Thread on @eisen and his lawyers' letter... (embedded the letter for those who haven't seen it)
1/ I used to interact with Eisen on Twitter years ago 'cos I found his tweets on #Singapore history fun and interesting, but unfollowed upon his charge/conviction.
1/ I used to interact with Eisen on Twitter years ago 'cos I found his tweets on #Singapore history fun and interesting, but unfollowed upon his charge/conviction.
2/ After he served his sentence I thought about what my reaction should be. Is it enough that he's done his time and served his sentence? How much space should he be allowed to pick up his life/redeem himself? What are the parameters of his having a second chance?
3/ Ultimately, I didn't/don't have any power to be the one to really decide on any of those questions, but it was important to me to consider them, to consider my own response. This was especially important to me because...
4/ ...so much of my activism has also included advocating for abolition of the #deathpenalty and 'second chances' for death row inmates; I've asked for mercy for drug traffickers and murderers (although these 'second chances' would still have involved life imprisonment).
5/ This was why, when I was putting together my Singapore Twitter list and asking for suggestions, I didn't reply to a lot of you who suggested @eisen. For a brief moment I added him, thinking, "Maybe, if he's served his sentence and his tweets on #Singapore are interesting?"
6/ But shortly after adding I removed him again. He's served his sentence, and if he's not re-offending and doing his best w/ his work, I hope that he's also working to make amends. But that doesn't mean that I should, or want to, amplify someone who has preyed on the vulnerable.
7/ But this lawyers' letter shows that @eisen is still prioritising his own hurt feelings over accountability — which doesn't end just 'cos someone's completed their jail time. And not all pointing to someone's previous crime is discrimination against ex-cons.
8/ Seriously, starting the letter with 'I'm not trying to intimidate you' and ending it with 'but if you stay your course I'll have to take action, I reserve all my rights'?
I'm trying to think of something more articulate but all that's coming to me is "fuck you lah"
I'm trying to think of something more articulate but all that's coming to me is "fuck you lah"
9/ @eisen's crime and conviction is a matter of public record. It's unsurprising that, if he puts himself out in public, it'll surface from time to time. todayonline.com/singapore/form…
10/ It should also be unsurprising that people will continue to judge him for his past deeds. Taking responsibility for what he's done, being accountable for them, and wanting to make amends would mean that he faces these blasts head on, instead of sending threats via lawyers.
11/ If @eisen is no longer the person he once was, after doing his jail time, then let him demonstrate it by stepping up to face up to what he did and find ways to 'repair' the harm he's done.
Read this about transformative justice:
Read this about transformative justice:
12/ "Our client's distress is not borne out of self-pity, but of the guilt that he carries with him..." Well, too bad buddy, that's part of your punishment too, you *should* feel guilt.
'Take down your tweets that reminded me of my guilt, or I'll sue you'... again, fuck you lah
'Take down your tweets that reminded me of my guilt, or I'll sue you'... again, fuck you lah
13/ Find your way to deal with your guilt by taking real responsibility and engaging in restorative practices. Don't try to shut people up when they talk about what you did 'cos it upsets you. If you feel icky inside, imagine how survivors who didn't even do anything wrong feel.
14/ 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
