NSF Blues ???

So what's the latest news, gossips that's been floating around in the media ? The issue of CPL Teo smuggling firearms out of camp whilst doing guard duty. Found in his possession was a SAR21 rifle and 5 live rounds. So whats the real deal ? Relationship breakup and a surge of emotional outburst in the course of serving his mandatory National Service. There has been forums and articles throughout the country increasing public awareness to this big 'hoo-ha' phenomenon created by an individual's moment of rashness and irrational thinking.

Let's bring ourselves back to the basics of history. Adolf Hitler and Sadamn Hussein was widely respected in their respective countries despite their dictarion ruling, although thousands of innocent lives were lost by their iron fists. Osama and his network outsmarted the intelligence of the CIA and FBI to crash 3 commercial aircrafts right into the heart of one of the world's busiest and most prestigious Business Trade Centres and the Pentagon. In the past, the Japanese Military conducted a pre-emptive strike to destroy an entire fleet of warships in Pearl Harbour even before the birds could chip. What more can we now debate to our local version of a similair fashion ? He's no champion nor extremist as compared to people in history, but CPL Teo has certainly created a story of his own that we can all digest and learn from.

Let's roll back the tape to my own sentiments and opinion. Losing a loved one through mandatory slave labour is not an easy bullet to bite. A person comes out tops if he is able to take the trials that comes his way, and turn it around to become a better person. A silly person is one that dwells in his own problems, laments about his luck and blames others for his misfortune. An intelligent person is one that has been broken into pieces, stamped onto the ground. And yet able to pick himself up, mend the broken pieces and learn from his mistakes to shape a better character. Life is a game, sometimes its based on luck, more often, its our decisions and actions that creates the results of our doings.

Fast forward the tape to CPL Teo. Through my analysis, he's gotten himself into a real mess and fell into a deep well that is almost impossible to pull himself out of. All of this caused by a petty issue of a relationship breakup. In terms of the law, anyone caught smuggling firearms is subjected to a trial of a period of no less than 5yrs coupled with mandatory capital punishment, which is caning. Any servicemen caught for an offence by the authorities whether Police or Military Police, that is punishable by law not exceeding a 2 yrs sentence will be investigated, charged and tried under the SAF Marshall Court. The place of sentence is the Detention Barracks in Kranji. The case of CPL Teo is much more serious and hence, he cannot be tried under the Military Court, but proceeded through the Supreme Court. Unlike the past, there can be no double punishment in the sense that it is not possible for both the SAF and Civil Courts to charge him. This case will be pursued in the High Courts and it is likely he will have to face a sentence of around 6-9yrs imprisonment with a minimum 6 stroke taste of the rotan. However, he has yet to unleash his triumph card. If the psychiatrist successfully diagnoise him with a mental condition/problem, then there is a high chance he will escape capital punishment, and serve his sentence in a mental Institute rather than a prison facility.

To satisfy the curiousity of many minds, the M-16 and SAR21 Rifle can be easily dismantled by a person who has knowledge of how to do it. People point to the security issues of the camp, however they fail to realise how easy it is to walk out of camp with firearms as guard duty personnals are sometimes stationed sentry outside the camp or patrolling around it's premises. Therefore it is almost impossible to monitor the movements of a servicemen all the time, especially at night when it is all dark. The missing person was only realised during a master check at 2359, but in actual fact he could be long gone before that time. Therefore the manhunt was mounted for CPL Teo and he was found near Cineleisure, rifle was retrieved and the live rounds were not spent. As to why an AWOL personnal possessing firearms would hang around that area waiting to be caught is simply beyond my understanding.

Let's face the fact, nobody is born perfect and there is no individual in the world that hasn't made a mistake in their life. So who are we to judge ? Some may laugh over this incident and may even find it amusing. However, personally it is all about sympathy and compassion (my prayers are with him). The government did not start the yellow ribbon project for no reason. It is not all doom and gloom after being released from prison. My message goes out to people who are not willing to give ex-convicts a 2nd chance, and THESE are the hypocrites who dare to stand up to the world to proclaim that they have never made a mistake in their lives. BULLSHIT! Even judges who judge people, pastors who preach to others, parliament leaders and ministers that lead the country have broken the law in one sense or another. I do not believe that any driver has never exceeded the legal speed limit before. Therefore, give that man a break, stop posting pictures/blogs of his and his ex on forums and newspapers. CPL Teo is already suffering from a mental breakdown/torture. Whether the 5 rounds were meant for some1's body is not for us to speculate. Here we are concern about what's going on with his mentality, an unstable mind is capable of churning out all sorts of bizzare actions.

In conclusion, an individual who has never experienced the bad sides of life will not know how to deal with the situation when the problem arises. As we are not born to be perfect, every good person has some bad points in them. And every person deemed bad has some good qualities in them.

-There are no perfect angels and devils in this world- Trust in what you believe, and stand firm to your own morals, ethics and principles.