Dear readers, thank you for landing on this page. Before you click on the 'x' button of your computer screen with disinterest towards what you've opened, please stay for a few minutes to hear about what I have to say about a young man. His name is Yong Vui Kong.
Yong Vui Kong, now also known as YVK on www.facebook.com/SaveVuiKong, is a poor, uneducated Malaysian young man who came from a broken family, and was arrested in Singapore when he was only 18 and a half years old for carrying heroin. He was another ignorant, naive, impulsive cash-seeking drug mule. He is only one of the thousands used as a drug delivery boy by drug barons who go Scot-free in the face of death. But the drug mule, YVK, was instantly sentenced to death under the mandatory death penalty law of Singapore.
Due to some circumstances, his lawyer, Mr. Ravi, has managed to let the Singapore government delay the hanging of YVK until today. But not for long. Now he only has less than 3 months to live, before the final sentence of death penalty is thrown at Yong Vui Kong's feet. If you and I do not make our efforts to write in to the Singapore government, his life will be gone in merely weeks.
If you followed me, you would know that I have been supporting the case of Yong Vui Kong against the death penalty by the Singapore government.
I am against drugs and I am also against death penalty, and am especially against mandatory death penalty. I know there are some people who would like to have Yong Vui Kong hanged. If you are one of them, you may simply leave, or have a change in mind and heart towards the price of a human life.
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| From the Trailer of the Movie "Hitler: The Rise of Evil" |
I am hoping, that you would listen to what supporters of Yong Vui Kong have to say and more importantly, what supporters of human rights have to stand for. I am hoping that you will help us save a life. We are not asking for him to be freed into society, but only for him to be alive.
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| Please go to www.facebook.com/SaveVuiKong :'( |
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| Yong Vui Kong, A Boy Not Forgotten |
[Slight Update: I just found out that in 2007, this 18 year old teenager from Nigeria was arrested and executed in Singapore. He was 21 years old when he was killed by the Singaporean Law of Mandatory Death Penalty. According to the sources, the young man, Tochi was crying five minutes before he was executed and asked the priest to pray over him.]
This is part 2 and please read part 1 here.
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| My Collection of Photos for Yong Vui Kong in Changi Prison, Singapore. Unfortunately, they did not let him have the book in fear of giving him and other in mates a hope to live. |
SAVE VUI KONG CAMPAIGN - IN SINGAPORE
SAVING YONG VUI KONG - IN MALAYSIA
LAWYER M. RAVI SPEAKS FOR YONG VUI KONG - IN HONG KONG
THE STORY YOU THE WORLD MUST HEAR OVER AND OVER - BY ALJAZEERA
Today [19th April 2011] is my 3rd letter to the sirs and ministers.
Today [4th April 2011], his plea was dismissed and he will face the death penalty very soon. I am still hoping and praying that his life will be spared by the Singapore government.
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| My 3rd Letter of Clemency Appeal on behalf of Yong Vui Kong. |
Today [4th April 2011], his plea was dismissed and he will face the death penalty very soon. I am still hoping and praying that his life will be spared by the Singapore government.
I have written another appeal to President SR NATHAN and Law Minister K SHANMUGAM below. Please do your part too!
__________
Please, take your time to write in just as I have. Your voice will change this world.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS TO:
His Excellency SR Nathan
Office of the President
Orchard Road, Istana
Singapore 0922
Fax: 011 65 6735 3135
Email: s_r_nathan@istana.gov.sg
Salutation: Your Excellency
Minister for Law:
The Honourable K Shanmugam
Ministry of Home Affairs
New Phoenix Park
28 Irrawaddy Road
Singapore 329560
Fax: 011 65 6258 0921
Email: k_shanmugam@mlaw.gov.sg
Salutation: Dear Mr Minister
AND COPIES TO:
His Excellency Yong Guan Koh
High Commissioner for Singapore
c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tanglin
Singapore 248163
Fax: 011 65 6474-7885
E-mail: yong_guan_koh@cpf.gov.sg
Editor-in-Chief
The Straits Times
1000 Toa Payoh North
News Centre
Singapore 318994
Fax: 011 65 6319 8282
Email: stonline@sph.com.sg
Just copy and paste this list below to your email recipients for your letter of clemency plea for YONG VUI KONG!
anifah@kln.gov.my
cabinet_office@cabinet.gov.sg
s_r_nathan@istana.gov.sg
k_shanmugam@mlaw.gov.sg
lee_hsien_loong@pmo.gov.sg
goh_chok_tong@pmo.gov.sg
lim_boon_heng@pmo.gov.sg
george_yeo@mfa.gov.sg
aimember@aiusa.org
admin-us@aiusa.org
aimalaysia@aimalaysia.org
info@amnesty.ca
info@amnesty.fr
msk@amnesty.org
sct@amnesty.org.uk
supporter@amnesty.org.au
stonline@sph.com.sg
cabinet_office@cabinet.gov.sg
s_r_nathan@istana.gov.sg
k_shanmugam@mlaw.gov.sg
lee_hsien_loong@pmo.gov.sg
goh_chok_tong@pmo.gov.sg
lim_boon_heng@pmo.gov.sg
george_yeo@mfa.gov.sg
aimember@aiusa.org
admin-us@aiusa.org
aimalaysia@aimalaysia.org
info@amnesty.ca
info@amnesty.fr
msk@amnesty.org
sct@amnesty.org.uk
supporter@amnesty.org.au
stonline@sph.com.sg
Do not give up. Whatever the outcome, it is the fact that we have tried and done our best to save him. It is our testimony to ourselves, first, as dignified humans respecting life and our human rights, and then second, a testimony to the world that we as the people of the human race still value the equality of all human lives, regardless of language, race, or religion!
WE ARE FOR LIFE, NOT DEATH!
Your Excellency SR Nathan and Mr Minister Honorable K Shanmugam,
RE: YONG VUI KONG AND DEATH PENALTY IN SINGAPORE
I am writing, once again, for the case of Yong Vui Kong, as I have followed the lastest news here:
As you and I have read...
“If Yong escapes the death penalty, drug barons will think the signal is that young and vulnerable traffickers will be spared and can be used as drug mules, argued Mr Shanmugam.”
– TODAY, 10 May 2010
...and...
At a community event in May 2010, Mr Shanmugam responded to a constituent’s question about the mandatory death penalty by saying that it was “a trade-off” for Singapore’s “safety and security”.
Dear Sirs,
Thank you for reading my letter. I would just like say that drugs are the enemy, not Vui Kong. This young man is the victim and he is not evil, you know that, we all do. You have the power to be a great minister and leader of Singapore to teach the world and show all of us that you are righteous, wise and merciful. Do you know that thousands of people are hurting right now for Vui Kong? I'm sure you do. We need to fix this drug problem and we need to deal with those drug barons and how to put them in jail for using the young men and women in our society for drug trafficking. Instead of killing these foolish drug mules, why don't we put our hearts and heads together to put an end to those drug barons?
Please, we all plead of you, to let him live and give all of us a chance to let him live his life. He is just starting to be a man in this world and he has so much more to live! Please be ever so empathetic and put yourself in his parents' shoes. We all care and love this boy and to us, he is still just a young ignorant boy who got trapped in this horrible situation.
We pledge to you as citizens and residents of Singapore and of this world to serve one another in full, heightened awareness for our own security towards drug trafficking and we would gladly be of service to the governments to educate and stop drugs from ever appearing in our society!
Once again, I seek your mercy to let Yong Vui Kong live. Please be wise and merciful and we will be so much more proud of Singapore! We are asking for you to give him a chance to live his life, even if you let him live in prison for all his life, we all would feel terribly so much happier! Please let justice be done to those drug barons who are using the young into drug trafficking, and give the righteous punishment to Yong Vui Kong in prison so that he may be the one to realize his grave mistake, but not take his life away. It would really do no good to anyone, and only cause hurt to all of us.
Drug barons wouldn't care less if Vui Kong is dead or not, they would still do the same and prey on other "Vui Kongs". But the thousands of us all over the world DO CARE if he is dead or not! We are the ones suffering, not the drug barons! More "Vui Kongs" will be lured into drug trafficking by those drug barons if we do not take action against THEM! We do not want to have more "Vui Kongs" killed in Singapore or anywhere in the world.
We need to save those "Vui Kongs" by teaching and educating them by reaching out to them and by serving one another as a fellow human to another. Please, have him be of your service to spread the word against drug trafficking for the rest of his life. He really can help our young men and women in the society to realize the truth about drugs!
We need to educate our young so that this will not happen again in the future. Please let Yong Vui Kong live and let him be a living testimonial and be of service to you and all of us in raising a serious awareness against drugs!
Please sirs, I have no relations to Yong Vui Kong but I am a fellow human unto him. It doesn't matter what religion, race or language that we speak -- we belong to one another because we are for love and compassion!
Yours sincerely,
Lily Evangelene
[Slight update: During the course of talking to people about Yong Vui Kong, there will be some people who will come to me with reasons like 1) What if your family member is a drug addict, will you not want people like Yong Vui Kong to be killed? 2) If we do not kill him, drug sellers will think a life will be spared and will continue using drug mules to deliver drugs. 3) I am scared that people like Yong Vui Kong can disperse drugs in our country, and harm my children.]
Well, here's my reply.
1. Yes, I have and NO, I DO NOT WANT THEM TO DIE. One of my family member WAS a drug addict. Messed up life. Guess what? It’s not the end of the world. People DO change. Just like Yong Vui Kong! He made a mistake no different than my family member did — but they both CAN change! It’s people who have no love and faith in the good of humanity that wants to KILL A LIFE IN ACT OF FEAR!
2. This is the lamest remark ever made. First of all, drug sellers KNOW that drug mules will be hanged to death in Singapore if caught. Since they ALREADY DO KNOW THIS FACT, and still have the heart to make a drug mule deliver drugs to their deaths, what on earth makes you think that BY SHOWING THEM THAT YOU DO IN FACT WILL KILL THE DRUG MULES, will make any difference to the drug sellers????????? O M G. Some people have IQ the amount of their shoe size!!!
3. What makes you think by killing drug delivery like Yong Vui Kong will prevent someone in your family from taking drugs? Even if 1 million drug delivery like Yong Vui Kong are hanged to death, do you really believe drug will cease or lessen in this world? Naive thought!!!!! Just look at the history of this world. Since the big bang until 2011, with BILLIONS of people roaming the earth, things such as drug trafficking, prostitution and murders have ALWAYS existed, STILL existing, and WILL exist FOREVER until the end of this world! If you really do not want your family to take drugs, EDUCATE them! If you do not want your husbands to sleep with prostitutes, LOVE them! If you do not want your friends to kill each other, SHOW them! If you want to change a society, change your family, change yourself. Killing is not the answer, suicide is not the answer to anything!!!
People, please wake up! Evil such as drug trafficking, prostitution and murders have existed WAAAY long before Singapore has even existed on this earth! If you want to build a nation, and cut the rate of crimes in your country, killing is not the answer because crimes will never stop even until your great great great great great great (continue saying great for the next 24 hours) grand children have passed away!!! Why??? Because crimes come from the evil of human nature which is INEVITABLE! The only way out is to change yourself first and then change the world! People deserve punishment to learn from their mistakes and to change to become a better person in this society, BUT killing is NOT a punishment! It is simply an inhumane and a grotesque act above ALL CRIMES!
I have also written to Mr. Gopalan Nair.
Mr. Gopalan Nair is the writer for Singapore Dissident and I thought him as an influential individual who has the courage to voice out his experiences and opinions on Singapore.
Thus, I decided to write in to him to talk about the case of Yong Vui Kong. We really need people to speak out and spread the word against death penalty. Please, wherever you are, talk about this with your teachers in schools or friends in your workplaces to do something about it. Life is God-given and no one has the right to kill another human!
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Dear Mr. Gopalan Nair,
I am sure you have heard of the story of Yong Vui Kong:
This is the latest news on him: http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Crime/Story/A1Story20110404-271758.html and I also sent in my email to President SR Nathan and Law Minister K Shanmugam for petition here: http://lilyevangelene.blogspot.com/2011/03/breaking-news-23-year-old-yong-vui-kong.html
First of all, I don't even know why I am emailing you about this. I don't even know Yong personally or whatsoever. However, I just feel terribly upset and shocked and disappointed with the Singapore government. Perhaps I am sharing this with you as I will share with the world, as a human to another.
I am not a Singapore citizen but I have been growing up in Singapore since I was in primary school. To be honest, I have always liked Singapore for its accessibility and international scale kind of lifestyle. Things can be said as organized, clean and safe. I have thought Singapore as my second home. But then, did I really know Singapore? I hardly talk about politics with my friends and I have always assumed that everyone, especially the government, would always be right and good hearted people. I thought everything was perfect and brushed aside complaints of passers-by as nothing so serious.
But now as I am older, I realized the problems that have been growing in the Singapore society. TV shows such as blogTV on Channel News Asia started to surface and people in Singapore started voicing out their real feelings. It was every Tuesday at 8.30pm for 30 'live' minutes and I really thought that... not many people were participating in it. I mean, it's good, but it's not good enough and it was not reaching to the majority of Singaporeans and Singapore residents.
It was quite pathetic watching it, really. It was sort of having served the entrée and not being able to dig in to the main course. It was really annoying and irritating that the problems were raised, discussed and dismissed within 30 minutes, at the same time squeezing in all the ads in between. So that's really less than 30 minutes of substance! I mean, come on, how can you tackle problems within the society for that short? You're not going to get anywhere, much less accomplish anything. The only thing I can be happy about is that, well, at least someone is trying. I am really hoping that it will improve and social problems in Singapore can be always discussed and publicly shared in schools and workplaces.
I just wonder why Singaporeans are so scared to talk! I'm not a law expert in Singapore but would people be arrested for asking questions and saying what we stand for in public here in Singapore? Perhaps you can write a post to share about how we, as people, can voice out what we really feel inside, without getting arrested and what we can do. Are we even allowed to go down to Orchard Road to spread campaigns against death penalty for example? Would we get into trouble if we did that?
I heard about Alan Shadrake who was arrested because he wrote a book about Singapore's death penalty law. It was crazy that this happened and it really made people fear even more to speak anything against the government because most people don't really know about such laws that exist in Singapore! Suddenly I feel like I might be living under Hitler, Kim Jong-il or Mao Zi-dong and plus, how come elections in Singapore are never like those in the US? I always felt weird about it that it happened without much information and to this day I'm not really sure if Singaporeans are allowed to vote or does the government elect themselves?
The death penalty struck me as a huge pain in my head and it began in 2005 when Nguyen Tuong Van: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Tuong_Nguyen was executed in Singapore. I realized how much hurt this has inflicted on myself and the rest of the world who pleaded mercy for him. We did try everything we could and all we could do was to watch helplessly as he was being executed.
Then again I found out about Sam Murugesu: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanmugam_Murugesu who was also executed in Singapore earlier in the same year. Today, it is a battle for Yong Vui Kong and all his family and friends and supporters. Thousands of people in Malaysia, Singapore and the rest of the world know about his case but they are not enough to make the Singapore government let this young man go! No doubt, all these 3 people are wrong but the government is also not correct!
NO ONE SHOULD EVER KILL! No one should kill unless it was in totally purely self-defense! I just don't understand how someone in charge of the law in Singapore could be so rigid and heartless to always kill and kill and kill, without even putting a case by case judgement into consideration. It makes me feel like I am living under some sort of government that will eventually harm me in one way or another! You know, we are not talking about a small matter of anything in this world, but a human's life is about to be killed. To me, this is not much difference than war. Maybe we are still living in wars, and we just don't see them because the government do it subtly.
We are all so tired about this and please visit Yong Vui Kong on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/SaveVuiKong Sometimes I really wish that I can sing a song called What A Wonderful World, by Louis Armstrong. But it's really hard when you know it is a lie...
One voice makes a difference. Spread the word. Please, write in to Amnesty International and the Singaporean government bodies to help us save Yong Vui Kong!
It doesn't matter what religion, race or language that we speak -- we belong to one another because we are for love and compassion!
Sincerely,
Lily Evangelene
I believe this is Mr. Gopalan Nair's response posted on YouTube on 3rd of April 2011, to my letter above as well as other bloggers who have asked him some questions regarding Singapore's situation.
This is the latest update from Amnesty International regarding Yong Vui Kong.
DOCUMENT - SINGAPORE: FURTHER INFORMATION: 23 YEAR OLD MALAYSIAN MAN FACES EXECUTION
Further information on UA: 296/09 Index: ASA 36/001/2011 Singapore Date: 24 January 2011
URGENT ACTION23 year old malaysian man faces execution
Yong Vui Kong, a 23-year-old Malaysian
man, has exhausted his appeals against a
mandatory death sentence in Singapore. He
is at immediate risk of execution unless the
Malaysian authorities and others press
Singapore’s President to grant clemency.
On Monday 17 January, Singapore’s Court of Appeal reserved judgment on Yong Vui Kong’s case. His counsel had appealed for his execution to be stayed on the grounds that he had been denied a fair clemency process.In Singapore the decision for clemency rests with the President, on the advice of the Cabinet. In December 2009 the President rejected Yong Vui Kong's petition for clemency. Later that month, the High Court postponed the execution to allow the Court of Appeals time to hear an application for a stay. The refusal of the Court of Appeal to grant a stay has given a green light for Yong Vui Kong to be hanged.Last July, Malaysian officials called on Singapore to spare Yong Vui Kong’s life. Malaysia’s foreign minister, Anifah Aman, announced, “I will be writing to the government of Singapore to plead for his clemency.” Malaysian legislators have also called for clemency.Yong Vui Kong was sentenced to death in January 2009 for trafficking 47 grams of diamorphine (heroin), a crime committed when he was 19 years old. Singapore's Misuse of Drugs Act makes the death penalty mandatory for trafficking more than 30 grams of heroin, leaving judges no discretion to hand down alternative sentences.Singapore’s law also presumes trafficking in all cases involving the possession of over 2 grams of heroin, which shifts the burden of proving that no trafficking was involved from the prosecution to the defendant. This violates the core human right to be presumed innocent of a crime until proven guilty.PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in English or your own language:- Urging Singapore’s President to reconsider Yong Vui Kong's clemency petition and commute his death sentence, which was mandatorily imposed
- Urging Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah to press Singaporean President Nathan to reconsider Yong Vui Kong's clemency petition and commute his death sentence;
- Reminding Malaysia Foreign Minister’s Anifah of his commitment to call for clemency for Yong Vui Kong, a Malaysian who is also a native of Anifah’s home state of Sabah.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 16 MAY 2011 TO:
And copies to:The StarMenara Star15 Jalan 16/1146350 Petaling JayaSingaporeFax: +60 03 7955 4039Email: editor@thestar.com.my
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the third update of UA 296/09. Further information:www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA36/004/2009/enhttp://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA36/005/2009/en;http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA36/007/2009/en
URGENT ACTION23 year old malaysian man faces executionADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In a 2007 drug-trafficking case, Singapore executed a young Nigerian, Iwuchukwu Amara Tochi. UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions, Philip Alston, condemned the sentence on human rights grounds: “Singapore’s decision to make the death penalty mandatory keeps judges from considering all of the factors relevant to determining whether a death sentence would be permissible in a capital case.”Amnesty International opposes the imposition of the death penalty in all circumstances and irrespective of claims of utility; the organization considers the death penalty a violation of the right to life and the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.FU UA: 296/10 Index: ASA 36/001/2011 Issue Date: 24 January 2011
Further information on UA: 296/09 Index: ASA 36/001/2011 Singapore Date: 24 January 2011
URGENT ACTION
23 year old malaysian man faces execution
Yong Vui Kong, a 23-year-old Malaysian
man, has exhausted his appeals against a
mandatory death sentence in Singapore. He
is at immediate risk of execution unless the
Malaysian authorities and others press
Singapore’s President to grant clemency.
On Monday 17 January, Singapore’s Court of Appeal reserved judgment on Yong Vui Kong’s case. His counsel had appealed for his execution to be stayed on the grounds that he had been denied a fair clemency process.
In Singapore the decision for clemency rests with the President, on the advice of the Cabinet. In December 2009 the President rejected Yong Vui Kong's petition for clemency. Later that month, the High Court postponed the execution to allow the Court of Appeals time to hear an application for a stay. The refusal of the Court of Appeal to grant a stay has given a green light for Yong Vui Kong to be hanged.
Last July, Malaysian officials called on Singapore to spare Yong Vui Kong’s life. Malaysia’s foreign minister, Anifah Aman, announced, “I will be writing to the government of Singapore to plead for his clemency.” Malaysian legislators have also called for clemency.
Yong Vui Kong was sentenced to death in January 2009 for trafficking 47 grams of diamorphine (heroin), a crime committed when he was 19 years old. Singapore's Misuse of Drugs Act makes the death penalty mandatory for trafficking more than 30 grams of heroin, leaving judges no discretion to hand down alternative sentences.
Singapore’s law also presumes trafficking in all cases involving the possession of over 2 grams of heroin, which shifts the burden of proving that no trafficking was involved from the prosecution to the defendant. This violates the core human right to be presumed innocent of a crime until proven guilty.
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in English or your own language:
- Urging Singapore’s President to reconsider Yong Vui Kong's clemency petition and commute his death sentence, which was mandatorily imposed
- Urging Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah to press Singaporean President Nathan to reconsider Yong Vui Kong's clemency petition and commute his death sentence;
- Reminding Malaysia Foreign Minister’s Anifah of his commitment to call for clemency for Yong Vui Kong, a Malaysian who is also a native of Anifah’s home state of Sabah.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 16 MAY 2011 TO:
Foreign Minister of Malaysia
His Excellency Datuk Seri Anifah Amam
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Wisma Putra
NO 1 Jalan Wisam Putra, Precinct 2
62602 Putrajuya, Malaysia
Fax: +60 3 8889 1717
Email: anifah@kln.gov.my
Salutation: Your Excellency
President of Singapore
His Excellency SR Nathan
Office of the President
Orchard Rd
Istana
Singapore 0922
Fax: +65 6735 3135
Email: s_r_nathan@istana.gov.sg
Salutation: Your Excellency
And copies to:
The Star
Menara Star
15 Jalan 16/11
46350 Petaling Jaya
Singapore
Fax: +60 03 7955 4039
Email: editor@thestar.com.my
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the third update of UA 296/09. Further information:www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA36/004/2009/enhttp://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA36/005/2009/en;http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA36/007/2009/en
URGENT ACTION
23 year old malaysian man faces execution
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In a 2007 drug-trafficking case, Singapore executed a young Nigerian, Iwuchukwu Amara Tochi. UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions, Philip Alston, condemned the sentence on human rights grounds: “Singapore’s decision to make the death penalty mandatory keeps judges from considering all of the factors relevant to determining whether a death sentence would be permissible in a capital case.”
Amnesty International opposes the imposition of the death penalty in all circumstances and irrespective of claims of utility; the organization considers the death penalty a violation of the right to life and the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.
FU UA: 296/10 Index: ASA 36/001/2011 Issue Date: 24 January 2011
