Operation Spectrum - International Response

International Response

Reactions to the news of the arrests arrived swiftly from abroad. Senior Minister S. Rajaratnam revealed that the detentions had drawn protests from about 200 organisations in the United States, Europe, Thailand, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Major Asian news publications such as the Far Eastern Economic Review, Asiaweek and The Star (Malaysia) followed the affair closely and offered minute analyses, generally taking a critical tone with regard to the actions of the Singapore authorities.

Prominent examples of external organizations that challenged the PAP during the 1987 ISA arrests are the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Amnesty International, World Council of Churches and Asia Watch. Amnesty International sent a group to Singapore to investigate the case, later adopting all 22 detainees as prisoners of conscience. The ICJ also sent a mission to Singapore. Its report on 12 Oct 1987 stated that there was no evidence which justified the detainees being labelled 'Marxists' or 'communists'; that the treatment of the detainees by the ISD amounted to "clear and grave violations of human rights"; and that "the Mission’s report endorses world opinion that the real motive for these detentions is to quash internal opposition and criticism of the Singapore government."

The affair was also brought to the attention of the European Parliament. On 4 July, 55 members of the American Congress among whom were several presidents of Justice Commissions signed a letter demanding that legal procedures begin or else that the detainees be set free. At a meeting, the ministers of Foreign Affairs of the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia asked their Singapore counterpart for explanations of the affair. 15 deputies of the Japanese Diet also sent a letter to Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.