Lesson from Democratic Republic of Congo

The news is splashed with reviews after the watershed Election. I wonder... Many thoughts ran through my mind when I was doing this research into the UN mission in Congo. I was very disturbed on the current plight of the nation. Said to be the richest country in terms of Natural Resources, in excess of US$24 Trillion, yet they are the 2nd poorest in terms of GDP per Capita. How can this be?

Greed, Corrupted Government

After the colonial masters left Congo, they were left to fend for themselves. A country boasting the size of Western Europe is definitely no small feat to manage. After the African War in the late 90s, neighbouring countries and rebels took the opportunity to control the mineral rich eastern Congo. The government has no control, or do they? They are earning huge royalties from mineral trading. Transparency International’s 2007 Corruption Perceptions Index identifies the DRC as one of the 10 most corrupt countries in the world and The World Bank rated the DRC’s enforcement of contracts as among the weakest in the world. http://www.economywatch.com/economic-statistics/Congo/Corruption_Perceptions_Index/. The judiciary’s ineffective enforcement of commercial contracts in the DRC has likely discouraged private sector investment and hence economic growth.

After their first election in 2006, efforts were made to strengthen this area. However, just look at their uniformed personnel who are paid a mere US$20 a month, and after a few months, many of them joined the militas instead. Why? Because they were set to "earn" more from looting.

Unstable Security Environment

Rape. The number 1 crime against human rights. An average of 48 women and girls are raped every hour in Congo. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13367277. They are raped not just by the militas and rebels, but the government's Army is also amongst the offenders. You can imagine. Walking down the streets and even at home, it is not safe.

Crime. The DRC army, DRC police and other security forces have killed and tortured civilians with total impunity, summary executions and more. Militias forcefully conscript children from the villages they raid, training them to kill, rob and rape. This video shows an interview of a Congolese boy emphasising the need to kill for his own survival. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpd3ykS4QOQ. Self-survival at the expense of others is a natural call for them.

Lack of Basic Infrastructure

Lets not even talk about basic telecommunications. There are no roads linking 9 of the DRC’s 10 provincial capitals to the national capital and no roads linking the DRC’s northern and southern regions or its eastern and western regions.

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08562t.pdf. This makes lines of communications impossible. While they have the richest natural resources, how would the nation move forward in the economical sense? Investors anyone?

Loyalty to Country and Values

Rape, rob, raid, killing. Fear of violence forces hundreds of thousands to flee from their homes. This makes them one of the largest groups of Internal Displaced Personnel in the world. To me, senseless rape and robbing arising from poverty have absolute no ethical values in our context, but is this a norm to them? Militias and rebels forcefully conscripted children from the village they raid. These children are inculcated with these values from young, they are being taught to rape and kill for survival and for witch magic. So do they have a sense of attachment to the country while trying to find new homes every now and then, do they value another person's rights to live?

My Views

So what do these lessons mean to us?

Greed sets the foundation for failure in a nation, the current state in Congo is a testimonial to it. Being paid well is not just about getting the correct profile into the national front, but also to prevent a catastrophe of structural breakdown in a country with no natural resources to turn to.

Inculcating values starts from young. Congo has proven that a child's mind is pure, and inculcating the wrong values may potentially tear down a harmonious relationship we commonly share in our society made up various ethnic races.

Communication and infrastructure remains an important component in our important economic growth. Our growth continues to depend very much on our value system and the infrastructural development in our country.

Views?

Mixed Results, Change for the Better

Touted as the toughest election PAP faced since independence. Under the rule of elder Lee, PAP has consistently won the votes of the people. There is not many opposition that is willing to come forward to stand for election, for traditionally, opposition always appeared to be suppressed; facing legal suit, bankruptcy and more. This year, unprecedented numbers of opposition came forward despite the tough history has proved that Singapore has mature as a nation in Politics. More young people are more willing to be involved, they are not afraid to speak up, posting tough and direct comments on new media like Facebook and Twitter.

Nicole Seah, the emergence of a young Nonya who is mature beyond her age. While she and her team did not win, her devotion and compassionate heart was her key campaign, she has brought politics closer to many more young Singaporeans.

I had mixed feelings from this General Election 2011. Watershed as predicted by many including our Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong. Mandate drop almost across all seats contest with exception to Hong Kah North’s Dr Amy Khor, and PM outward admission that we hear you may drive the way PAP formulate their policy in the years ahead. I hope that it will turn out to be more consultative and Singaporeans first instead of corporatizing the nation toward economy growth centric. I am not saying that the PAP is lousy, it has done a wonderful job as government, come on… how many countries out there has come out of the financial crisis as well as Singapore did. But how many Singaporeans are left behind? The fact that middle and lower income wage has not been able to catch up with the growth surely have strained majority of our people. So what is so wonderful to be elated about when most of the people are struggling?

Think… and here’s the mandate.. With strong opposition on board, people are willing to forgo the comfort and explore the uncharted waters, Aljunied. PAP still has a strong mandate of close to 61% given that the rest of the opposition may need to catch up on their arguments to convince people that they are able to contribute and not disrupt. This is evident that people has their suspicions on Lain Chiam as she could not hold the debate well as shown in one of the political debate before election campaign. It was sad that Potong Pasir who has been the legendary landmark for opposition to slip and fall. What is more heart aching is the loss of 2 great man, Mr George Yeo and Mr Chiam See Tong. Results are extracted from www.ge.sg.

New Media

This year, social media, Facebook, Twitter, etc, heighten the tension during the election campaign, news travel quickly through posting and sharing of news article. The new found fame in the shortest time ever, Ms Nicole Rebecca Seah from National Solitary Party shot to fame as the public scrutinized against Tin Pei Ling. This new media has found its way into our politics campaigning and will continue to stay in our future politics. This also changed the way on how results are updated real-time. As I wait for the official announcement from the election department. I get to see real-time update from the collection centre, the recount, close fight, lead exchange hands as counting continues.

Loss of veteran opposition

We have lost our veteran opposition, Mr Chiam See Tong. An outstanding politician who had set an unprecedented longest serving opposition in Parliament since Singapore gained its independence. He was voted into Parliament in 1984 defeating PAP's Mah Bow Tan. His determination and perseverance has won many hearts in Potong Pasir that continue to elect him for 27 years. This year, he chose to come out of his comfort zone and lead a team to contest against Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Wong Kan Seng, Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC. It turns out to be a miscalculated move as his frail health (after suffering a stroke in 2008) perhaps did not give much confidence to the voters. Even given his record of accomplishment and sincerity, his team only managed to wrestle 43.06% Bishan-Toa Payoh from the ruling party. A great politician. I wish you health in your retirement.

WORKERS’ PARTY

Workers’ Party. Not only that they have a higher mandate from Hougang, they have achieved a historical breakthrough in Singapore Elections with a 54.71% win in Aljunied GRC since the introduction of GRC system in 1988. GRC was then introduced to ensure that there would be a minority representation in Parliament. Opposition had always faced challenges in putting a strong team together to contest against a stronghold of the ruling party with a Minister leading the team in a GRC. The fear of losing a Minister in a GRC has always been a tough decision for the people to choose. This year, Workers’ Party leader, Mr Low Thia Khiang, lead a team of ‘A’ team with a slogan “Towards a First World Parliament” to provide an alternative voice for the people.

Loss of a great Minister

The historical breakthrough has also sees a loss of a great Foreign Minister that had secured our economic and political future with our regional neighbour and the wider international community. It is unfortunate that Workers’ Party leader formed a ‘A"’ team and chose his GRC as a ground of contest due to the proximity of his Hougang Fortress. Mr Low’s influence may have spread over to parts of Aljunied GRC. It does not help that rising cost of living, ever rocketing housing prices and over-liberal foreign talents policy has driven frustrations on the ground, MM Lee strong words for Aljunied to “repent” during has perhaps anger the fence voters. He certainly did not deserve this; he has done a wonderful job as a MP and Foreign Minister. I wish him all the best.

Polling Day (General Election 2011)

Judgment Day

My day started early at 0500hrs as I had to ferry my Queen to the polling station. My Queen is one of the officials at the polling station. Today is the judgment day, will my ruling party stays in power with total dominance or a watershed as predicted by many including PM, Lee Hsien Loong.

Tin Pei Ling again

I decided to treat myself to the news on the internet before catching some loss sleep. Guess what, TPL hits the headlines yet again.. This time for breaching the rules of the cooling day. Apparently, as claimed, her facebook administrator has used the wrong account (Her facebook account that is) to post on her Facebook page to clarify on reports that a MacPherson resident had been refused help for her child's tuition fees (See another blogger’s comment). Somehow, she managed to grab the headline for the wrong reasons at an incredible rate since her candidacy introduction. From her “excellent” aptitude as seen in many media interaction, she has effectively made herself a liability in this team. As a team, she probably would not have any problem getting elected credits to her strong party presence that include our Senior Minister, retired BG, 1 hardworking, humble and sincere MP (Fatimah). I am not even sure if she can get her deposit refunded if she was to stand for election in a SMC. Haise, will she be able to contribute much in the development of her elected estate. Let us suspend judgment and see in the next 5 years.

My Turn to poll

Getting excited to have that right to poll after my first attempt at Aljunied GRC. I waited until about 10am to skipped the morning rush (Cannot believe it, it was like the launching of iPad 2, the queue is so long at 8am) to make my choice. The both parties representatives were there, the agent and candidate, I suppose to check on the order and fairness on the conduct of the polls.

I took me less than 5 minutes to complete the whole voting. The choice to vote later saves me queuing time.

Entrance

I produced my poll card and my identity card to the poll station officer for verification. I then proceeded to the “registration” counter to get my sacred vote.

Registration Counter

My ID number was checked against their nominal roll of voters. The Malay lady strike my name off her document and announced the a serial number to the Chinese Officer sitting beside her. The Chinese officer wrote the number down onto the vote and repeated to another pair of Officers sitting across to write down in their documents. I suppose that this is to ensure that the vote issued is properly recorded by 2 pairs of Officers (2nd set as backup) in case there is any voter who wants try “stunts” to vote twice. And that the 2 pairs of Officers are seated across is to ensure fairness and there is no “small talks” between the 2 pairs of Officers during the recording process.

Voting Booth

The grey aluminum looking voting counter ensure that my vote is secret. It was a simple process, (If you have already decided and dun go into a state of confusion at this point), I cross in the grey box beside the party of my choice.

Ballot Box

To maintain secrecy, I folded my sacred vote into half and dropped it into the ballot box before I leave the polling station. What will be the outcome.. My anxiousness grew as time ticks by..