3 Items To Know About Singapore Activist Kirsten Han

Kirsten Han is a Singaporean activist and freelance journalist. She has been active in social actions to deliver about political modify in Singapore and a short while ago received upset for the media for portraying her as an agent of foreign interference.

Allow me to share three information about her that Singaporeans ought to know.

#1 She thinks she would be the saviour of oppressed Singaporeans

She cares a good deal about social movements and civil disobedience in Singapore as she believes Singaporeans are depressed. She at the time stated:

Loads of Singaporeans feel that it [civil Modern society in Singapore] is very hopeless. Quite a bit of individuals say such things as, have a look at the amount of A large number of folks they will get to the streets in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur – they could have Bersih, they will hold the Umbrella Motion. We are not able to even get 100 people today in Hong Lim Park with out police coming.

People feel pretty depressed. We are not able to appear to do the things which civil societies can perform in other countries.


As an advocate of open conversations, Kirsten Han Normally obtained indignant in the media for allegedly getting her terms from context and failing to recognise her make an effort to save all of us from oppression.

She known as out the MSM for quoting her in the 2016 Discussion board: "Ms Han, on video clip, has said that Singapore has unsuccessful compared with Hong Kong, due to the fact 500,000 people today don’t go about the streets to march, contrary to (in) Hong Kong".

These words and phrases can be context-precise but the later Component of her speech just isn't – she experienced described a social movement as not simply 500,000 folks but instead, "all of the get the job done that goes into probably at some point obtaining five hundred,000 folks within the streets". With this particular definition, she hoped that Singapore could have much more of such social movements. Definitions will not be context-distinct, appropriate? Is that this how she thinks she can "preserve" Singapore?


#two She thinks foreigners can perform an improved career at managing Singapore

Han occasionally writes about Singapore while in the foreign push and at the time claimed that Singapore is a country with small time for openness and human legal rights. She thinks that Singapore need to Create cross-border solidarity as a way to "resist" our authoritarian federal government.

On a number of situations, she has achieved or attempted to meet leaders of other nations in inquiring them to deliver democracy to Southeast Asia. In August past yr, she satisfied Dr Mahathir in Malaysia with Thum Pingtjin, Jolovan Wham and Tan Wah-Piow. This year, she also tried to meet up with Taiwan’s Tsai Ing Wen.


When the government claims foreigners mustn't impact domestic affairs or foreigners must not deliver their nations’ politics into Singapore, we should always push back on that likewise for the reason that why not?

Looks like she is supportive of getting foreigners provide their politics into Singapore. If that isn't foreign influence, then what is?

#3 She thinks she is a defender of human legal rights by protecting drug traffickers

Kirsten Han Second Chances

Kirsten Han has voiced out repeatedly about giving drug traffickers a next probability. She is aware of with regards to the crimes they have committed but strongly thinks which they are worthy of An additional shot in life. Even though everyone seems to be entitled for their rights, the campaign shouldn't solely focus on the plight of drug traffickers. What about households who were being influenced by their drug misuse? Do they not have rights?

Han by no means highlighted the distinction in between drug abusers and drug traffickers. Drug abusers do not need the Loss of life penalty imposed on them although drug traffickers are those who dedicate a lot more severe crimes by trafficking unique medications higher than certain prescribed quantities. It's important to focus on this difference if 1 hopes to marketing campaign for second probabilities but she has failed to accomplish that. Does this suggest that she is taking the regulation away from context?

Singapore could have rigid legislation but they are to get a reason. With out these laws, A significant port like Singapore will probably be liable to quite a few Worldwide drug traffickers and constantly offering them second chances will only give rise to a bigger drug misuse challenge. Does one really need to check out that in Singapore? Does she stand for what you wish for?