Citizens who fail to perform the 'ORAL' loose citizenship.

[bic_cherry]

No dirty thoughts pls guys, 'ORAL' refers to "Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty".
The following prose is written out of sympathy and concern after reading 'I served NS, but now I'm Stateless': [TNP: 8Nov2010], which I will append in the post following. It is also an update of 'ICA a mindless bot, forever tied to the Minister's apron strings?' over at the CoffeeShopTalk forum.
Despite the lax nature of discussions here, I do hope that readers would review this entire case carefully and compassionately before commenting as it does include several references and involves a case pending 2nd appeal.
- I have no personal nor pecuniary involvement in this case.
--------------------------------------------------------------
PAP and the concept of lesser mortals.
I think that the reason for such occurrences happening is that the 'indispensable elite' must have decreed that all Singaporeans below the rank of 'Cabinet Minister' need COMPULSORY OBEDIENCE TRAINING.
They must be taught a stiff lessons for any non-compliance with government directives any less then to the T; no mercy will be granted, local MP appeals not withstanding.
They must never betray the govt line that '... countries worldwide respect and admire Singapore's proven system', where all opposition (by commission or omission) to state agenda would be severely 'fixed'; (for the politically obedient, they will continue to be rewarded financially for their voluntary 'cooperation') .
As Mr Brown rightly sings in 'Forever Young': ".. Don't be a nation of complaining old farts. Do what you're told, don't kaopeh kaobu. Aim to be obedient.. "


Does Singapore treasure its citizens?
Ask our 'dear leader', and the answer would certainly be in the affirmative.


Seriously:
Guess the question remains, could ICA have handled this case better. If ICA was the least bit concerned about Mr Ogawa's citizenship status, it would have made greater efforts at contacting him as well as liaise with the SAF about Mr Ogawa's service status and liabilities; in addition ICA being Singapore's principle immigration authority, ought to have close ties with the embassies of all countries located here, not least the Embassy of Japan, with which it could have clarified with regarding the true status of Mr Ogawa's citizenship had he not performed his 'ORAL'. It remains unfortunate that the ICA, being the operator of checkpoints around Singapore, was unable to contact Mr Ogawa for over 1 year despite the significance of the issue at hand; besides dismaying the poor lad with refused passport request also summarily dismissed his local MP's appeal, the standard reply being: "(sorry, there is) no provision law".
- Mr Ogawa, having received his reservist NS posting letter in Aug2010 was after all an active NSman doing his part to defend this small nation.
- Why weren't Mr Ogawa's 15yrs of residence in Singapore, his completed 2yrs of full time national service, his efforts at renouncing his Japanese citizenship, his mother's Singapore citizenship, his currently active NS-man commitments, the bouncing of ICA's 2nd reminder, (ditto the first as Mr Ogawa alleges), the alleged wrongful advice given to Mr Ogawa's and the mere 2 month delay in application taken into consideration in Mr Ogawa's appeal to reinstate his Singaporean citizenship?
- Why did ICA dismiss MP Mr Lee Boon Yang's, Mr Ogawa's local MP's appeal on behalf of his constituent with the standard reply: "(there is) no provision law"?
- Why then did Mr Ogawa get so desperate that he had to seek the help of a Ministerial level MP (the one who originally awarded him his citizenship)- Mr Heng Chee How for the purpose of a second appeal to the ICA [through SM Goh CT(see red box)], with the revelation of his predicament hitting front page tabloid news?
- Perhaps our 'puppet master' leaders might want to explain why a simple reminder phone call to Citizen Mr Ogawa from ICA would be too much to expect, in lieu of bounced reminder letters, given the rights, roles and responsibilities that a Singapore citizenship entails; notin that "(there is) no provision law"?.
- Was Mr Ogawa's omission such a heinous crime that for lack of the Senior Minister GohCT's direction, a stateless but loyal Mr Ogawa would most probably have to report annually to the ICA for a 'special pass' to be renewed; continue NS and defending Singapore whilst his citizenship remains hanging in the the balance at the mercy of the ICA administrative rigmarole that : "(there is) no provision law"?

Why the impenetrable red tape- a citizen's despair that that only the directions of 'Senior Minister' (ranked 2nd highest in rank by cabinet remuneration) can cut?

Does the Singapore leadership really have the interest of the average citizen at heart, then where lies compassion?

Perhaps Singaporeans need to be more convinced that the Singapore citizenship besides being rigidly defined by roles and responsibilities, does indeed also have some matching rights to boot.

Love all, live and let live; and do have a nice day.
Rgds
B.C.

References:
- 'Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore': [link]: "Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty" ['ORAL']
- 'I served NS, but now I'm Stateless': [TNP: 8Nov2010]
- 'Singaporean or Not Singaporean? That is the Question..' By Ogawa Ryuju (23Oct2010): "Though with his good graces, Mr. Lee (Boon Yang) help me send a request to reinstate my citizenship, it was rejected due to a no provision law, not wanting to give up, i went to seek the help of another MP, 1 that had shooked my hands as i received my NRIC Mr. Heng, and as my status as a Singaporean lingers as the unknown, i hope that i can settle this issue as soon as possible". [livejournal.com]
- 'Identity' (24Oct2010): "After reading Ryuju’s story, I can’t help feeling sorry for him. I hope everything turns out well eventually. You have my prayers. At the same time this is also something we can all look into and reflect on." ['Gordonator.com']; reader comment by Ogawa Ryuju 25 October 2010 at 10:14 pm: "Thank you very much for your support, Everyone of you. (I don’t know what else i can say but thank you, I am really grateful.) I just came back from Meet The People session at Whampoa Drive to see Mr Heng Chee How. He said he would write a letter to Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong regarding this matter and that he read my blog about my life. (Which made me smile)"
- 'Ogawa Ryuju' (29Oct2010): "One of my man in the army, an interesting and entertaining lad who has an interesting story behind his upcoming. Dont give up Ogawa": [kelzinho.livejournal.com]
- 'PM Lee says countries worldwide respect and admire Singapore's proven system' (CNA:03May2006): "...I'm going to spend all my time thinking what's the right way to fix them, to buy my supporters votes, how can I solve this week's problem and forget about next year's challenges?"..." [YouTube/@1m10s]
- 'Forever Young (With Lyric and Sing along) - MrBrown Show Production' (13Apr2010): ".. Don't be a nation of complaining old farts. Do what you're told, don't kaopeh kaobu. Aim to be obedient.. " [YouTube@t=20s]
- 'Singapore ministers set for million-dollar pay hike' (5Apr2007): "'It is critical for us to keep these salaries competitive, so as to be able to bring in a continuing flow of able and successful people,' Lee said in a speech in March". [Reuters.com]

 

[bic_cherry]

I served NS, but now I'm Stateless

... 'I served NS, but now I'm Stateless'[/i]: [TNP: 8Nov2010], which I will append in the post following. ...

I served NS, but now I'm Stateless

By Gan Liang Kai
Mon, Nov 08, 2010
AsiaOne

HAVING served his National Service (NS) and lived here most of his life, he thought he was a true-blue Singaporean.

Mr Ogawa Ryuju, 22, who has been a permanent resident since he was a minor, had received his pink IC while he was in the army, in 2008, and was issued a Singapore passport.


He had also renounced his Japanese citizenship in July this year.

But he was in for a rude shock.

Two months after he received his National Service (reservist) posting as a rifleman in August, Mr Ogawa went to renew his passport at the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) office because he wanted to go to Hong Kong for a holiday.

Mr Ogawa, who was born in Japan to a Singaporean mother and Japanese father, was told by an ICA officer that he was no longer a Singaporean.

The reason: Despite having a pink IC, he had to complete the Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty before he turned 22.

The formal procedure is usually held at the ICA headquarters and the person has to produce documents showing he has renounced his previous citizenship, sign a form to pledge his allegiance to Singapore and recite the national pledge before the commissioner of oaths.

Mr Ogawa claims he did not know he had to do this before he turned 22.

"I was shocked when they told me that I am no longer a Singapore citizen," he said. "How can that be? I have even been notified of my reservist unit.How can I not be a Singaporean?"

He added: "My mum has taken care of me all by herself for more than 20 years. Her family is here, and this is our home. I want to remain here to repay her kindness.

Mr Ogawa Ryuju and his mother hope for another chance.

"It's so strange. I was (featured) in a newspaper for serving in the army. But now I have also given up my Japanese citizenship. Where can I go?"


Enlisted

He had enlisted for National Service in 2007, and was featured in a Lianhe Zaobao article on March 7 because he was special - "a Japanese soldier within the Singapore army".

Mr Ogawa was given Singapore citizenship when he was19, in June 2008,and he completed his full-time NS in June last year.

Together with a pink IC, he was given a letter that explained to him that he has to renounce his Japanese citizenship at the age of 21 should he want to confirm his status as a Singapore citizen.

A one-year grace period to do that would be given to him until he turned 22.

Dual citizenship is not allowed here.

Mr Ogawa admitted he didn't read the letter which came with his pink IC properly, especially the part about when to take the Oath.

"I didn't realise how serious the consequences would be to miss the deadline. But it is not as if I had done nothing about the matter," said Mr Ogawa.

Mr Ogawa, who turned 22 on Aug 31, said his woes resulted from a "confusion".

He said he had renounced his Japanese citizenship at the Embassy of Japan on July 15. The embassy gave him a letter stating that the renunciation is being processed.

Mr Ogawa thought he would be able to take the Oath only after the renunciation had been completed.

So he did not proceed to take the Oath.

Mr Ogawa said an ICA officer had told him he could have taken the Oath with the "renunciation in process" letter from the Japanese embassy.

But Mr Ogawa claimed he was told this only after he had lost his Singapore citizenship.

He also said the officer told him that two reminder letters were sent by ICA to his home, reminding him to take the Oath. The first was sent on Aug 31 last year when he turned 21, and the second was sent via registered mail six months later.

But Mr Ogawa claimed he did not receive these.

Mr Ogawa runs a balloon sculpting business with his mother,who is a Singapore-born citizen.

He told The New Paper on Thursday: "My friends and family are here."

Now that he has renounced his Japanese citizenship, Mr Ogawa is technically stateless.

"I served in the army, but now, I have no country to call my own," he said.

His 54-year-old mum, Ms Chan Mee Lee, who is divorced from his father, said: "Japan is not a third world country. But he gave up his Japanese citizenship because he wants to grow his roots here.

"Why can't (ICA) just give him another date to say the Oath?"

Upset by what has happened, Mr Ogawa wrote about his problems on Facebook in early October.

He also described his difficult childhood.

"At the age of 10, with a third-grade Japanese education, and no understanding of written English, I (returned to Singapore) and was enrolled in a school here in Primary 2, and as you might have guessed it, school life wasn't all peaches.

"Not only was I older than everyone else in class, I was still considered an outsider due to my paternal heritage, so the taunting and bullying continues... though it was tough,my mom and I had a blast, just the two of us."

In response to Mr Ogawa's posting, "Ling Hong Yao" commented: "We will make it public and do a petition if it boils down to this! We are behind you, Ogawa!"

"Darwin Sim" wrote: "Waaa! How come liddat? Not Singaporean then serve NS for what? Part-time job meh?"(sic)

Mr Ogawa's balloon sculpture business gets 20 jobs a month, organising parties and company functions, and he and Ms Chan hire several part-timers to help them.

She said: "We contribute to the economy here in our own little way,why can't my son live here?"

Mr Ogawa had hoped to find a wife and start his own family here someday, but he said: "I just feel lost now."

He said he had also spoken to Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC, Mr Heng Chee How, who wrote a letter to the director of ICA on Oct 18, seeking assistance on the matter.

Mr Ogawa is awaiting the outcome of his appeal.


2 letters sent on taking Oath

THE Immigration and Checkpoints Authority told The New Paper it does not comment on any specific case.

But a spokesman did describe what typically takes place when a minor (with a parent who is a Singaporean) is granted Singapore citizenship by registration.

In such scenarios, the minor and his parents are informed of the need for the minor to take the Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty (ORAL) between the age of 21 and 22.

This information is printed on the Singapore citizenship certificate that is issued to the new minor Singapore citizen.

The spokesman added: "ICA will also send two letters to the person on the need to take the ORAL."

The first reminder letter is sent to the registered address of the person when he turns 21 and the second is sent six months later if he has not acted on the first.

If he fails to take the ORAL before his 22nd birthday, he ceases to be a Singapore citizen.

Last year, The New Paper also reported on how a Mr Vadiveloo Rajamuthi, an odd-job man in his 30s, lost his Singapore citizenship in 2003.

That was also because the Malaysian-born man had failed to take the ORAL after turning 21, and his mother had forgotten to remind him about it.

As a result, for several years since 2003, Mr Vadiveloo had to live here with a Special Pass from the ICA, which was renewed annually.

We were unable to contact Mr Vadiveloo to check if his multiple appeals to get back his Singapore citizenship had been approved.

Source: http://www.asiaone.com/News/The%2BNe...08-246249.html