在下次大选时将以互联网作为主要的竞选渠道。
To break free from the constraints of mainstream media, he claims that SDP would use new media as the main platform for the party in the coming GE.

  尽管如此,他还是认为民主党要在大选中获胜,必须靠主流媒体。
Despite this, he believes the party needs the mainstream media if it wants to win in the GE.

  “我非常有信心,主流媒体如果肯公平地报道我们的想法和信息,民主党肯定可以把候选人送入国会。”
"I'm very confident that if the mainstream media reports fairly about our beliefs and messages, the SDP would definitely enter parliament."

  民主党的作风比较强硬,工人党的作风比较中庸。几年前一个对政党政治提出尖锐批评的“大戏党”(Wayang Party)网站出现,不客气地指工人党根本是在作戏,不是真正在搞反对党政治。
SDP is radical. Workers' Party's style is moderate. A few years ago, the Wayang Party website was set up to condemn WP, stating that it is a wayang.

  大戏党后来改名为淡马锡评论(Temasek Review),对其他反对党的批评也有所收敛,不过网主的身份依然神秘。针对大戏党网站是由民主党幕后操纵,目的是打击其他反对党并提升民主党地位的传言,徐顺全矢口否认。
The Wayang Party then changed its name to Temasek Review, and also lambasted other opposition parties. TR's owner is anonymous. Referring to accusations that Wayang Party is operated by SDP so as to alleviate SDP's standing among the opposition parties, Chee denied them.

  他说:“我们不做诋毁其他反对党的事。”
Chee: "We don't belittle other opposition."

  那他跟其他反对党领袖的关系有多好?他表示虽不至于称兄道弟,但彼此都不时保持联系,也依然遵守不在大选时进行三角战的游戏规则。
So how is his relationship with other political party leaders? He said that they are not as close as brothers, but they stay in contact and avoid 3-cornered fights in GEs.

  党庆与众不同
An extraordinary anniversary celebration

  时装秀、自助晚餐、没有上台敬酒的节目,新加坡民主党昨晚的30周年党庆,和其他政党大不一样。
Fashion shows, Buffet dinner, no toasting on stage. SDP's 30th anniversary dinner differs much from other opposition parties'.

  民主党的老中青党员昨晚充当模特儿,上台摆姿势,展示党制服多年来的演变。图中红色有领汗衫是目前最新的制服。
SDP's senior and young members became fashion show models, parading on stage with the various party uniforms. The red shirt and kaki pants is the latest uniform.

  许多重要反对党人物都缺席
Many key opposition leaders were absent

  约170人参加民主党在凯煌酒店举办的党庆晚宴,但许多重要反对党人物都缺席,包括创立民主党后另起炉灶的新加坡人民党秘书长詹时中、工人党秘书长刘程强、党主席林瑞莲、革新党秘书长肯尼思和国民团结党主席张培源。
About 170 people attended the SDP's dinner. However, many key opposition leaders were absent, including SDP's founder Chiam See Tong, WP's Low Thia Khiang, Sylvia Lim, Reform Party's Kenneth Jeyaratnam and National Solidarity Party's Sebastian Teo.

  往年反对党设党庆晚宴时,都会邀请其他反对党领袖一起上台敬酒。昨晚的民主党党庆,并没有出现这样的场面。
In the anniversary dinners organised by other opposition parties, the various opposition leaders were usually invited on stage to toast. It didn't occur at SDP's.

  徐顺全大女儿单独上台清唱国歌
Chee's eldest daughter sings the National anthem

  民主党的党庆还有一个节目是其他反对党的党庆没有的。昨晚开场时,徐顺全的大女儿徐安琳(10岁)单独上台清唱国歌,接着还念信约。新加坡早在数十年前就停止在活动开始前唱国歌的做法,一些与会者昨晚起初还愣了一下,不过很快地也跟着一起唱国歌。
Chee's eldest daughter Chee An Lin (10 years old) sang the national anthem and recited the pledge. Singapore has long stopped the practice of singing the national anthem before the commencement of activities. The singing stunned many of the participants.

  徐顺全经常让孩子曝光,比如让他们陪他出庭,或到监狱外等候他出狱。他这么做,是不是为了博取同情?他日前受访时说:“没有我的家人的支持,我很难继续下去。看着孩子,会让我想起,我要留给她们一个怎样的社会,这给了我坚持下去的力量。”
Chee Soon Juan frequently exposes his children into the limelight. For instance, they accompany him to court and wait for him outside the prison as he gets released. Is he doing this to win over compassion from the public? Chee: "Without family support, I find it hard to carry on. Looking at the kids, will remind me that I have to strive to give them a better Singapore."



《联合早报》
Lianhe Zaobao
(编辑:梁嘉芪)

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