Feb 2nd was the 59th anniversary of Operation Coldstore. This alleged security exercise took place at the dawn of Feb 2, 1963. More than 133 leaders of opposition parties, trade unions and civil society were arrested under the Preservation of Public Security Ordinance, the forerunner of the Internal Security Act.
Many were detained without trial for decades – Dr Lim Hock Siew (20 years), Ho Piao (18 years), Said Zahari (17 years), Lim Chin Siong (6 years and exiled to England), Dr Poh Soo Kai (17 years) and many more.
Operation Coldstore shows the extent to which the PAP government is prepared to sacrifice Singaporeans in order to retain power.
Those arrested who were not born in Singapore were deported to their home countries and imprisoned there. Among them were K Koya, James Joseph Puthucheary, Dominic Puthucheary and Salahuddin Ghouse.
Operation Coldstore wiped out the top echelons of opposition leaders. Many more were arrested in subsequent months, solely to prevent them from contesting the general election that was to be held that year. But despite the clampdowns, Barisan Sosialis managed to win 13 seats in the Sept 21, 1963, general election.
On Oct 8, 1963, Operation Pecah was mounted. Those arrested included three elected members, namely S T Bani, Lee Tee Tong and Loh Miaw Gong. Two others – Wong Soon Fong and Chan Sun Wing, went into self-exile.
And two candidates who narrowly lost the election, namely Tan Jing Quee who lost to Minister S Rajaratnam in Kampong Glam by 220 votes and Wee Toon Lip who lost to Madam Chan Choy Siong by 63 votes in Delta, were also arrested and detained.
Operation Coldstore and indefinite detention without trial are the reasons why Singapore does not have an effective opposition in parliament since 1963. The Internal Security Act and all laws that permit detention without trial have no place in Singapore if our government truly believe and respect the rule of law.
If you wish to know more about Operation Coldstore, read The 1963 Operation Coldstore in Singapore, Commemorating 50 Years, edited by Poh Soo Kai, Tan Kok Fang and Hong Lysa. It is available at the National Library.
Teo Soh Lung
This article first appeared here.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of The Independent Singapore
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