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Marxist Conspiracy

In May 1987, the Ministry of Home Affairs arrested 16 people under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for their involvement in a "Marxist conspiracy". They were detained without trial for between one month and three years. Tan Wah Piow, a former University of Singapore Students' Union president residing in England was named the mastermind behind the plot.

Description
The 16 people who were arrested were Vincent Cheng Kim Chuan, Teo Soh Lung, Kevin de Souza, Wong Souk Yee, Tang Lay Lee, Ng Bee Leng, Jenny Chin Lai Ching, Kenneth Tsang Chi Seng, Chung Lai Mei, Mah Lee Lin, Low Yit Leng, Tan Tee Seng, Teresa Lim Li Kok, Chia Boon Tai, Tay Hong Seng and William Yap Hon Ngian.

The mostly English-educated group was a mix of church workers, social workers, graduates and professionals who were arrested and accused of being part of a "Marxist conspiracy" to topple the government. Their intention was to "subvert Singapore's political and social order using communist united front tactics".

The government named Tan Wah Piow, a former University of Singapore Students' Union president based in Britain as the mastermind behind the plot. Tan had fled Singapore in 1976 after evading national service.

Cheng, a full-time church volunteer was Tan's key assistant. They shared a common goal of establishing a classless society. Cheng, who once studied to be a Catholic priest concentrated on two main areas - church groups and students via the student union, especially those of Singapore Polytechnic. The strategy was to use the church in their political struggle. During small Bible study sessions, Cheng and his members spread anti-establishment ideas.  

The government listed church organisations that it believed were used to further the Marxist cause. This included the Justice and Peace Commission, of which Cheng was the executive secretary, the Student Christian Movement of Singapore, the Young Christian Workers Movement and the Catholic Welfare Centre, which assisted foreign workers and maids working in Singapore.

It was also said that the detainees had links with Filipino leftists and advocates of ''liberation theology'' as well as Sri Lankan separatists.  Liberation theology is a movement in Roman Catholic religious teaching that argues that the Church should work actively to combat social, political, and economic oppression.

Over the next few weeks, six more people were arrested which brought the total to 22 people under arrest.

Following the arrest, Catholic priests Fathers Edgar D'Souza and Patrick Goh issued statements questioning the detentions. Church services were held for the detainees and their families and this led to the build-up of tension between the church and the government.

A meeting was arranged between Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and the head of the Catholic Church in Singapore, Archbishop Gregory Yong and several other Catholic Church representatives. Lee's prime concern was that there should not be any conflict between the Church and the State because of the arrests.

The group was shown documents relating to Cheng, which included letters, and meeting notes in Cheng's handwriting. Archbishop Yong said that he accepted the ISD's evidence against Cheng and was convinced that the government had nothing against the Catholic Church when they arrested him. Lee stressed that the government upheld freedom of religion but will not tolerate the use of religion for subversive activities.

In a move to avoid conflict, Fathers Joseph Ho, Patrick Goh, Edgar D'Souza and Guillaume Arotcarena resigned from all positions in church organisations. Archbishop Yong later suspended them from their preaching duties and warned the clergy not to mix politics and religion. He also announced that the Catholic Centre for Foreign Workers would be shut down.

A few weeks after his arrest, Cheng was interviewed by local journalists in a televised programme. He spoke of how he had became interested in the idea of a classless society and class struggle after reading Maoist literature that Tan had given him.

He also revealed that he used the Catholic Church and various church bodies and publications because they provided a ready cover to further the cause. Cheng said that Tan wanted him to build a broad base of grassroots organisations that can be used to build political action against the government through means such as demonstrations, strikes and riots. The strategy was aimed at "confronting the Government, creating turmoil in the country, agitating the masses, so that in creating instability, the government of the day can be overthrown". Cheng was regretful of using the church institutions and manipulating the young people who trusted him.

Tan's role in the Marxist plot was evident in the letters that he wrote to Chia. The letters were not sent to Chia directly but were instead addressed to Chia's brother in Johor Baru. In the letters, Tan suggested using the church's support and goodwill for their cause.

Cheng was served with a two-year detention order. Eleven others, including Teo were served with one-year detention orders. Six more persons were arrested while some of the detainees were released.

In a two-part television documentary titled Tracing The Conspiracy, the detainees spoke of the roles they played in an intricate network. Tang and Teo revealed how they targeted the Law Society as a pressure group to oppose the government. Wong spoke of how drama group, Third Stage, used plays as a tool to portray Singapore's social and political system in an unfavourable light. Tan also insisted that they infiltrate the Workers' Party and on his insistence the group helped to print and distribute Workers' Party pamphlets during the 1984 General Elections. After the elections, Tsang and Tan Tee Seng slowly moved into positions of influence within the party. They later took control of the party's publication, The Hammer, which they used as a channel to propagate anti-government sentiments and influence public opinion against the government.

By December 1987, all the detainees had been released except for Cheng.

However, in April 1988, nine of the released detainees issued a joint statement accusing the government of ill treatment and torture while under detention. They also denied involvement in any conspiracy and alleged that they were pressured to make the confessions. Eight of the nine were re-arrested and detained for a second time. The ninth member, Tang escaped re-arrest as she was in the United Kingdom.

The government took these charges seriously and announced that a Commission of Inquiry would be set up. The detainees later made statutory declarations retracting their previous allegations. The Commission of Inquiry was called off.  It was subsequently revealed that the statement was a political ploy to discredit the government and damage its integrity.

Four of the detainees - Teo, Tsang, Wong and De Souza were issued with one-year detention orders. They filed for writ of habeas corpus proceedings. A habeas corpus is a legal action or writ, through which a person can seek release from the unlawful detention of himself, or of another person.

Queens Counsel Anthony Lester pleaded Teos case but the application was dismissed by the High Court. She later filed an appeal.

The Court of Appeal ordered the four detainees to be released but they were immediately re-arrested under new detention orders. The detainees filed fresh applications for writ of habeas corpus. However, three of the detainees later withdrew their applications and they were released. Teo's application was dismissed by the High Court and she filed an appeal again.

Soon after the Court of Appeals decision, amendments were made to the Internal Security Act to tighten the law.

The detention orders for Teo and Cheng were extended for one year. Cheng filed a writ of habeas corpus and his case came before Justice Lai Kew Chai but was dismissed with costs. Teo's appeal against the High Court decision is heard in the Court of Appeal. She was released in early June 1990.

After being under detention for three years, Cheng was conditionally released in mid-June 1990. He had to abide by six restrictive conditions, one of which was not to engage or get involved in any activity that advocates a political cause.
Impact on laws
In January 1989, the Internal Security Act was amended to remove the power of the judiciary in cases related to internal security. Appeals to the Privy Council were also abolished because the government inferred that only the local courts should be involved in matters that involved Singapore's national security.

The Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA) became law in 1990. The law gave the Minister for Home Affairs the power to issue restraining orders against any religious leader whose sermons, speeches or actions threaten Singapores religious harmony.

Sub-plots
The three-year Marxist episode developed several counter-plots.  Lee sued and won a libel suit against the Far Eastern Economic Review for an article that the magazine published regarding the meeting between him and Archbishop Yong.

The circulation of Hong Kong-based magazine, Asiaweek was also restricted because it refused to publish two letters from the government concerning the magazine's cover story on the detentions.

Queens Counsel Lester who represented Teo was banned from working in Singapore because the government said that he had become personally embroiled in the case and had started meddling in domestic politics.

Timeline
May 1987 : Sixteen persons are arrested under the ISA. Government says detainees are involved in a Marxist conspiracy.
Jun 1987 : Lee meets Archbishop Yong and Catholic leaders. Four of the original 16 detainees are released. Six more people are arrested.
Sep 1987 : Teo and six others are freed.
Dec 1987 : All detainees freed except for Cheng.
Apr 1988 : Nine detainees issue statement denying involvement in Marxist plot and alleging ill-treatment while under detention. Eight are re-arrested. Teo files writ of habeas corpus.
Jun 1988 : Four more detainees freed. Teo, Tsang, Wong and Kevin de Souza are issued with one-year detention orders. They begin habeas corpus proceedings.
Aug 1988 : Teo's habeas corpus dismissed. She files appeal to Court of Appeal.
Sep 1988 : Appeal is heard.
Dec 1988 : Court of Appeal orders four detainees released but are re-arrested immediately.
Feb 1989 : Two more detainees freed.
Mar 1989 : New writ of habeas corpus hearing on Teo's re-detention. Three other detainees withdraw their writs and are released.
Apr 1989 : Teo's habeas corpus application is dismissed. She appeals.
Jun 1989 : Detention orders for Teo and Cheng extended for one year. Cheng files writ of habeas corpus.
Feb 1990 : Cheng's application is dismissed.
Apr 1990 : Teo's appeal is dismissed.
Jun 1990 : Teo and Cheng are released. 

 

Author
Jagjit Kaur



References
16 held in security swoop. (1987, May 22.) The Straits Times, p.1.

Archbishop accepts evidence. (1987, June 3.) The Straits Times, p.1.

Archbishop intent on pulling Church into line. (1987, July 7.) The Sunday Times, p.1.

Archbishop suspends the 4 priests.(1987, June 6.)  The Straits Times, p.1.

Cheng; What I did for Wah Piow. (1987, June 10.) The Straits Times, p.1.

Events leading to the libel suit. (1989, December 1.) The Straits Times, p.30.

From student agitation to communist conspiracy. (1987, May 28.) The Straits Times, p.10.

Govt explains re-arrest of eight. (1988, April 21.) The Straits Times, p.1.

Fong, H. F., (2009). That we may dream again. Singapore: Ethos Books. (Call no.: English 365.4509225957 THA)

Fong, L. (1988, May 28.) ISA is crucial to Singapore PM. The Straits Times, p.1.

Govt to amend ISA next month. (1988, December 20.) The Straits Times, p.1.

Han, F. K., (1989, September 13.) Recent amendments to Constitution invalid : QC. The Straits Times, Home, p 17.

Henson, B. (1989, September 19.) How the Internal Security Act works. The Straits Times, Young Times, p S22.

Henson, B. (1990, June 20.) Vincent Cheng released conditionally. The Straits Times, p.1.
 
How I used the Church. (1987, May 29.) The Straits Times, p.1.

John, A. (1987, June 21.) Govt detains six more. The Straits Times, p.1.

John, A., Leong, W. K. (1987, July 7.) Archbishop intent on pulling Church into line. The Straits Times, p. 1.

Koh. (2006). Singapore: the encyclopedia. (p. 339). Singapore: Editions Didier Millet. (Call no.: RSING 959.57003 SIN)

Lim, L., Li, X.Y., (2007, July 7.) The legacy of 1987: Keeping church, state apart. The Straits Times, Insight, p S8, S9.

Marxist plot uncovered. (1987, May 27.) The Straits Times, p.1.

Singapore Broadcasting Corporation. (1987). Tracing the conspiracy [videorecording]. Singapore. (Call no.: RSING 322.42095957 TRA)

Trocki, C. A., & Barr, M. D., (2008) Paths not taken : political pluralism in post-war Singapore. In Michael D. Barr (Ed). Singapore's Catholic social activists: Alleged Marxist conspirators (pp.228-243). Singapore, NUS Press. (Call no.: SING 959.5705 PAT)

Vincent Cheng pledges not to use religion as a cover for politics. (1990, June 20).  The Straits Times, p. 30.

Wah Piow introduced me to Maos works Cheng (1987. June 10.) The Straits Times, p. 1.

Wah Piow letters tell of plans (1987. May 28.) The Straits Times, p. 1.



The information in this article is valid as at 2009 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

 

Subject
Politics and Government>>National Security>>Civil Unrests
Subversive activities--Singapore
History>>Asia>>Southeast Asia>>Singapore
People and communities>>Social conflict>>Civil disobedience



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