forum

Detention - Writing - Healing
@ M1 Singapore Fringe Festival

26 February 06
3 - 5.30pm
Esplanade Recital Studio

Little is known about Singapore’s ex-political detainees – the events surrounding their detention, as well as their lives after detention. This forum is a landmark gathering of some of Singapore ex-political detainees, including Michael Fernandez, Said Zahari and Tan Jing Quee. All three will talk about their experiences, as well as share some of their writings. Joining them will be Robert Yeo, discussing his trilogy, Changi. Tan Chong Kee will be facilitating the discussion.

Michael Fernandez was a former trade unionist, activist and political detainee. The lead character in Robert Yeo's plays, The Singapore Trilogy, Reginald Fernandez, was loosely based on Mr Fernandez's life.

Said Zahari, a retired journalist, was one of the longest detained political prisoners in Singapore, having spent 17 years under detention without trial. His new book is entitled Seventeen Years in Changi.

Tan Jing Quee is the writer of a recently published collection of poems, Love's Travelogue. He is a lawyer and former political detainee, with a strong and abiding interest in politics, history and literature.

Robert Yeo is a playwright, whose works include Are You There, Singapore?, One Year Back Home and The Adventures of Holden Heng. He has also published a poetry collection entitled Leaving Home, Mother.

Founder and coordinator of Sintercom, as well as a founding member of The Working Committee, Tan Chong Kee has been actively involved in social activism in Singapore. He has edited various publications, including Ask Not: The Necessary Stage in Singapore Theatre, Building Social Space in Singapore, and Soc.Culture.Singapore: The Unauthorized Version.

For more info, visit www.singaporefringe.com