A Song was Heard in China - A Different Tiananmen

[FDW]

Originally Posted by tonykwok

snip

Then I guess we shall see how well you can match statichaos and Dvaldron in the "unexpected dystopia" field, I'm eager to see how well you do.

[Tony]

Part J-3 The Colonization Speech

(AP) - TOKYO, Sep. 22 (Kyodo) — Prime Minister Masayoshi Ito indicated Thursday that his government would consider legislating in the near future to give permanent foreign residents in Japan the right to vote in local elections, possibly during the regular Diet session next year.

"We are not yet in a situation where a bill has been prepared, and therefore it would be fairly difficult (to introduce one) in the next Diet session," he told reporters, referring to the extraordinary session that will begin Monday.

Ito noted, however, that it is possible to consider submitting such a bill to parliament "as an issue in the near future."

Japan does not allow permanent residents with foreign nationalities, such as those of Korean descent, to vote in local elections, much less in national ones, despite strong calls among such residents for the right on the grounds that they too pay taxes as local residents, which is often dubbed as "taxation without representation".

Despite overwhelming support from Socialists, Democratic Socialists, Komeito and even Communists, many lawmakers within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party voiced strong opposition.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Ichiro Ozawa, said at a news conference he would consider reaching a compromise with the opposition parties on the details of the bill. He also agreed that it is necessary to hold discussions within his party. However, Ozawa said that he hoped to see progress made on the matter during the regular session, which begins early next year.

For his part, Ito said after meeting with Chinese premier Li Ruihuan in Beijing and South Korean President Roh Tae-woo in Seoul earlier this month that he would give positive consideration to such legislation.

Many permanent residents of Korean descent in Japan hold South Korean nationality, and both Li and Roh have been calling for Japan to give them voting rights.

[Above: MP Yukio Hatoyama of the Liberal Democratic Party in 1989]

"The issue of granting so-called foreigners the right to vote in local elections was unprecedented. Masayoshi Ito, who had been in good terms with both China and South Korea long before becoming prime minister, was a real liberal democrat inside his heart. He believed that Japan, as a responsible power, should try all its best to dispel social inequality and injustice existed in society.

Nevertheless, Ito pushed for such a legislation without much consultation within the ruling LDP. Young reformers, espeically those from the Hata-Ozawa wing of the Tanaka faction, overwhelmingly supported all of Ito's reforms. [redacted] a young and promising LDP lawmaker was stunningly defeated on his bid for reelection in the 1990 election, he was Yukio Hatoyama, grandson of former Prime Minister Ichiro Hatoyama, a freshman lawmaker just elected in 1986.

Given his family ties, Hatoyama was able to give his first floor speech in 1989, only 3 years after his election into the House of Representatives, though it would be his last one too. Hatoyama, whose grandfather was a hawk, openly asked for acceptance and openness. He used the word fraternity or yuai (友愛) thrice in his speech, but it would be ridiculed by LDP hawks in their failed attempt to push down the government of Masayoshi Ito. Hatoyama himself would be defeated narrowly in 1990, and sadly, he died of severe depression in 1995."
- Heisei Revolution by Goro Miyazaki, 2011

Foreign Suffrage means Sangokujin Colonization - Japanese Defense Director (2nd October, 1989; BBC)

[Above: Japanese Defense Agency Director Shintaro Ishihara, 1989]

In Japan, Defense Agency Director Shintaro Ishihara told reporters that by granting "foreigners suffrage", Japan would be colonized by sangokujin and other foreigners.

Voicing his strong opposition to Prime Minister Ito's proposed legislation, Mr Ishihara told reporters horrifying comments: "Atrocious crimes have been committed again and again by sangokujin and other foreigners. They would do no good other than colonizing Japan, making Japan the Empire of Crime.

For the sake of the purity of the Japanese and our national unity, those sangokujin should go back to China, Korea or Taiwan instead of staying here, taking away the honorable achievements of the Japanese people.

Not only should we stop this silly legislation, anyone without Japanese blood should be deprived of their Japanese passport. Japan is the nation of Japanese. Japan had never experienced colonization, but it will soon happen once the legislation becomes law."

The Japanese term "sangokujin" is an insult for residents from the former Japanese colonies of Taiwan and Korea.

Ito sacks Ishihara (October 8, 1989; Japan Times)

After almost a week of strong protests from China, South Korea and Taiwan, Prime minister Masayoshi Ito condemned the speech of Defense Agency Director Shintaro Ishihara, and announced his decision to sack Ishihara from office.

"The use of the term sangokujin is clearly inappropriate, and Ishihara's personal opinions do not represent the views of the Japanese Government. This term is undoubtedly derogatory and insulting. It was widely used in a discriminatory manner against Koreans and Chinese in the immediate postwar years. On behalf of the Japanese government, I would like to apologize officially to the people of China, Korea and Taiwan. Starting from this moment, Shintaro Ishihara is no longer the Defense Agency Director."

Opposition parties have jointly called for the resignation of Ishihara, claiming that he has lost his authority to head the Defense Agency. However, according to our emergency poll conducted from 3rd October to 6th October, 53% of respondents believed that Ishihara was "somewhat right", while 61% of respondents believed that Ishihara needs not resign. Sensing public support, Ishihara refused to apologize for his comments, and instead called Prime Minister Ito "a traitor".

After the sacking of Ishihara, various LDP leaders threatened to "replay the 1979-80 political crisis" until Ito backs down or resigns. The approval rating of the Ito Cabinet now stands at 39%, while its disapproval rating stands at 55%.

OCC: This update gives you some hints about the upcoming 1990s. Japanese politics alone may seem minor, but in this case, it's a completely different story. I could simply butterfly Shintaro Ishihara away, but I promise you, after the end of this TL, his legacy would be considered mixed, especially if we have Japanese members here.

After reorganizing my previous updates still stored in my computer, I'll post 2 updates on the democratic development of some Asian countries. After that, it would be one simple update on Eastern Europe, but not East Germany. Something would go terribly wrong because I've gone evil these days Regarding the Philippines and Thailand, since they should be considered democratic countries in OTL 1989, I would simply open up small chapters about them when this TL reaches the right time.

I'll talk about Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei in one single update, while the parts on Burma, Indonesia, East Timor and Nepal won't be discussed at this moment. Just be mentally prepared that Indonesia and Burma may possibly be hell crazy in the 1990s, though the worse is yet to come - yes, anybody knows I'm talking about North Korea. I've 2 plans for now, but either way, the fall of North Korea would create huge problems for the entire world.

[My Username is Inigo Montoya]

Yes! A very good update. And I look forward to the next ones

[FDW]

Interesting…

[LeoXiao]

A good update. It's good to see the changes happening in Japan, though admittedly I'm not very familiar with Japanese politics. I know that Isihara is a real bastard though, good to see him sacked.

Originally Posted by FDW

Interesting…

You're in love with that term, aren't you?

[FDW]

Originally Posted by LeoXiao

You're in love with that term, aren't you?

Really it's more that I feel obligated to state my pleasure with the update and that I can't think of anything else to say…

[tukk323]

Excellent work as always, catching up on the last few posts. BTW Robert Bardo was 19 in 1989, he's 41 this year .

[John Fredrick Parker]

Looking good... can't think of anything else to add

[konigmarke333]

This is a very enjoyable timeline. Glad to see Ishihara go, but sad to see Hatoyama's fate here. As someone who's spent a considerable amount of time in Japan in the past, I hope that Ito manages to pass this legislation.

Looking forward to seeing this continue.

[Tony]

Part 8-3: Tightening Control
Part 8-3-1 Singapore (1989-91)

It's difficult to tell if Tiananmen had an impact on the political development of Singapore. The People's Action Party has dominated Singaporean politics since 1959, and is still in power as of September 2011. It has long been associated with Singapore's emergence from an backward and isolated island into a prosperous city-state. Such good feelings towards the PAP ensured that a Tiananmen-scale movement could never happen in Singapore. However, the Singaporean government was clearly aware of possible protests that may possible affect the elitist establishment.

After the Chengdu Uprising, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew condemned air strikes against civilians, maintaining that only minimum force should be used to quell civil disorder. However, the prime minister would later declare his support towards military actions against the rebellion. Despite his popularity and authority, Lee failed to stop long queues that ran on the Bank of China, leading to a temporary shut down of the bank for a few days. On the eve of the fall of Li Peng, the Singaporean government was about to take over the local branch of the Bank of China, only to be stopped by the sudden success of the revolution.

Inspired by the success of Tiananmen, James Gomez and Martyn See, both university students at the time, began organizing underground "democracy salons" to spread the idea of liberal democracy. Nevertheless, Gomez, See, along with 19 other university students were arrested on December 29, 1989 in the infamous Operation Harmony, under the Internal Security Act. Later, half of the detainees during the Operation Spectrum in 1987, including Chew Kheng Chuan, was rearrested again. Given that one of the detainees admitted that those "democracy salons" did receive funds from the Chinese Federation of Students, newly established in August 1989 by different student groups in China; the Singaporean government alleged that such "democracy salons" were part of a conspiracy to overthrow the Singaporean government through civil disobedience and uprisings.

[Above: James Gomez (1965-1990)]

On January 6, 1990, James Gomez was beaten to death by a police officer. No newspaper dared to report the news, until Potung Pasir MP Chiam See Tong raised a question in parliament. Internal Security Department Director Tjong Yik Min later maintained that Gomez died as a result of a sudden heart attack, but Tang Fong Har, a Singaporean dissident in exile, suggested the possibility that Gomez was perhaps the victim of torture before his death.

The Singaporean government dismissed Tang Fong Har's comments as ridiculous, but 150 students would later stage a small-scale protest outside the parliament on April 15th, 1990, a Sunday and the first anniversary of the beginning of the Tiananmen protests. Within 15 minutes, all 150 student protesters were arrested. 97 of them were released after admitting having received donation from the Chinese Federation of Students. All remaining 53 students were expelled from their respective colleges or universities, 35 of them were detained without trial until at least 1991. After the mass arrest on April 15th, Chinese premier Li Ruihuan canceled his planned trip to Singapore due to "technical reasons", effectively delaying the signing of the Sino-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.

After 31 years in office, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew finally decided to step down in November 1990. The question of succession, however, was a debate of the future direction of Singapore. The cabinet was evenly divided between Tony Tan Keng Yam and Goh Chok Tong. Tan favored a more authoritarian approach for the sake of economic growth. He argued that any concession to the opposition, say the abolishment of the Internal Security Act, would pull Singapore into pointless debates and chaos. Goh, on the other hand, favored a more open and consultative style of governance, relaxing control on different aspects in society. Despite Ong Teng Cheong's endorsement of Goh, Lee Kuan Yew finally decided that Tony Tan Keng Yam would be a more suitable caretaker that could better reflect his views.

To get the voters' mandate, Tan decided that an election would be held in August 1991. Despite concessions to party reformists like Ong and Goh that the presidency would be popularly elected starting from 1993, a new election law is also passed, to ensure that independents would not be able to run for parliament.

[Above: Chia Thye Poh, the longest-serving prisoner of conscience in Asian history]

Administrative tricks were widely applied during the general election of 1991. In the Single Member Constituencies of Tanglin, Leng Kee and Chua Chu Kang, opposition candidates were all disqualified. Former MP Chia Thye Poh, who was the longest-serving prisoner of conscience just "released" in 1989 but was confined onto the island of Sentosa, secretly wrote a letter to Chinese and US media, denouncing the Internal Security Act and clear signals of "institutional violence" on the campaign trail. The Singaporean government did not "arrest" Chia again, as he was already under heavy travel restrictions, but instead sued Chia for defamation.

Anyway, the People's Action Party won the general election of 1991 by comfortable margins, though the 1991 election was the closest-ever since 1963. The opposition made substantial gains, winning 10 seats in the 81-seat-parliament. Prime Minister Tan would later referred the relatively poor showing of the PAP as a result of his failed style of authoritarian governance, and would himself championed for more openness and reform for years to come.

Notable races:
Braddell Heights SMC:
SIN Kek Tong (SDP) 13,046 (50.7%)
Goh Choon Kang (PAP) 12,704 (49.3%)
SDP gain from PAP

Burkit Batok SMC:
KWAN Yue Keng (SDP) 12,138 (51.5%)
ONG Chit Chung (PAP) 11,423 (48.5%)
SDP gain from PAP

Burkit Gombak SMC:
LING How Doong (SDP) 12,406 (52.9%)
SEET Ai Mee (PAP) 11,025 (47.1%)
SDP gain from PAP

Changi SMC:
TAN Bin Seng (WP) 11,643 (50.2%)
TEO Chong Tee (PAP) 11,557 (49.8%)
WP gain from PAP

Hougang SMC:
LOW Thia Khiang (WP) 11,091 (55.1%)
TANG Guan Seng (PAP) 9,028 (44.9%)
WP gain from PAP

Nee Soon Central SMC:
CHEO Chai Chen (SDP) 12,963 (51.3%)
NG Pock Too (PAP) 12,305 (48.7%)
SDP gain from PAP

Nee Soon South SMC:
KOH Lip Lin (PAP) 13,089 (50.3%)
LOW Yong Nguan (SDP) 12,932 (49.7%)
PAP hold

Potung Pasir SMC:
CHIAM See Tong (SDP) 12,644 (70.1%)
LOW Yong Nguan (PAP) 5,401 (29.9%)
SDP hold

Yuhua SMC:
YU-FOO Yee Shoon (PAP) 9,253 (52.2%)
Tang Liang Hong (SDP) 8,467 (47.8%)
PAP hold

Eunos GMC (4):
Workers' Party 44,313 (50.6%)
People's Action Party 43,291 (49.4%)
WP gain from PAP

I've decided to give up on Brunei, due to insufficient sources and references available. Unless I could find relevant information, Brunei would not even appear in this TL.

Edit: I'll still talk about Burma not Brunei when TTL comes to 1990

[marcus_aurelius]

Originally Posted by tonykwok

I've decided to give up on Brunei, due to insufficient sources and references available. Unless I could find relevant information, Brunei would not even appear in this TL.

I'm sorry to hear that - I'd love to see Aung San Suu Kyi rule Myanmar, instead of the junta. Perhaps you can use Skyleaks to indirectly mention how the generals were overthrown without giving too much detail?

Keep the updates coming, Tony!

Marc A

[Plumber]

Originally Posted by marcus_aurelius

I'm sorry to hear that - I'd love to see Aung San Suu Kyi rule Myanmar, instead of the junta. Perhaps you can use Skyleaks to indirectly mention how the generals were overthrown without giving too much detail?

Keep the updates coming, Tony!

Marc A

Do you mean Burma? Sorry to hear about Brunei anyways. It's a very small, oil-rich nation, but I see it being closely tied to whatever happens in Malaysia.

Good work, keep it up!

[Kinny Riddle]

Originally Posted by marcus_aurelius

I'm sorry to hear that - I'd love to see Aung San Suu Kyi rule Myanmar, instead of the junta. Perhaps you can use Skyleaks to indirectly mention how the generals were overthrown without giving too much detail?

Keep the updates coming, Tony!

Marc A

Tony said he won't be covering B-R-U-N-E-I, not B-U-R-M-A.

[ComradeTovarich]

The Singapore update was kind of good. Problem is that there are a few names that need switching around.

Originally Posted by tonykwok

After 31 years in office, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew finally decided to step down in November 1990. The question of succession, however, was a debate of the future direction of Singapore. The cabinet was evenly divided between Tony Tan Keng Yam and Goh Chok Tong. Tan favored a more authoritarian approach for the sake of economic growth. He argued that any concession to the opposition, say the abolishment of the Internal Security Act, would pull Singapore into pointless debates and chaos. Goh, on the other hand, favored a more open and consultative style of governance, relaxing control on different aspects in society. Despite Ong Teng Cheong's endorsement of Goh, Lee Kuan Yew finally decided that [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=4]Tony Tan Keng Yam would be a more suitable caretaker that could better reflect his views.

I've got a wee bit of a problem with this chunk here. The two Deputy PMs that Lee had when he stepped down in OTL and in ITTL (assuming that the butterflies didn't get to them first) were Ong Teng Cheong and Goh Chok Tong. At this point of time, Tony Tan was but a (comparatively) low level Cabinet member with his Minister of Education portfolio. Chances were that Lee and the Parliament would have to choose between Goh and Ong.

Also, the President in 1990 (or at least I think it is the President you are referring to when you say Ong Teng Cheong) was still Wee Kim Wee and the office of the President was still an appointed one unlike the elected one we have today. That only came after Ong Teng Cheong was elected to the presidency in OTL 1993.

Hope the info was somewhat helpful. Anyway, I found the part about James Gomez being beaten to death to the police disturbing yet amusing. As far as I know, the Singapore police has had a track record of having very few people, if not none, die in their custody as a result of unnatural causes. Either that or they're probably not telling us much. This is looking to be a very interesting development.

[Tony]

Originally Posted by OKH_1946

The Singapore update was kind of good. Problem is that there are a few names that need switching around.

I've got a wee bit of a problem with this chunk here. The two Deputy PMs that Lee had when he stepped down in OTL and in ITTL (assuming that the butterflies didn't get to them first) were Ong Teng Cheong and Goh Chok Tong. At this point of time, Tony Tan was but a (comparatively) low level Cabinet member with his Minister of Education portfolio. Chances were that Lee and the Parliament would have to choose between Goh and Ong.

Also, the President in 1990 (or at least I think it is the President you are referring to when you say Ong Teng Cheong) was still Wee Kim Wee and the office of the President was still an appointed one unlike the elected one we have today. That only came after Ong Teng Cheong was elected to the presidency in OTL 1993.

Hope the info was somewhat helpful. Anyway, I found the part about James Gomez being beaten to death to the police disturbing yet amusing. As far as I know, the Singapore police has had a track record of having very few people, if not none, die in their custody as a result of unnatural causes. Either that or they're probably not telling us much. This is looking to be a very interesting development.

Maybe I need some clarifications In TTL, Wee Kim Wee was still President of Singapore. In OTL, Lee Kuan Yew himself did want Tony Tan as his successor, followed by his "second choices" like Goh Chok Tong, Ong Teng Cheong and Dhanabalan; though everyone in the cabinet, including Tan himself, overwhelmingly endorsed Goh Chok Tong for the post. Lastly, Lee backed down and accepted their decision, and today Lee regarded this decision as a correct one.

However, due to events that unfold in TTL, Lee Kuan Yew was more unwilling to risk reforms that involve more openness. Tan is seemingly (but not necessarily) more conservative than both Goh and Ong. As well, having Tan as installed as prime minister may well make him a good caretaker for Lee Hsien Loong to rise to prominence in TTL since Tan was too junior, but all would depend on Lee Hsien Loong's cancer in TTL Ong, as deputy prime minister instead of president, would anyway still support Goh in TTL due to his more reformist and liberal views as in OTL. The fear of the loosening sustainability of the elitist structure would be much worse than in OTL, and PAP conservatives (definitely not LKY himself) may really think that opposition politicians in China would like to spread liberal democracy across Asia, just like how Communism was spread, due to ...

Regarding the death of Gomez in TTL, I would say, if the victims of the Operation Spectrum were not lying, the ISD did apply some sort of torture. In TTL, the ISD and police did not intend to kill Gomez, but under psychological abuse, being put in a strangely cold room for hours, a 24-year-old student may not be able to bear it mentally, and therefore would possibly die of a heart attack. Yes, it won't often happen in OTL, and I would agree that it would be disturbing. Singapore in TTL 1989 - 1991 is far more authoritarian than in OTL, and in my later reference of a Freedom House report, Singapore would get a lower grade on civil liberties.

Anyway, thanks a lot for your information.

[marcus_aurelius]

Originally Posted by Kinny Riddle

Tony said he won't be covering B-R-U-N-E-I, not B-U-R-M-A.

When I saw it last night it said BURMA. Tony edited it after.

Marc A

[Tony]

Originally Posted by marcus_aurelius

When I saw it last night it said BURMA. Tony edited it after.

Marc A

But in your own quote, it's BURNEI

[Plumber]

Originally Posted by tonykwok

But in your own quote, it's BURNEI

Actually BRUNEI
If Rajiv Gandhi still dies ITTL I will hurt you btw Tony

[marcus_aurelius]

Originally Posted by tonykwok

But in your own quote, it's BURNEI

I said M-Y-A-N-M-A-R, you SOB!! Jokes

Anyway, Singapore ITTL doesn't look too good. IRL I liked that city a lot, despite being our rival and what not. Hope they'll come back to the light soon.

Speaking of which, has Russia been covered yet?

Marc A

[FDW]

Nice update.