CHIA THYE POH (Lifting of restrictive conditions)

Dr Lee Siew-Choh asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the Government will consider relaxing its demands on political detainee Chia Thye Poh and immediately and unconditionally release him from detention in Sentosa now that the political situation has completely changed in the Thai-Malaysian border and the West.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Prof. S. Jayakumar): Mr Speaker, Sir, let me first correct the Member: Chia Thye Poh is not a detainee. He was released to Sentosa in May 1989. At the time of release, the Government made it very clear that the lifting of the restrictive conditions and allowing him to return to the main island depends on the assessment of the ISD as to whether he still poses a security threat. It was also pointed out that the Government had consistently required detainees associated with the CPM to renounce the CPM or disavow the use of force before releasing them. Chia has refused to do so. However, the ISD was satisfied that the CPM to which Chia was linked had been sufficiently weakened and disrupted such that Chia's release to Sentosa would not pose a security problem. At the time of making this assessment, the ISD had taken into consideration the likelihood of the CPM concluding an agreement with the Malaysian and Thai Governments.

Sir, the CPM has only agreed to disarm but not disband itself. Thus the party organisation remains intac, and so also its ability to conduct subversive undergrouund and United Front acitivities in which Chia Thye Poh was involved. We must also not forget that the CPM had given up its arms once before when ther Japanese Occupation ended in 1945. However, it was able to resume armed insurgency and subversive activities shortly thereafter. It also remains to be seen if all the CPM members emerge from the jungles as envisaged under the agreement on termination of hostilities.

Therefore, as long as the CPM continues to exist, even without its armed units, the Government must be vigilant. Therefore, there is no question of lifting of the restrictive conditions on Chia merely because of the developments on the Thai-Malaysian border or elsewhere. These conditions on Chia will be lifted when the Government, on ISD's advice, is satisfied that Chia poses no security risk. Until then, Chia will remain on Sentosa.

Dr Lee Siew-Choh (Non-Constituency Member): Whatever the label they may put on detainee Chia Thye Poh, what is the security threat that he is now posing in Singapore?

Prof. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, that question has been answered by me in this House on several occasions. He has refused consistently to renounce the CPM or the use of force. Nevertheless, we have released him to Sentosa. The strict restrictive conditions are necessary, as we said in the Government press statement, to make sure that he does not get involve again with the CPM or be involved in communist United Front activities. And until we are satisified that he poses no risk, that will be the position.

Dr Lee Siew-Choh: If Mr Chia Thye Poh has been detained because he has refused to renounce the use of force, since when has Chia Thye Poh really used force in any way? Has Government been able to prove that he has used force or advocated the use of force? Therefore, to put a label on him and use that as an excuse to detain him is not fair at all.

Prof. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not an excuse. In this House, I have given a list of instances where Chia Thye Poh advocated the use of force. It is all documented in Hansard and I do not think, Mr Speaker, Sir, you want me to repeat what can be found in the Hansard.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Does the Singapore Government accept the fact that the CPM has given up the use of force pursuant to its agreement at the Malaysia-Thai border?

Prof. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, I hope the Member will read the communique that has been published with care. The CPM has not disbanded itself, nor agreed to cease to be a party organisation. All that it has done is to announce the cessation of hostilities. I have asked the Member to read carefully what has been published. It has not agreed to give up its struggle by any other means.

Dr Lee Siew-Choh: The Minister keeps on talking about the list and instances he enumerated in Parliament House. But if Chia had really advocated the use of force, why should he not be put on trial in a court and be proven guilty?

Prof. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, we have been through all this in the several debates we had on the ISA or on Marxist detainees as to why ISA cases cannot be put for judicial review in a court of law. If the Member, notwithstanding the several debates we have had in the House, wishes to have another debate, we can always do so. He can file a motion and the Government will again reiterate and explain why for security cases the Executive decision cannot be justiciable in a court of law.

Dr Lee Siew-Choh: Does it mean that Mr Chia Thye Poh, Teo Soh Lung and Vincent Cheng have to go on TV and renounce whatever they believe in or not believe in before they get a release?

Prof. Jayakumar: I do not think the Member expects me to answer that question, because we have never laid as a pre-condition that they must appear on TV. The release is based on the security assessment and that is the basis for release, continued detention or lifting of restrictive conditions.