In the context of our country's political development, there are realities that we have to accept. Race and religion at this stage do not trump rights.

The emotional bonds of race and religion can cause serious problems if it is not balanced correctly with good governance. That does not mean that a government utilises the bogey of race and religion to keep its power base and constantly revisit the issue to make the country feel insecure.

So far the parents of the girls have talked in terms of a religious requirement. The language of rights was never used.

With the possible legal battle ensuing, we will know whether any fundamental liberties have been violated. If the courts say yes, then a precedent would have been set. If the courts say no, then the issue is dead and buried. However, that does not mean the issue cannot be pursued through petitions, dialogues or seminars. If there were a critical mass, civil disobedience would be too much for the government to handle. We are, after all, a democracy.

The question we ask is this. In a practical sense, leaving aside the philosophical discourses, is it not best we get a negotiated and lasting settlement on this issue?

Now, sir, you have said that we have been contradictory. Let me offer you a twist. For example, we say that the tudung issue at this stage of our nation's development is a human rights issue. It becomes the norm we accept. Tomorrow when a group comes and says well we want all Singaporean Muslims to be under the code of Syariah Law where men who are recalcitrant thieves will have their hands amputated. Is Think Centre suppose to support them based on human rights when in fact there is a gross violation of human dignity?

Human rights are about negotiating contradictions by making sure issues are seen in their proper context. Think Centre will be committed to human rights with a duty to be responsible to the people. The tudung issue for all intent and purpose is religious in nature.

Therefore, human rights activists like us have to make sure the issue has an avenue for dialogue and that it has a political solution within a time frame that is amenable to the majority of Singaporeans without creating unnecessary fear and tension among the people.

We will not comment on Dr. Chee's case as he is still under investigation and we would not like to say anything that might be used against him.

At the end of the day, Singaporeans will one day accept the norm and values of human rights in our own context. Currently, we lack the political maturity and the critical mass for that. That is the reality. However, the future begins today; in fact the day Think Centre was founded.

Yours truly,

Anbarasu Balrasan
Editor, Think Centre
for Think Centre Ex-Co