Friday, December 26, 2014

Tsunami on Boxing Day, 2004 – 10 years on

The giant waves


26th December 2014 marked the 10th  anniversary of Tsunami tragedy of countries in Southeast Asia and South Asia. Banda Aceh and Meulaboh in Sumatra of Indonesia were severely hit. Tourist spots at Phuket and Penang were not spared. The Tsunamis also reached Sri Lanka and wiped out some of the Tamil Tiger terrorists as reported in the news.


(Lines in the ocean show tsunami waves could reach Sri Lanka in just 3 hours. Picture credit: www.dailymail.co.uk)

By the end of the day, eight Asian countries reported tsunami deaths, including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and Maldives. Somalia, Tanzania, Seychelles, South Africa, Yemen, Kenya and Madagascar also reported death in the following days.


(Residents were swept away in Sri Lanka when the tsunami reached its coast. The tsunami also wiped out some of the Tamil Tiger terrorists as reported in the news. Picture credit: www.dailymail.co.uk)

Based on information from Wikipedia, the U.S. Geological Survey reported the total depth toll as 227,898. However, another report by Siti Fadilah Supari, the Indonesian Minister of Health at the time, estimated the death total to be as high as 220,000 in Indonesia alone. Due to some people died in remote areas or washed out to sea, the exact number would never be known.

The Tsunamis caused by the most powerful earthquake since 1964. It was recorded as 9.1 Richter scale with the epicentre at about 160km off the western coast of Sumatra. The earthquake radiated along a 1200km fault-line running north-south. Experts believed that the mega-earthquake started at 30,000m below the Indian Ocean floor. The quake itself is known as the “Sumatra–Andaman earthquake” by the scientific community.


(The 2004 earthquake is the third largest since 1900. Picture credit: www.dailymail.co.uk

The devastated earthquake occurred on 7.58am Indonesia time, or 8.58am Singapore time. Soon after that, we felt some shaky effects mainly for people living in the eastern part of Singapore. We were lucky that Sumatra provided natural shelter for major part of Malaysia and Singapore. Otherwise, imagine that the tsunamis travelled at about 700km/hr in open sea, it would reach Singapore in less than an hour. The wave height surged to 10 to 20 metres near coast and rushed in at about 50km/hr. Lives could never be the same again if our many small islands in Singapore have to face with such natural disaster.


(Devastated scene at Meulaboh after being hit by tsunami. Picture credit: "Reaching out flying eagle", SNP International Pte Ltd )

Operation Flying Eagle and the RSN


The now Manpower Minister Tan Chuan Jin assumed the command of the Humanitarian Assistance Support Group back then. He was a 36 year old Colonel then and was the Commander of 7 SIB, a Guards unit in the Singapore Arm Forces (SAF). The humanitarian relief mission was carried out under the code name Operation Flying Eagle (OFE).

For the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), if the RSS Courageous collision case on 3rd January 2003, happened barely less than two years ago, is considered as the darkest day of the RSN’s history, OFE should probably be remembered as the RSN ‘s most meaningful deployment thus far. Within short span of preparation time, all three LSTs in Singapore were deployed with fully loaded logistics and replenishment aids to Meulaboh. The other LST (RSS Resolution, 208) was sent to the Persian Gulf in November 2004 for 4 months to support the reconstruction efforts in Iraq.


(All the 3 LSTs in Singapore and numerous landing craft were deployed to Meulaboh for the humanitarian effort. Picture credit: "Reaching out flying eagle", SNP International Pte Ltd)

Every man and woman, regardless of putting on uniform or as MINDEF civilians who contributed along the value chain for tsunami relief in Indonesia, should take pride of what they had done for our friends who lived so close to us. Many in-service personnel, reservists and civilians volunteered to land their helping hands. 

It was indeed an extremely valuable occasion to pull together the spirit of the service personnel after the RSS Courageous incident. The service personnel’s morale was high as they had a clear sense of purpose and felt that what they did for the Indonesia people was worthwhile. In my 21 years of working hand in hand with the RSN, this was probably the most heart-warming scene I had ever seen. It was from the bottom of their hearts without having to put up a "show".

My neighbour, MAJ Abdul Nasir bin Husssein from the Army was nominated as the S4 (logistic officer) for OFE. After some years, He jokingly said that thank to OFE, he managed to obtain his next rank as Lieutenant Colonel and extended his SAF career. Otherwise he would have to leave at the age of 45 and learn to cope in the commercial world.


(Loading the first LST with equipment and supply at Tuas Naval Base. Picture credit: "Reaching out flying eagle", SNP International Pte Ltd)

On 2nd January  2005, the first LST (RSS Endurance, 207) reached Meulaboh after leaving Tuas Naval Base for 50 hours. RSS Endurance, commanded by LTC Li Lit Siew, left Singapore on the new year’s eve. The look-outs on the LST saw an adult, a child and a hand clinging to a wooden plank. That was the first devastated scene sighted by the ship crew near Meulaboh. They knew that they had to work around the dead from then on.

In fact, the entire downtown area of Meulaboh was wiped out by the tsunami. About 40,000 residents lived in the town prior to the hit. The town had lost all communications and electricity. Bridges were broken and some roads went underwater or blocked by landslides. All the wooden houses were gone while concrete buildings withstood the earthquake and tsunami better. As what MG Endang Suwarya, the Indonesia military area commander, said, “The damage is truly devastating. 75% of the west coast, in some places it is 100%, is gone.”


(FCU sending in people and supply to shore. Picture credit: "Reaching out flying eagle", SNP International Pte Ltd)

It was assessed that bringing in supply from the sea was the best means to aid the local. Although the LST was not able to berth at Meulaboh, the LST had a well dock which carried landing craft such as FCU (Fast Craft Utility) and FCEP (Fast Craft Equipment and Personnel) to bridge such gap. They were designed to offload vehicles and relief supplies ashore at suitable landing beaches. Naval divers were sent in to clear the underwater obstructions at the identified beaches.

Of special note, usually a ship with a well dock would be named as LSD (Landing Ship Dock) or LPD (Landing Platform Dock). Ths Singapore version was named as LST (Landing Ship Tank) probably due to some political considerations.


(The LST has a well dock which carries landing craft such as FCU and FCEP. Picture taken during Navy open house 2010)

The landing craft were among the first to provide supplies from the LST to the locals. Supplies could move into Meulaboh 20 times faster than before. RSS Endurance carried 470 people, 51 vehicles and heavy equipment and 350 pallets and crates of relief supplies. They were discharged to the shore by the landing craft.

LTC Gregory Goh was the commander of the Landing Craft Squadron, commonly known as 195 Squadron. He also assumed the role as commander of the Naval Task Group, OFE. I remembered him as a gentle, polite and humble person. I first knew him when he was a Commanding Officer of an old LST (County class) in the 1990s. His landing craft crews were working 16 hours a day and even more at times. They made numerous trips between LST and shore everyday but they did not have a single chance to step onto the soil of Meulaboh. The landing craft operators were among the first to perform their duty in the early morning and often the last to go to bed.

The second LST (RSS Persistence, 209), commanded by LTC Eddie Tang, arrived on 6th January, carrying 196 men, heavy equipment and 4 containers of supplies.

The third LST (RSS Endeavour, 210), commanded by MAJ Yap Chee Eng, arrived on 17th January, carrying personnel from NGOs (non-government organisation) and another batch of relief supplies.
In total, the three LSTs transported 190 tonne of relief supplies.

Resilience


The massive disaster had brought together the Singaporeans’ compassion. Many donated generously to the Tsunami Relief Fund. As an example, the Singapore Red Cross collected S$84 million within days. Singapore companies contributed equipment such as electrical generators and water purification sets. NGOs such as Touch Community Services, Mercy Reliefs and Tzu Chi, alongside with many other Singapore professionals such as doctors, nurses and pharmacists, volunteered their services.


(On a personal level, Singaporean and Indonesian have good rapport. Many volunteers committed to Operation Flying Eagle is a typical example. Picture credit: "Reaching out flying eagle", SNP International Pte Ltd )

As most of the NGOs did not have their own means to bring in relief supplies and personnel to the sites, the LSTs and landing craft came in handy.

With the United Nation and the Indonesian Arm Forces (TNI) coming in for rehabilitation and reconstruction, it was also time for SAF to close the emergency relief chapter. It was time to go home. The NGOs took over the subsequent tasks from the SAF. The beach landing sites were symbolically handed over to the TNI.


(NGOs took over the subsequent reconstruction task. Picture credit: "Reaching out flying eagle", SNP International Pte Ltd)

COL Edwin Low, former Chief Naval Medical Officer and the Chief Medical Officer for OFE, recalled a TNI soldier who was with him. The soldier had lost his home. His children were still missing. However, he chose to work to help others instead of searching for his old children.

Major Nur Effendi said he met a TNI officer who was helping the survivors. His daughter was buried in the rubber of his house and his wife was sent to Jakarta for medical treatment. The officer said he had returned his daughter to God and assured her that she was in a better place than before.

Many other TNI soldiers also lost their loved ones but carried on with their duties. Their determination to help other survivors inspired many Singaporeans.


(Lives returned to normarcy. How are these bright and smiling faces doing after ten years since 2004? Picture credit: "Reaching out flying eagle", SNP International Pte Ltd)

Friday 21st January 2005 was Hari Raya Haji. It was also the day where the Humanitarian Assistance Support Group from Singapore handed things over to the TNI and the NGOs. Tan Chuan Jin exchanged farewells with COL Geerhan and soldiers of TNI. He boarded the Fast Craft Utility after all the men and equipment had embarked.

That evening, RSS Endurance and RSS Endeavour sailed past Meulaboh’s mass grave. In memory of the dead, the ship crews lined up on deck, and the two ship COs each tossed a floral wreath into the sea.


(The ship crews paid their respect to the town's dead when LST sailed past Meulaboh's mass grave. Picture credit: "Reaching out flying eagle", SNP International Pte Ltd)

(It was time to move on with life. Picture credit: "Reaching out flying eagle", SNP International Pte Ltd)

Ordinary folks among Singaporean and Indonesian are friends of each others despite that there are occasional differences at political front

On a personal level, Operation Flying Eagle was an enriching and satisfying experience for those who landed their helping hands to the Meulaboh people. They had reached out and made a difference for those who are distance away from our daily lives.

For the people in Banda Acer, the city and the people have picked themselves up from that disaster. They are simply amazing.

(You had done the meaningful and the right thing. Welcome home. Picture credit: "Reaching out flying eagle", SNP International Pte Ltd)

(Aceh: 2004 after Tsunami (top) versus now (bottom). Photo credit: Straits Times December 21, 2014)

Key reference: Reaching Out: Operation Flying Eagle. SAF Humanitarian Assistance after the Tsunami. ISBN 981 248 097 8. Published by SNP International Pte Ltd 2005. 

Link:
RSS Courageous - 10 years on
麦唐纳大厦(MacDonald House)爆炸案-1965年3月10日

Friday, December 19, 2014

爸妈不在家,Ilo Ilo

新加坡的女佣家庭


根据人力部的资料,新加坡有超过二十万名外籍女佣,几乎每五户家庭便有一名女佣。根据维基的资料和多年来的观察,他们主要来自菲律宾(维基:2007年有八万人)和印尼,其余来自斯里兰卡、缅甸、印度、孟加拉和泰国。1980年代以来,菲律宾女佣已经是新加坡家庭中的一分子,是新加坡更早期的妈姐的年代的延伸。


现在的新加坡法律比较人道,明文规定从2013年开始,每个星期必须让外籍女佣(foreign domestic workers)休息一天。

休息日是个开心的日子,各个社群都有各自的天地,见同乡人,讲家乡话,开开心心过一天。印尼人:City Plaza;菲律宾人:Lucky Plaza;泰国人:Golden Mile Complex;缅甸人:Peninsula Plaza;斯里兰卡、印度、孟加拉:小印度。随着地铁线不断扩张,现在还多了一些新地点如植物园、圣淘沙、滨海公园等。


由于女佣已经走入许多新加坡家庭,文化激荡下对家庭结构和下一代的冲击都随时成为社会问题。一般上雇主跟女佣还算是融洽相处,有些女佣回到家乡,还跟雇主成为朋友。当然也少不了害群之马,将主仆关系视为现代奴隶交易,以各种不人道的方式虐待女佣。有些女佣心里不平衡,谋杀雇主、粗暴地对待老幼等,这一切都素有所闻。女佣帮阿兵哥提背包还被网民“stomp”,有人甚至戏言,认为女佣可以代替阿兵哥上战场。

《爸妈不在家》的创作背景


201476日,跟75位文艺作家、戏剧演员、文友等在艺术之家(The Arts House)的小剧场,观赏《爸妈不在家》及分享观后感。这个雅聚是热带文学艺术俱乐部所主办的每月活动之一。

《爸妈不在家》是新加坡导演陈哲艺在2013年完工的电影,得到国际人士的认同并颁予奖项。在华人圈里,最轰动的是获得2013年金马奖,一夜间将新加坡电影发扬光大。对我身为一名普通电影观众而言,电影能够给予我某些感动,刺激思考就心满意足了。在这个层次上,我认为是梁智强的《跑吧!孩子》之后最好看的本地艺术片。

(《爸妈不在家》电影海报。图片来源:www.iloilomovie.com)

梁智强一身才华,不过选择了通俗路线的电影道路。梁智强的名气+通俗电影是否一定赚大钱?从梁大导早期的《梁婆婆》、《钱不够用》系列、《小孩不笨》系列、到2013年的《Ah boy to man》系列都缔造了傲人的票房,当然其中不乏媒体的广告效应。

人红气焰,梁导忘记了曾经因绯闻缠身搞得周身落魄的日子,接连在记者会上得罪了媒体,2014年的《狮神决战》系列明显后劲乏力,媒体也没什么好评。当观众的欣赏水平提高了,有其他好片可供选择的时候,这一类通俗电影已经不再是赚大钱的保证了。

据集编剧导演于一身的陈哲艺表示,《爸妈不在家》的创作灵感来自个人的成长记忆。97/98年的亚洲金融危机导致许多公司倒闭,包括他父亲在内的很多人都受到裁员的冲击。当社会压力转化成家庭压力的时候,许多被裁的人士包括他一家人不得不“降级”(downgrade),搬家、换车子。当时感受最深的是在无法负担的困境下,必须跟照顾他八年的菲律宾保姆(Auntie Terry)告别。全家去机场送她回乡的时候,他哭得很凄惨,也是第一次感受到离别的痛楚。这个情感世界里有个童年的故事,于是拍成一部含蓄温馨但不煽情电影。

(Auntie Terry、陈哲艺和弟弟小时候。照片来源:zaobao.com)

在那个金融风暴时期,双薪家庭面对中年失业的危机、面对困境选择跳楼的个案、全民寄情于4D、妈妈误堕“精神导师”的骗局、“他妈哥池”(Tamagotchi)掌上电子鸡风靡全球等,是一个时代的印记。

《爸妈不在家》的故事内容


在亚洲金融海啸前,一个典型的双薪中产家庭有个调皮的独子家乐,有身孕的母亲在公司与家庭之间分身乏术,又常接到学校打来的投诉电话,于是决定雇用菲佣特丽来帮忙。家乐对特丽百般羞辱,但特丽可不是一个好欺负的佣人,她尝试约束家乐,渐渐让缺乏父母陪伴的家乐找到没有血缘的亲情。家乐的爸爸失业了,妈妈也在公司里每天打着裁员信,越来越没有信心。这个家庭就跟那个时期的新加坡人一样,面对生活的巨大冲击。

影片中有许多在精心构思下富有层次感的细节。例如:

家乐和特丽的关系变化起因于家乐任性,在停车场被车撞倒后,手包着石灰,行动不便,由特丽为他洗澡的那一刻开始,通过两场“性”桥段作为两人关系转折的突破口:一次是特丽脱光家乐的衣服替他洗澡,家乐感到难为情,特丽说比他那根大的她都看过了;另一次家乐趁特丽更衣时闯入,说妈妈的比她的大。

在晚宴上,家乐端了鱼翅到独自坐在外头的特丽面前,一改之前不愿与特丽同桌吃饭的局面,妈妈看到这一幕,感觉到女佣已经威胁到自己身为母亲的地位。妈妈为家乐煮粥,家乐吃了两口就咽不下了,说特丽煮的好吃多了;妈妈妒火中烧,说是她教特丽怎么煮的,将剩余的都倒掉了。

家乐只顾埋头玩风行一时的电子鸡,就像今天的手机和I-pad。爸爸丢掉电子鸡后,觉得对自己的孩子有些亏欠,送他几只小鸡来补偿,甚至以炸鸡作为生日会的食物。小鸡长大后被杀来吃掉,大家于心不忍,留下最后一只鸡。

家乐两度取笑特丽的头发有臭味,到机场送走特丽时却突然拿出剪刀,留下她一小撮头发做纪念。特丽不知如何回应,家乐也只是留在车上,在她离开后才流下眼泪,這种关怀方式不需要解释,也无从解释,是兩人微妙的心情的写照。在那个送行的场合,爸爸也是千头万绪,通过那根香烟来表达。离别前的一个晚上,特丽曾经要求爸爸给她一根香烟,两人对着窗口默默无言。爸爸为了缓解失业的压力,在家里偷偷吸烟,特丽一路来都为男主人保守着这个秘密。

怀孕的妈妈明知丈夫已经失去工作,却没有开声,怕大家都无法承受。妈妈在生活压力下,还被心灵骗子骗去金钱,心灵大受打击。家里多了女佣,媽媽又常常怀疑特丽另有不良企图,又妒忌特丽跟家乐太亲密,明知道特丽偷用她的唇膏,在离别时却送了一支唇膏给特丽。电影镜头就这样默默观察着女性复杂的心理。

我觉得《爸妈不在家》无形中强调了每个人都有孤独和无法互相理解的一面。爸爸、妈妈、家乐、特丽都各怀心事,爸爸输了股票又失业,妈妈参加了骗子讲座,家乐研究彩票,特丽乘着休息日到理发店打工挣外快等。大家同在屋檐下,各有各的心事,却不打算向彼此倾诉。

当然我们还可以思考,到底是谁的爸妈不在家?是家乐的父母不在家的童年吗?是父母将孩子留给女佣的无奈吗?是特丽负起家长的任务的那一刻吗?还是特丽在家乡的一岁大的孩子要找妈妈?

伊诺伊诺的圣米格尔乡村


饰演爸爸的陈天文是新传媒的电视剧演员,经过多部电视剧的历练,走上阔银幕。陈天文也参与梁智强的《狮神决战》的演出,有机会的话应该问问他对于陈哲艺与梁智强电影的看法。

饰演妈妈的杨雁雁来自大马,曾经演出过郭宝崑的舞台剧。至于大银幕,她在本土电影《881》中跟另一位新加坡演员王欣分别饰演大小木瓜,撑起七月歌台,非常亮眼。《881》是另一位新加坡导演陈子谦的作品。

饰演菲佣特丽的Angeli Bayani菲律宾舞台演员,她跟许多在本地工作的女佣见面,以学习本地口音和融入剧中角色。南洋大学的《Nanyang Chronicle曾经访问过Angeli Bayani她说跟女佣见面时特别感受到的离乡背井的心酸:“女佣们都是为了求得温饱出国打拼,然而菲律宾政府竟然鼓励输出人口,用出卖人民的劳力来换得经济利益,但这样就造成很多破碎家庭。即便她们撑起了国家的生产总值,可惜回国后,还是被视为二等公民。”她希望观看这部电影的观众能够体会女佣离乡背井的艰辛。

(真假特丽:左一是饰演特丽的Angeli Bayani,右二是已经离开新加坡十六年的特丽Auntie Terry。图片来源:联合晚报)

在菲律宾华裔查尔斯(Charles L. Lim)的协助下,2013723日在伊诺伊诺的圣米格尔乡村,陈哲艺兄弟和失散多年的Auntie Terry重逢。图片来源:zaobao.com

《爸妈不在家》的英文片名叫“Ilo Ilo”,IloIlo是菲律宾的伊洛伊洛市,是当年陈哲艺家的女佣的老家,也是菲佣的来源地之一。根据联合早报李亦筠的报道(2013731日),在菲律宾华裔查尔斯(Charles L. Lim)的协助下,2013723日在伊诺伊诺的圣米格尔乡村(San Miguel),陈哲艺兄弟和失散16年的Auntie TerryTeresita D. Sajonia重逢了。

陈家印象中的Auntie Terry是个漂亮、爱打扮的女人,她富有文化气息,听的卡带有《西贡小姐》(Miss Saigon)、《伊维特》(Evita)等音乐剧。在新加坡打工的时候,她口操流利的英语,现在变得羞涩寡言。

Terry离开陈家的时候已经40岁,在菲律宾供养外甥读书,后来因为身体欠安回到乡下。李亦筠写道:“(Terry)房子总面积大概只有一间政府组屋的房间般大小,无法用家徒四壁来形容,因为四壁至少有四壁,它是简陋到没有完整的四壁;以木头、木板和竹片盖成的屋子没大门,地板是泥地,竹片墙缝隙间结满了蜘蛛网。客厅与厨房在一起,只有张木桌与长凳。没有电冰箱,没有瓦斯。房间是垫高了,但空间很小,没衣柜,小床以木头与竹片搭成,没床垫,上面只有老旧的枕头、被单和防蚊纱网。房间下方用来养鸡,这也是为什么粪味熏天。 整间屋子只有一盏小灯泡,电视三年前坏了,买不起,所以一台老旧的收音机是唯一的电器。至于“厕所”,离屋外有段距离,得风吹雨淋,踩过烂泥地才能抵达。厕所没电没抽水系统;特莉希答所喝的水,也不是经过过滤的自来水,而是用抽水器压出来的井水。”

(Terry 在IloIlo的家。图片来源:zaobao.com)

回家16年来,Terry从来不敢花钱看医生,靠草药偏方治病。她和丈夫患上严重的近视与老花眼,但没钱配眼镜,陈哲艺和弟弟为他们配了眼镜。兄弟俩也留下一些钱,买了营养品、裙子、T恤、牛仔裤和好几双鞋子给她,也买了长袖衬衫、长裤与皮鞋给她的丈夫。

Terry的际遇使我不期然想起早年的妈姐三水女工,以及新加坡过去与现在都一直依赖的外籍劳工。他们千里迢迢来到新加坡工作,都有一个改善家乡生活的梦想,赚够钱回家可以过着较稳定舒适的生活。现实中有些人如愿以偿了,但不是每个离乡背井讨生活的人都一样。新加坡小国大城,24小时不停息的繁华都市每天都在上映着这一幕幕似曾相识的人间风情画,场景改变了,人物改变了,没有什么改变的是这些小人物的人生与命运。

相关链接

Friday, December 12, 2014

永平鱼丸 Yong Peng fish ball

美食与乡愁


小时候我家多数会自己“打鱼肉”,用来做鱼丸煎鱼饼,吃起来特别有古早味。为什么叫做“打鱼肉”呢?

西刀鱼肉爽清甜,是做新鲜鱼丸鱼饼的上上之选,缺点是细骨特别多,而且价钱昂贵,平时很难买得起,所以我家偶尔用西刀鱼,多数时候是用豆腐鱼起肉的。做法是先沿着中间那条鱼骨起两边,然后用铁汤匙刮肉,放在大碗里,再用一双筷子顺着一个方向打圈,肉太干就撒水。搓着转着,散开的鱼肉就会凝结成一大块,再整块拿起来往碗里摔几下,就大功告成了。

可能是因为有搓打的动作,所以整个过程叫做打鱼肉。搓打过的鱼肉特别有弹性、爽口而又结实,特别有口感。打好的鱼肉用来做鱼丸或煎鱼饼都一样美味,悉随尊便。煎过的鱼饼还可以收几天,在那个没有雪柜的年代,就是这样发挥民间的创意。

至于主要的食材豆腐鱼,它是广东人叫的,潮州福建人称之为番薯鱼,现在市面上称之为黄尾鱼,一样的鱼种到了不同的社群,名字就不一样。

历练的人生即使回归平淡,但依然叫人回味无穷。同样的,美味人生并非垂手可得,是要精心炮制的。真正的美食也无需什么山珍海味,美味自在注入爱心的家常菜中。一旦熟食沦落到以减轻成本与快捷的手法来达到赚钱的目的, 忽略了厨艺与对食客的最基本的尊重,就会减淡叫人垂涎的感觉,也失去了古早味。所以很多有一把年纪的人都在感叹,现在的食物,只有童年的记忆,却已没有童年时的味道。

童年记忆、童年味道,说穿了就是乡愁。人到一个年纪都喜欢回忆,那是人性的回归。回忆的过程中自然会怀念起当年的乡情,乡情是人情味,失去了是乡愁。乡情的纽带是难以言喻的。

(永平,只有三万个居民的宁静的小镇。图片提供:李嘉媛)

永平新村


自从新马关卡直通北马的南北大道通车之后,我已经习惯将宁静的柔佛州永平镇当作中途休息站。永平这个小镇地处于高速公路拐出来的路段,永平大街从头到尾少过五公里,一路上以福州美食吸引人,红槽鸡、福州面等地道的小餐室就设在道路两旁。福州人在八十多年前已经住在永平,有两万多人。早期福州人主要是由英国传教士带到永平来的,是砂劳越诗巫和霹雳实兆远以外全马最多福州人落脚之地。

对我们一家子来说,永平大街Caltex油站旁的“元延正宗永平西刀鱼丸”是不容错过的,香喷喷的鱼圆汤配上福州面,原汁原味,是一流的健康古早味。元延的鱼丸鱼饼对我而言,就是乡情,就是慰藉乡愁的纽带,是童年。

对我们一家子来说,永平Caltex油站旁的“元延正宗永平西刀鱼丸”是来回南北大道不容错过的美食。图片提供:李嘉媛)

1988年创立的“元延正宗永平西刀鱼丸”,创办人是前永平县议员陈敃菁,十年前已经把事业交给二儿子陈春翰打理。继承父业的陈春翰,在英国念硕士后在银行工作,2003年接手父亲的生意。

英殖民地时期,英国政府为了对付马共动乱,在19486月宣布全马进入紧急状态。当时的永平是柔佛州境内最著名的“黑区”。为了杜绝村民以粮食接济马共,英国政府将散居效外的村民,强制迁居到1950年成立的永平新村,以铁刺网围住,实施宵禁令。村民外出割胶,必须接受严格的搜身检查。英政府也先后动员辜加军团、苏格苏军团与菲济军团等,在永平展开军事行动。

新村是英殖民地政府用来隔离华人的临时集中营,是历史上空前的全马50万华人大迁移的终结站。由马来亚大学毕业的黄巧力总导演与监制,2009年在马来西亚ASTRO台播映的十三集人文纪录片《我来自新村》收录了非常深具历史意义的集体回忆。


(清晨新村的闸门一打开,每个人都赶着去做工。图片来源:ASTRO 《我来自新村》)

关于“元延正宗永平西刀鱼丸”,纪录片所收录的跟我在店里短暂交谈的资讯是一致的。可以看看精心制作的《我来自新村》怎么说:
元延的创办人陈敃菁在永平出生,如今已经将近70岁了:“我妈妈说我是吃番薯长大的,很少吃到白饭。…我的爸爸因为被人诬蔑说他协助共产党,只好逃难到外地去。我的父亲在1957年去世。”

后来,陈敃菁回到永平,钻研出属于自家鱼丸制作的秘方:“我创业的时候没有想过继承的问题,守业和继承这行业的问题就看孩子的兴趣。”

继承父业的陈春翰为了不想父亲的心血白费了,所以回到小镇,准备把父亲的事业发扬光大,既然已经选择了,就好好的推广下去:“我是一个很向往到城市去生活的年轻人,我从小就告诉自己,我长大后不要住在永平,因为我觉得这里很落后,设施不好,交通不方便。后来住下来了,一切就顺其自然。毕竟我从小就在这里长大,这个地方其实也不错永平已经慢慢的在进步了。”

(西刀鱼丸配福州面,简单而温馨的口感)

(西刀鱼饼,童年的感觉)


马共


关于紧急状态下在永平新村的一些遭遇,江义顺和杨吉阳的回忆:“永平是著名的黑区,英国雇佣了很多非洲兵,他们非常野蛮人被抓进橡胶园,被打,人倒在地上还被践踏,没多久就死了,把他卖掉。”

杨顺发说:“他们打死了一个马共分子,把他带到警察局,摆在警察局门口让人们看。”

(永平老一辈人的回忆:那些兵是很野蛮的...图片来源:ASTRO 《我来自新村》)

对今天许多马来西亚的年轻人来说,新村是一个熟悉但却很普通的词汇,新加坡的年轻人也许把新村当作类似组屋区的某某新镇般来看待。在世界史上,新村也许是个独一无二、意义非凡的活遗产。六十余年后的今天,居住在新村的华人从50万增加至120万,已经有第三代华人,承载了许多无法抹去的情感与经历。

新村的起源无疑是英国殖民地政府的产物,但它离不开一个似乎很普通的名字:王文华(1924-2013)。他有另外一个人们熟悉的名字:陈平,他是马来亚共产党,简称马共的总书记。1947年,23岁的陈平成为马共的总书记,因为在日战时期抗日有功,获得英国殖民地政府勋赐,但陈平并没有领取勋章。1948年,殖民地政府通过紧急状态来全面镇压马共,陈平成为头号通缉人物,悬赏$250,000。Janet的陈平系列有详细的追述

经过四十余年的抗争后与马来西亚和泰国政府签下和平协议,1989年12月缴械,在泰南勿洞成立了和平村。2013年陈平逝世,但是马来西亚政府拒绝让他回到童年的故乡:霹雳实兆远。

相关链接
永平鱼丸
马来亚的紧急状态时期:峇冬加里屠杀案中案
峇冬加里屠杀案中案
Janet的陈平系列
勿洞 - 泰南的小城大事
陈平的遗愿信

Tuesday, December 09, 2014

处在夹缝间的玛丽亚(Maria Hertogh - In Search of Identity)- 二之二

最后的审判


1120日,上诉庭开审,玛丽亚的生母艾德琳飞到新加坡来,两人终于在八年后重逢,但玛丽亚告诉她:“我不要跟你们回去,我要跟阿米娜在一起。你根本就不爱我,你将我送了给别人,我为什么要跟你在一起?我已经决定跟我的丈夫在一起。”

玛丽亚告诉母亲艾德琳:“我不要跟你们回去,我要跟阿米娜在一起。你根本就不爱我,你将我送了给别人,我为什么要跟你在一起?我已经决定跟我的丈夫在一起。” 图片来源:Straits Times

在上诉庭上,艾德琳表示当年只是将玛丽亚交给阿米娜帮忙照顾几天,她并不同意领养这回事。生下孩子后,她要带回玛丽亚,但是在路途中被日本军扣留,被释放后已经找不到阿米娜了。

阿米娜的说法则不一样,她说当时双方已经同意由阿米娜领养孩子,艾德琳的亲兄弟Soewaldi也在场,所以她决不放弃孩子的监护权。

承审的布朗法官(Justice Brown)认为双方的供词都不可靠,他问玛丽亚想要跟谁。

玛丽亚对养母感情深厚:“我不要跟我的母亲,我要跟我的养母在一起。”

布朗法官也提问玛丽亚只懂得马来语,回去荷兰是否会碰到语言障碍。荷兰大使供证时强调战后许多不会荷兰语的孩子回到荷兰,都能够适应祖国的生活。

122日,下判的日子终于到来,上诉庭必须作出两项裁决:一是婚姻的合法性,二是玛丽亚的抚养权归谁所有。

法官通晓的是英国法律而不是回教法,在这个环节上,英国法律所考量的是女孩在这个年龄是否已经有自行判断,作出正确决定的能力。法官根据大英律法,接受玛丽亚原国籍(荷兰)的法律,而不接受回教法下十三岁的马来传统婚姻。

此外法官也认为玛丽亚年纪还小,她当然希望留在马来亚,跟她熟悉的“家人”在一起。作为法官,他必须根据玛丽亚的合法父亲的意愿,决定什么是将玛丽亚养育成人的最佳方式。

“It is natural that she should now wish to remain in Malaya among people whom she knows. But who can say that she will have the same views some years hence after her outlooks has been enlarged, and her contacts extended, in the life of the family to which she belongs?”
---Justice Brown

布朗法官指责阿米娜和曼梭等人尝试通过可耻的结婚行动来妨碍司法公正,他作为一名法官,职责是让玛丽亚这个小女孩翻开人生新的一页,重新生活,从此不需要经历重重的诉讼。


“(Maria's marriage to Inche Mansoor Adabi is)a discreditable manoeuvre designed to prejudice these proceedings...... What I am concerned now is that this child should start a new life altogether without being concerned in any further proceedings.”
---Justice Brown

闻讯后养母阿米娜伤痛欲绝,当场晕厥过去;玛丽亚被带到汤申路的善牧罗马天主教修道院(Roman Catholic Convent of the Good Shepherd, Thomson Road),她的生母艾德琳也到同一家修道院寄宿。

(阿米娜上诉失败,永远失去玛丽亚的抚养权,伤心地离开法庭。
图片来源:NAS 11 Dec 1950)

是宗教之争,还是正义之争?

在等待下一轮上诉期间,报章记者可以自由进入修道院。125日,英文报(Singapore Standard)在头版刊登了玛丽亚跟修道院长的亲密照,报道玛丽亚如何换下沙龙,改穿西装,除了使用“回教抚养不敌血緣关系”之类的敏感字句,还通过“玛丽亚跪在圣母玛丽亚的雕像前”的标题(Bertha knelt before Virgin Mary Statue)来刺激回教社群。多年以后玛丽亚被问起此事,她说当时记者安排拍摄这些照片时,她并不知道自己被利用。


英文报(Singapore Standard通过“玛丽亚跪在圣母玛丽亚的雕像前”的标题(Bertha knelt before Virgin Mary Statue)来刺激回教社群。图片来源:www.slideshare.net

(刺激回教徒的照片:玛丽亚在修道院,开心的跟修女在一起。图片来源:  National Archive The Hague 2356848-501212-13)

(刺激回教徒的照片:玛丽亚在修院学弹钢琴。图片来源:光明日报)

(刺激回教徒的照片:玛丽亚开心地等待回荷兰。图片来源:ANP photo)

马来报章(Utusan Melayu)以牙还牙,127日刊登了三张玛丽亚伤心饮泣,修女在一旁安慰的照片,并将这起官司形容为“灵魂争夺战”。

甘尼(Karim Ghani)是一名极端的淡米尔族回教徒, 128日,他在苏丹回教堂发表演说,告诉回教徒这不只是玛丽亚个人的问题,这也不只是回教徒的问题,这是关系到整个回教法律,谴责法庭的判决是对回教的歧视。他告诉在场聆听的穆斯林警察,你有职权在身,不支持我没关系,但至少不要干涉抗议行动。甘尼甚至表示在逼不得已的情况下,圣战(Jihad)将是唯一的途径。


(12月7日,马来报章Utusan Melayu 还击,刊登玛丽亚伤心饮泣,修女在一旁安慰的照片,并将这起官司形容为“灵魂争夺战”。图片来源:互联网

129日,甘尼成立了一个玛丽亚行动委员会(Nadra Action Committee),来自雪兰莪、彭亨、吉兰丹和阿米娜的家乡甘马望的马来人参与支援,暴乱一触即发。

警察总长意识到事态的严重性,向上司(Colonial Secretary)请命,建议扣留甘尼,并将玛丽亚从修道院转送到保良局去,以避免进一步刺激回教徒。殖民地政府表示只知道华人会在新马搞乱,但从来没听说过马来人会扰乱社会秩序,结果不了了之。

不只是暴动而已


1211日,甘尼发表公开信,要法官别宣布审讯结果,否则将会有灾难性的后果。法庭依时开庭,仅用了五分钟就驳回阿米娜的上诉。这时候聚集在高等法庭外的马来人和印度族回教徒开始闹事,马来族警察同情回教徒,采取了消极不应对的态度,导致暴乱升级。在亚拉街(Arab street)、桥北路(North Bridge Road)、惹兰勿剎(Jalan Besar)、实龙岗(Serangoon)、芽笼(Geylang)以及加东(Katong)等地,路上的车辆被暴民纵火,受害者被暴民扔入水沟等。殖民地政府宣布戒严两个星期,并从马来亚各地调集辜加兵前来镇压,才控制了局面。持续两天针对白人的暴乱事件造成18人死,173人受伤,119辆汽车被破坏。

(暴乱中其中一名死者。图片来源:SBC 1988)

暴乱的18名死者中,其中一个个案是英国人约翰(John Davies)。他跟妻子和八岁的女儿坐在巴士车上,却被暴徒扯下车毒打,匆忙间跳下沟渠,希望可以捡回一命,但事与愿违,约翰在无路可逃下伤重身亡,妻子和女儿则无恙。

1212日,玛丽亚在生母艾德琳的陪同下登上飞机,向童年的家乡挥别。

1215日,玛丽亚抵达荷兰,受到夹道欢迎。荷兰报章(De Telegraaf)说玛丽亚看起来只有十岁大,言外之意就是在“森林”被虐待,导致营养不良。玛丽亚能够脱离苦海是少数的幸运儿之一,因为在许多殖民地国家,有很多类似玛丽亚的孩子滞留在当地,成为别人的养子养女,过着悲惨的生活。

玛丽亚抵达荷兰,受到群众欢呼。图片来源:CNA 2014)

这起事件也挑起共产国家与资本主义列强的政治斗争。英美报章(例如Manchester Guardian, New York Times)指责共产党在背后主导这场暴乱,苏联则在联合国会议上回击,指责玛丽亚事件违反人权,这不是起强迫婚姻,而是强迫离婚,这才是暴乱的源头。

殖民地政府成立的调查委员会发表调查报告(1951),指责马来警员没有及时执行任务是暴动的导因,也认为没有阻止记者进入修道院处理失当,但并没有指出基督教与回教间的敏感性,也不认为法庭审理有误,没有考虑到阿米娜和玛丽亚之间深厚的母女情。

(调查委员会发表调查报告(1951),指责马来警员没有及时执行任务是暴动的导因。
图片来源:SBC 1988)

还有值得一提,但许多后来的研究与报道都忽略的是在向调查团供证时,当时的警察总长R.C.B. Wiltshire在事发现场,他认为报章不公正确实的报道已经挑起了民众激烈的情绪,警察开枪来尝试控制高等法庭外的局面是引起现场群众暴动的根源(The Straits Times, Feb 21, 1951)。

法庭的终极判决在西方法律眼中是顺理成章的大团圆结局,但在一些英国报章(例如Manchester Guardian)眼里,认为殖民地政府又再一厢情愿的作出决定,严重忽略了托付回教女子给天主教会的后果;苏联报章(Pravda)指责英国政府采用一贯的手段,歧视殖民地人民;至于在马来人的情义至上的世界里,公义到底在何方?

(英国报章Manchester Guardian认为殖民地政府又再一厢情愿的作出决定,严重忽略了托付回教女子给天主教会的后果。图片来源:SBC 1988)

当然如果往前追溯,战争是一个导因,如果没有战争,玛丽亚就不会跟她的生父一家人分离,阿米娜也会过着平静的生活。再往前追溯,也许错就错在殖民地主义霸权。

曼梭认为法庭认为他和玛丽亚的婚姻无效是个错误的判决,于是上诉到伦敦枢密院,不过他的上诉无效。

经历过这起事件,阿米娜心衰力竭,从此过着自闭的生活,她在二十年后(1970)去世。

前市议会主席麦尼斯怎么看?


前新加坡市议会主席麦尼斯(Sir Percy McNeice)在口述历史中(Oral History Centre 000099/16)觉得荷兰人认为玛丽亚身为一名白人女子,必须在欧洲家庭里成长,不能跟马来人在一起,这种单向思考是完全错误的。荷兰当局自以为拯救了玛丽亚,其实是毁了她的一生。如果玛丽亚留在阿米娜身边,跟丈夫曼梭在一起,她可能会比较开心,她的生活也会过得好一些。玛丽亚虽然皮肤白皙,看起来不像马来人,但没关系,马来人喜欢肤色较浅的孩子,在那个战争的年代,许多马来人收养华人的孩子也是基于这个原因。

麦尼斯觉得当时法庭认为玛丽亚其实是来自天主教家庭,不是个回教徒,所以让她入住修道院是个大错误;保良局没有宗教色彩,是个较合理的栖身之地。

麦尼斯也批评记者Lilian Buckle,她的丈夫在社会福利部工作,因此获得许多内幕消息。Lilian Buckle利用这个优势,进入修道院,拍摄了许多煽动性的照片,刊登在报章上。这项举动激怒了马来人,认为白人侵犯了玛丽亚的宗教自由,在回教世界里,这是不可饶恕的罪行。

挥之不去的忧伤


玛丽亚在19岁那年成婚,婚后育有13名孩子,其中3名孩子不幸夭折。

1975年,在荷兰的电视现场转播节目中,玛丽亚接受访问,她没想到当局竟然通过越洋连线,安排曼梭在电视的另一端上节目。曼梭抱着孩子,太太坐在一旁,表示已经另组家庭,很感激阿拉赐予他美满的家庭生活。曼梭的出现挑起玛丽亚伤心的回忆,她觉得自己的幸福被无情地剥夺了,在情绪失控下密谋杀害亲夫但被揭发,法官考虑到玛丽亚悲惨的人生,判她无罪释放。玛丽亚无法继续跟丈夫一起生活,在1980年离婚。

(1975年,玛丽亚接受荷兰电视台现场访问,她没想到当局竟然通过越洋连线,安排曼梭在电视的另一端上节目,表情愕然。图片来源:CNA 2014)

(曼梭在电视的另一端说生活如意,感谢阿拉赐予他美满的家庭。图片来源:CNA 2014

1999年,62岁的玛丽亚终于得偿心愿,回到童年的甘马望,会见阿米娜的家人,童年一起读书玩耍的好友,并探望躺在病床上奄奄一息的日本籍姐姐Kamariah。随后玛丽亚来到新加坡,回到曾经短住的修道院,不免触景生情,跪在地上痛哭。她表示感觉非常空虚,就像当年从法庭来到这里的时候一样。

(1999年,62岁的玛丽亚回到甘马望,探望躺在病床上奄奄一息的日本籍姐姐Kamariah。
图片来源:CNA 2014

(1999年,玛丽亚回到曾经短住的修道院,不免触景生情,跪在地上痛哭。
图片来源:CNA 2014

2009年,玛丽亚因血癌去世。去世前两个月,玛丽亚接受Monsoon Pictures的专访,回忆起过去的点点滴滴,还是坚持说阿米娜的抚养权是合法的,她相信领养文件就在艾德琳的兄弟Soewaldi 手上。她并不想离开阿米娜,不愿意离开原任丈夫曼梭,更不想回荷兰。玛丽亚童年的经历一辈子都烙印在她的脑海中,挥之不去,郁郁而终。

玛丽亚的三个孩子在母亲去世后来到新马,走了一趟寻根之旅,也会见了Kamariah的后人(Rokaya)。根据他们的说法,妈妈的生命是一场人文悲剧,如果当时法庭判决玛丽亚留在阿米娜身边,结局可能会很不一样。

不过时间不会倒流,历史也没有如果。

(玛丽亚的三个孩子来到新加坡寻根。图片来源:CNA 2014)

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