Dr Ang Swee Chai more noted for Palestinian Cause than for Leftist Views

There appears to be an onslaught of propaganda from the Socialist Left the last week or so from some websites, not least of all, the political organisation, TOC. In its latest Leftist Propaganda, it publishes an article about Dr Ang Swee Chai.

Dr Ang Swee Chai the ‘Euro Communist’

by: Teo Soh Lung/

Dr Ang Swee Chai, a prominent surgeon and author of From Beirut to Jerusalem has now written about her arrest and detention without trial under the ISA in 1977. She was one of at least 28 people, mostly professionals, who were arrested and labelled as Euro Communists by the PAP government.

Dr Ang was arrested on 15 March 1977, one month after Tan Jing Quee was arrested. At the time of her arrest, her husband of two weeks, Francis Khoo, a lawyer had escaped to London after many of their friends were arrested and imprisoned. Both she and her husband now live as exiles in London. The documents and photographs seized have not been returned to them.

The story continues with a narration of Dr Ang’s experience, first hand, on how she was detained by the ISD, allegedly for Communist links.

I have commented a few times in this blog already that I am against detention without trial. The right way is to put these people on trial so that they could have a fair chance to defend themselves. Hence, I can understand the pain, both physical and mental, these ISD detainees go through. That includes the writer of the article Ms Teo Soh Lung.

Having said that, I have to keep saying that what gets me is the idea these Socialist Leftists feel that it is an honour to celebrate past Leftists who propagated violence like Lim Chin Siong, and even those who propagated terror like Chin Peng from the Malayan Communist Party.

Equally intriguing is the fact that these Leftists hold a highly chauvinistic stance that all Singaporeans and Malayans prefer(red) to be under Chinese Communist Style Rule, than to be under the Brits, PAP or BN!

Those points were discussed here in my past posts below.

PAP gloats its “glory” days, Socialist Left gloats its “gory” days

Why ask PE candidates about ISA’s detention of Marxist conspirators of 80s, when we have JI detainees today?

Give Dr Ang the Honour she deserves, not use her name for your cause -

Dr Ang is famous for her unselfish and selfless work and contribution to the Palestinian cause. While other doctors were earning big bucks and progressing with their career, she worked in the War Zone in Lebanon.

That’s what the world remembers her for. Leftists who try to milk her fame for their own selfish cause – ie the Leftist cause – should know that this is injustice done to Dr Ang.

Teo Soh Lung made only a fleeting comment about Dr Ang’s book, “From Beirut to Jerusalem”. But what Soh Lung missed is Dr Ang’s years of contribution in the Mid East War Zone.

FROM BEIRUT TO JERUSALEM

“The slaughter of unarmed children, women, the aged and the infirm was shocking. For me, I was doubly outraged that I had to discover the truth about a brave and generous people only through their deaths. Until then, I never knew Palestinian refugees existed. As a fundamentalist Christian, I had been a supporter of Israel, hated Arabs and saw the Palestinian Liberation Organisation as terrorists to be loathed and feared.”

Extract from the back cover of her book “From Beirut To Jerusalem”….

The Siege

The 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon killed over 30,000 civilians. The siege of Beirut lasted for 70 days, Beirut was subjected a relentless barrage of air, naval, and artillery bombardment. The Israeli bombardment was random and indiscriminate. Food, electricity and water supplies were cut off – over 500,000 people were driven from their homes. The IDF calculated that they had used some 960 tons of ammunition in trying to destroy the city.

The “slaughter of unarmed children, women the aged and the infirm” Dr Ang refers to were the victims of the shameful war crime attack now known as “Sabra and Shatilla Massacre”……

Here is a video clip narrated by Robert Fisk, a well known Mid East commentator. See the horrors of how Israel, together with its allies, murdered these innocent Palestinians, Nazi Style.

SABRA AND SHATILA MASSACRE

Journalist Robert Fisk returns to the Sabra and Shatila Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. Fisk recounts how Lebanese Christian militias who were under the control of the Israeli military murdered over 2000 Palestinians in the camps. Fisk also points to a building in the distance from where he insists the Israeli forces could witness the massacre. The Israeli government’s own Kahan Commission found that future Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was personally responsible for the massacre. This is from a documentary Fisk made about “why so many Muslims have come to hate the West.” But we know the real reason is because they hate our freedom, right?

That was the state Dr Ang faced when she was in Beirut. She could have been earning big bucks, but she risked her life and career to help the victims of a senseless war crime.

My Final Comments -

Dr Ang is a hero in her own right. Her selfless dedication took her to where many professionals dared not venture – the war zone. Her contribution to the Palestinian Cause, in the light of the a war crime committed by Israel and its allies against the Palestinians in Lebanon, earned her fame the world till today remembers.

Very unfortunately, the supporters of the Socialist Left are trying to milk the limelight from her for something they didn’t work for.

The more these supporters of the Socialist Left speak (for the last week or so), the more I feel they have no sense of shame.

>First Signs of Winds of Change in Mid East

>So Egypt’s Mubarak, America’s and Israel’s strongest puppet ally in the Arab League, is gone. How would that hold for these two terror nations that have been spilling their guns, bullets and bombs in the region?

Some say it is bad news for US and Israel. But the mass media tries to hide it and instead say that Egypt’s turmoil is just about Arabs being fed up with their autocratic leader, just like Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Bahrain and even Iran. Never mind that each of those countries have their own unique problems.

And yes, how did Iran’s internal protest from some opposition camp (which is an “everyday” occurrence) get into the mass media’s confusion of conflating it with the bigger ME unrest?

Here are two small pieces of news that are a sign of the winds of change. “Small” not because of its “lack of significance”, but because of the downplay by the mass media. Actually it is BIG implication. The implication that America and Israel are losing grip to be able to fool the rest of the world that its bullets and bombs are good.

News #1 – Iranian military ships crossing the Suez Canal

Last Thursday, I wrote an article about two Iranian military ships that was planned to cross the Suez Canal – World keeps forgetting it is Israel who instigates

The Suez is in Egyptian territory. The Suez is also a strategic passageway, both in economic and military terms. For many decades, the US and Israel get to enjoy “privileges” because of its close ties with Egypt’s Mubarak. Privileges like their ships are allowed free access, while their adversaries have a much harder time.

But that is set to change. Egyptian authorities have for the first time since the fall of Shah in 1979, given permission for two Iranian military vessels to cross the Suez – from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea. Israel calls this “provocation”. Never mind that earlier, they sailed their military ships from the Med Sea to the Persian Gulf, through the Suez. Double talk from the hypocrites, no?

The Iranian ships are not armed. But the implication is that the “New Egypt” is willing to accommodate Iran. This of course alarms Israel. In the eyes of Israel, its strongest Arab ally is willing to accommodate Israel’s adversaries.

Here’s the latest on the two Iranian ships that are to cross the Suez.
Iran ships approach Suez, Israel takes “grave view”

Egypt’s ruling military council, facing its first diplomatic headache since taking power on February 11, approved the ships’ passage through the waterway which is a vital global trading route and major source of revenues for the Egyptian authorities.

The two vessels, a frigate and a supply ship, are due to enter the canal Monday. The northbound convoy from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean moves at 6 a.m. (0400 GMT).

That’s noon today, SG time. Just only a few hours from now.

So what more can Israel expect? Loosening the control of Egypt-Gaza border? That would mean that all of Israel’s illegal blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza would have a big porous hole.

Small wonder Israel is nervous about the new Egypt, not to mention the changing tide in the Arab world.

News #2 – China shows support for Palestinians

China has for a long time shown indifference to world affairs outside their territory – let alone the hotbed of the Mid East, and let alone even more on the issue of the massacre of Palestinians. So for China to be involved in this, is a big sign that things are set to change – especially when it finger points the US for all the troubles that are occurring in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Here’s news that America, under President Pussy Obama, yields to the Zionists, vetoing a resolution against Israel for its criminal and illegal stealing of Palestinian lands.

Israeli settlements: US vetoes UNSC resolution

The US has vetoed an Arab resolution at the UN Security Council condemning Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories as an obstacle to peace.

All 14 other members of the Security Council backed the resolution, which had been endorsed by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO).

Yes, as always, the US, like Israel, is the stumbling block to peace in the region.

Here’s the news of China’s rap against the US.

China opposes Israel’s settlements construction in occupied Palestinian territory: envoy

China resolutely opposes the construction of settlements by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory and supports the legitimate demands of the Palestinian people, Chinese Ambassador to the UN Li Baodong said at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States, Friday.

In the explanatory remarks after a Security Council voting on a UN draft resolution condemning Israeli settlement activities, Li expressed regret that the draft resolution wasn’t adopted.

The United States, a permanent Security Council member, vetoed the draft resolution. All the other 14 Council members voted in favor of the draft resolution, co-sponsored by more than 120 UN members.

China can talk big. Of course it can. China now controls America’s economy, no thanks to America’s fake “war on terror”, scaring Arab investors out of the US. China has over the years, filled the void in America’s economy when the Arabs took out their billions.

Prior to this show of unprecedented support for the Palestinians, (which is like slapping US for vetoing, and slapping Israel for its illegal stealing of lands), China has for the last decade built strong economic relations with the Arab nations, as well as Iran.

My Views -

These two incidents, which go under reported by the mass media is very significant. They are just the tip of the iceberg of the changing geo-political scene in the Mid East.

The US and Israel are losing their grip in the region, with the Arabs taking control of their own destiny, while sleeping Giant China has woken up to the vast opportunities that are aplenty in the region.

China, like Russia, won’t make the same stupid mistakes the US made. The US puts up puppets in the Mid East, and feed these criminal leaders while the people starve. China goes for the win-win approach and that is what the Mid Easterners want. You can expect China playing a major role in Mid East affairs for many decades to come, while the US will fade into oblivion.

As for Israel, the parasite that sucks its host (the US) bone dry, it has to come to terms that its god-father (US) is slowly but surely losing its influence, both militarily and economically.

If Israel wants to continue be the nasty criminal, stealing lands of others and hope that US would come to its rescue all the time, it is making a bad mistake. Like the US, if Israel does not accept the winds of change and accept its neigbours as equals, it too would fade into oblivion within the next few decades.

>Are Syria and Iran Arming Hezbollah? What’s the Issue?

>There has been quite a few reports the last few weeks where Israel and US claim Syria has been arming Hezbollah. Here is the latest one.

Syria,Iran arm Hezbollah with improved missiles: US

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday accused Iran and Syria of arming Hezbollah with increasingly sophisticated rockets and missiles, saying the militia’s arsenal undermined stability in the region.

“Syria and Iran are providing Hezbollah with rockets and missiles of ever-increasing capability,” Gates said at a joint news conference with his Israeli counterpart, Ehud Barak.

“And we’re at a point now, where Hezbollah has far more rockets and missiles than most governments in the world, and this is obviously destabilizing for the whole region and we’re watching it very carefully.”

Gates did not say if Syria was supplying Hezbollah with Scud missiles as Israel has alleged.

Barak voiced serious concern over Syria’s support for Hezbollah but did not repeat the allegation that it was providing Scuds to the Lebanese Shiite militia.

Damascus has vehemently rejected the charge.

Barak said Syria was arming Hezbollah with “weapons systems that can turn or disrupt the very delicate balance in Lebanon.”

He added: “We do not intend to provoke any kind of a major collision in Lebanon or vis-a-vis Syria.”

Last week, the most senior Syrian diplomat in Washington, Deputy Chief of Mission Zouheir Jabbour, was summoned to the State Department to review what the United States called “Syria’s provocative behavior concerning the potential transfer of arms to Hezbollah.”

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem said it was regrettable that the United States had accepted Israel’s accusations against Damascus as true.

The Scud allegations come as the United States steps up dialogue with Syria, and US lawmakers have seized upon the accusations to argue against any rapprochement between Washington and Damascus.

In February, Obama appointed the first US ambassador to Damascus in five years, Robert Ford, although the Senate has not yet confirmed him.

Relations between Damascus and Washington plummeted after the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri in a Beirut car bombing widely blamed on Syria and its allies.

Syria, which Washington considers a state sponsor of terror, had a long military presence in Lebanon but withdrew its last troops in 2005 after the outcry that followed the assassination of Hariri.

There are a few issues that should be noted in the above article. First and foremost is that there still is no proof that Syria and Iran have been supplying Hezbollah with more sophisticated weaponry. Next, is the ever willingness of US to believe about anything Israel says.

However, let’s put aside if the news report is true or not. Let’s just talk about what is the issue behind this allegation in the first place.

In other words, what is US and/or Israel’s grouse, if Syria and/or Iran were to arm Hezbollah with sophisticated weapons?

The most glaring but unmentioned point is the hypocrisy on the part of the US, arming Israel which is the root of tension in the Mid East, yet barks a lot, when Israel’s adversaries are armed to protect themselves. If the reason for Israel to be armed is to protect its sovereignty, have not its neighbours too have a right to be armed to protect their sovereignty?

Now before one were to jump to conclusion that Hezbollah is a terror organization, please remember that “terrorist” is a term used by US (and Israel) to “delegitmize” any party it is not comfortable with. At the same time, it “legitmizes” the US (and Israel) to use excessive force, including chemicals like White Phosphorous on civilians (women and children included).

It should also be noted that it was because Hezbollah was well armed, that the Israelis were repelled from Lebanon in the Israeli-Hezbollah War in 2006. In contrast, the Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank are not armed and are hence, oppressed under Israeli Occupation until today.

The allegation that Syria and Iran are equipping the Hezbollah with more sophisticated weapons may just be a ploy to give US and/or Israel to start another war. However, even if the allegation is true, the hypocrisy cannot be concealed.

The hypocrisy that Israel has a right to be armed (by the US) to protect itself, then uses those weapons to kill innocents, yet when Hezbollah is armed to protect Lebanese, somehow that is considered “supporting terror”.

Let’s face the bare facts. Since WW2 till today, the US is the Number One Terror Nation, invading more countries than any other. It also has killed more innocents using WMDs than any other nation. Number Two on the Terror List is of course Israel. It invades, pillages, uses chemicals (like the US) and kills innocents.

Yet when the oppressed parties fight to defend their lands, they are branded as terrorists.

What hypocrisy.