However despite the fact that most think that democracy is a dream and human rights is an ideal, I think it is just fair and just to give one a fair trial before convicting them of anything at all. In fact, that is also common sense. You just don’t throw someone in detention for 32 years (Chia Thye Poh), 17 years (Said Zahari) or 3 years (Vincent Cheng) because they refuse to admit to false charges. They were also tortured throughout the years of their detention. There were female detainees who were awefully tortured. Can they claim trial? Can they bring their oppressors to Court? Well those who were detained in 1987 came out to claim that they were tortured and forced to admit to false charges but they were thrown into detention again, and tortured.

How can we let this come to pass by giving the authorities the excuses that human rights is an ideal?