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By Tan Wee Cheng

I attended the ceremony today October 4, at the historic St Andrew’s Cathedral. I have never completely agreed with all his ideas when I first listened to his debates in Parliament in the 1980’s. But over the years, frequent travel as well as years living overseas have opened my mind and allowed me to critically examine life and politics in this country.

In my opinion, JBJ is an extraordinary son of Singapore, who had undertaken enormous courage to confront a system that is so overwhelmingly crushing and harsh, in order to defend his belief in fundamental democracy and freedom. For his perseverence, he had suffered greatly and yet remained unmoved, even forming a new political party at the age of 82. Irrespective of whether you believe he had succeeded or not or whether you even agree with his ideas, I believe that, all Singaporeans owe him a salute, at least for the sacrifice he had made for all of us.

[Funeral Service of J.B. Jeyaretnam at St Andrew's Cathedral (4 October 2008)]-More Pics

The funeral service at St Andrew’s Cathedral began at 2pm and was attended by more than 1000 people including Singaporeans of all races and walks of life, as well as a few in wheelchairs – such is the support of JBJ among ordinary Singaporeans. The entire main nave of the cathedral was full and chambers on the second floor as well as tentage in the cathedral compound were set up, equipped with huge screens of the proceedings.

Moving eulogies of this great hero of Singapore were delivered by his sons and multi-ethnic daughters-in-law. Tears flowed among the many people who came to pay tribute to him. The service ended at 3:30pm thereupon the entourage set off for Mandai for the cremation.

Mr. JB Jeyaretnam, Rest in Peace. History, I believe, will be a lot kinder to you.

[Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam was born January 5, 1926, is of Sri Lankan descent and was raised partly in what is now Malaysia - This tribute By Tan Wee Cheng first appeared in his blog Nomadic Republic. JB Jeyaretnam passed away on September 30, 2008]

“I don’t have a stomach for genocide” said US vice Presidential candidate Senator Joseph R Biden during the one only live televised debate for the Vice Presidential candidates aired on Thursday Oct 3.

Senator Biden advocated a no-fly zone over Darfur, a major push to get peace-keeper helicopters into Darfur, and a U.S.-led NATO action of some kind. Senator Biden added: “When a country engages in genocide…that country forfeits the right to say, ‘you have no right to intervene.’”

[Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, debated Gov. Sarah Palin, his Republican counterpart, on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis on Oct 2nd.-NY Times.com Photo]

Governor Sarah Palin, Republican Party’s vice presidential candidate nodded and declared, “We can agree on that.” Gov. Palin was less specific but she did clearly say that she favored a no-fly zone in Darfur as well.

A New York Times columnist commenting on the debate said “Senator Biden broke the tradition of American leaders waffling on genocide over generations in a splendid way when he very forthrightly said during the debate “I don’t have a stomach for genocide.””

The New York Times added that this is a “historical milestone”, for candidates of both parties saying forthrightly that they would intervene to stop genocide, “not because of our national interests but because of our national values”.