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Like many posts here, I have had a range of emotions ranging from wanting to plaster his race with stereotypical racists taunts to wanting to forgive a 13 yr old who perhaps, did not know any better.
I've kept myself in check with those racist taunts; I've had the privilege of having a stern but kind mentor of Indian origin in my life and will not honour the memory of this great man if I did so.
But when I ask myself, can I forgive a 13 year old who seemingly and so openly wanting to "take great revenge" on Singapore by threatening to commit an act of mass murder, I think further: Is the thoughts of this youngster truly that of his own or perhaps influenced by the environment or the people in which such very threats may be fomenting behind close doors, within the very heart of Singapore.
Perhaps such ideas of violence may have been discussed in the elitist school that he is attending (Global India International School), or maybe from the drunken mouths of the adults in his life. Even worse, these adults, supposedly people who have an influence in his life, may very well have said this in all sobriety and perhaps in a midst of rage or angry conviction.
I may therefore forgive the boy, and pass off his words as that which are "from the mouth of babes", but what we need then is a thorough investigation into the boy's background, who, why and what is responsible in making this boy sprout such words of anger and violence and hold those very people accountable.
And lastly, lest forummers here take this too lightly, might I remind of how such an act of terrorism had once struck so very close to our hearts:
I've kept myself in check with those racist taunts; I've had the privilege of having a stern but kind mentor of Indian origin in my life and will not honour the memory of this great man if I did so.
But when I ask myself, can I forgive a 13 year old who seemingly and so openly wanting to "take great revenge" on Singapore by threatening to commit an act of mass murder, I think further: Is the thoughts of this youngster truly that of his own or perhaps influenced by the environment or the people in which such very threats may be fomenting behind close doors, within the very heart of Singapore.
Perhaps such ideas of violence may have been discussed in the elitist school that he is attending (Global India International School), or maybe from the drunken mouths of the adults in his life. Even worse, these adults, supposedly people who have an influence in his life, may very well have said this in all sobriety and perhaps in a midst of rage or angry conviction.
I may therefore forgive the boy, and pass off his words as that which are "from the mouth of babes", but what we need then is a thorough investigation into the boy's background, who, why and what is responsible in making this boy sprout such words of anger and violence and hold those very people accountable.
And lastly, lest forummers here take this too lightly, might I remind of how such an act of terrorism had once struck so very close to our hearts:
Singaporean held hostage at Mumbai's Oberoi Hotel killed
SINGAPORE : Singapore's Foreign Ministry has said 28-year-old Lo Hwei Yen, a Singaporean held hostage in one of the Mumbai hotels, has been killed.
At a news conference late Friday night, officials confirmed her body was found on the 19th floor of the Oberoi Hotel.
She is believed to be the the first Singaporean victim of a terror attack.
Jai Sohan Singh, director, Consular Directorate, Singapore Foreign Affairs Ministry, said: "We were told at about 8 o'clock this evening that there was a possibility that a body has been found matching the description of Ms Lo. A final confirmation was made by the husband only at 2135 hours this evening."
Details of what actually happened remain sketchy.
However, Mr Singh did give an outline of how the situation played out.
He said that the terrorists conveyed a message through Ms Lo to Singapore's mission in India for the Indian parliament.
He elaborated: "As you would have read in the Indian media, the terrorists demanded that the Indian authorities refrain from storming the Oberoi Hotel, otherwise they would harm her...We ask for your understanding that we could not confirm this earlier, as the situation at that time was fluid and fast evolving. It was not appropriate at that (time) for us to do this for operational reasons."
Ms Lo, who is a lawyer at a Singapore-based offshore law firm, was in Mumbai on a working trip.
Her husband, Michael Puhaindran, had flown up to Mumbai on Thursday, after the crisis broke. He is accompanied by an aunt.
The Foreign Ministry is helping the family make arrangements to bring the body back.
It is confirmed there are no more Singaporeans stranded in any of the hotels in the financial capital.
115 Singaporeans were known to be in Mumbai either for work or leisure during the attack on Wednesday night, which has killed some 130 people.
Meanwhile, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has expressed his sadness over the death of Ms Lo. He knows the family and had attended her wedding last year.
Upon learning the tragic news, SM Goh visited Ms Lo's father-in-law, Mr S. Puhaindran, and his family on Friday evening.
Mr Puhaindran is a veteran grassroots leader in Mr Goh's Marine Parade constituency.
"It's a tragedy for Mr Puhaindran. The son was married last year. They just celebrated their first anniversary this year. I was there at the wedding. So I too was quite shocked by the tragic event," said Mr Goh.
Acting Prime Minister Professor S Jayakumar said he and his Cabinet colleagues are also painfully saddened by the news of the death of Ms Lo.
In a statement issued late Friday night, he said the loss of any life to terrorism is sad, and the loss of a fellow Singaporean is a pain more keenly and closely felt by every Singaporean.
Professor Jayakumar said the foreign ministry officials have been on the ground with the victim’s family in Singapore and Mumbai since the first time Singapore learnt of Ms Lo being held hostage.
The officers are working with the Indian authorities to bring her back home.
Professor Jayakumar stressed that terrorism is a threat that spares no one, and this tragic event underscores the imperative for all to be constantly vigilant, and the need for the international community to band together to combat this threat.
- CNA/ir/ls/ms
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/print/392947/1/.html
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