Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Straits Times, Singapore's state-owned and controlled newspaper's on-line edition of Aug 23, 2009 has this article "Botak Jones to be Singaporean". Botak Jones which in Malay means Bald-Headed Jones, refers to an American, or rather now, former American, Mr. Bernie Utchenik, who calls himself that. I say a former American, because Mr. Utchenik has recently adopted Singapore Citizenship.
Under the Constitution of Singapore which does not recognize dual nationality (at least that is what it appears), Article 134(1) states as follows:
The Government may by order deprive a citizen of Singapore of his citizenship if the Government is satisfied that:
(a) he has while of or over the age of 18 years, at any time after 6th April 1960 acquired by registration naturalization or other voluntary or formal act (other than marriage)the citizenship of any country outside Singapore or having so acquired such citizenship before the age of 18 years continues to retain it after that age.
In the case of Mr. Utchenik, he was either born in the US (very probably) or had become American citizen before the age of 18.
This newspaper article claims he said "My wife is a Singaporean, my business is here, I should lend my support and allegiance to the country (Singapore)". Very gratifying to the Lee Kuan Yew government of Singapore that he is happy with it.
But the troubling question is, is he also American? According to the Singapore constitution, he is not, as it specifically prohibits (at least that is what I think) dual nationality since it says "the government may by order deprive a citizenship" if it comes to know that he has another nationality. Since he has openly and legally now adopted Singapore citizenship, Mr. Utchenik, under the letter of the law, would be required to renounce him American citizenship. The question is, has he?
I do not know one way or another, but I have serious doubts whether Mr. Utchenik has actually done so. What I think is this; the Singapore government has given Mr. Utchenik Singapore citizenship and allowed him to retain his American nationality. Which is, as you can see a blatant violation of the Constitution of Singapore. Which proves yet again, confirming the International Bar Association's Condemnation of Singapore's lack of rule of law, that Singapore is nothing more than a Banana Republic with legal interpretation that can change to suit the occasion.
Mr. Utchenik runs a chain of low cost burger joints in Singapore's government housing estates.
To find out if Mr. Utchenik has relinquished his American citizenship, write to:
The American Embassy
27 Napier Road
Singapore 258508
Tel: (65)6476 9100
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
To contact Singapore Authorities on this matter:
Eric Tan Chong Sian
Commissioner
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
10 Kallang Road, #08-00
Singapore 208718
Tel: (65)6391 6001
Email: [email protected]
To Contact Mr. Utchenik on who's citizen he is anyway:
Botak Jones
123 Defu Lane 10
#03-03/03-04
Singapore 539232
Tel: (65)6288 2949
(for Email address, please contact them by phone during office hours. I was not able to get it from their website: http://www.botakjones.com/, today being Sunday there)
Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
Fax: 510 657 6914
Email: [email protected]
Blog: http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/
The Straits Times, Singapore's state-owned and controlled newspaper's on-line edition of Aug 23, 2009 has this article "Botak Jones to be Singaporean". Botak Jones which in Malay means Bald-Headed Jones, refers to an American, or rather now, former American, Mr. Bernie Utchenik, who calls himself that. I say a former American, because Mr. Utchenik has recently adopted Singapore Citizenship.
Under the Constitution of Singapore which does not recognize dual nationality (at least that is what it appears), Article 134(1) states as follows:
The Government may by order deprive a citizen of Singapore of his citizenship if the Government is satisfied that:
(a) he has while of or over the age of 18 years, at any time after 6th April 1960 acquired by registration naturalization or other voluntary or formal act (other than marriage)the citizenship of any country outside Singapore or having so acquired such citizenship before the age of 18 years continues to retain it after that age.
In the case of Mr. Utchenik, he was either born in the US (very probably) or had become American citizen before the age of 18.
This newspaper article claims he said "My wife is a Singaporean, my business is here, I should lend my support and allegiance to the country (Singapore)". Very gratifying to the Lee Kuan Yew government of Singapore that he is happy with it.
But the troubling question is, is he also American? According to the Singapore constitution, he is not, as it specifically prohibits (at least that is what I think) dual nationality since it says "the government may by order deprive a citizenship" if it comes to know that he has another nationality. Since he has openly and legally now adopted Singapore citizenship, Mr. Utchenik, under the letter of the law, would be required to renounce him American citizenship. The question is, has he?
I do not know one way or another, but I have serious doubts whether Mr. Utchenik has actually done so. What I think is this; the Singapore government has given Mr. Utchenik Singapore citizenship and allowed him to retain his American nationality. Which is, as you can see a blatant violation of the Constitution of Singapore. Which proves yet again, confirming the International Bar Association's Condemnation of Singapore's lack of rule of law, that Singapore is nothing more than a Banana Republic with legal interpretation that can change to suit the occasion.
Mr. Utchenik runs a chain of low cost burger joints in Singapore's government housing estates.
To find out if Mr. Utchenik has relinquished his American citizenship, write to:
The American Embassy
27 Napier Road
Singapore 258508
Tel: (65)6476 9100
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
To contact Singapore Authorities on this matter:
Eric Tan Chong Sian
Commissioner
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
10 Kallang Road, #08-00
Singapore 208718
Tel: (65)6391 6001
Email: [email protected]
To Contact Mr. Utchenik on who's citizen he is anyway:
Botak Jones
123 Defu Lane 10
#03-03/03-04
Singapore 539232
Tel: (65)6288 2949
(for Email address, please contact them by phone during office hours. I was not able to get it from their website: http://www.botakjones.com/, today being Sunday there)
Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
Fax: 510 657 6914
Email: [email protected]
Blog: http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/
