Thursday, 21 May 1987. 05:00 AM.
Internal Security Department officers move swiftly across Singapore, arresting 16 community leaders in a series of coordinated dawn raids.
No warrants. No trials. No immediate explanation.
This marked the beginning of Operation Spectrum, one of the most controversial chapters in Singapore’s modern history.
Over the next few months, we will follow the 1987 timeline dates and release 28 never-before-seen historical documents detailing the immediate, chaotic international response to the arrests.
We begin today with the original, urgent Telex distress call sent directly from Hong Kong to global human rights watchdogs, alongside the emergency mobilization files from the Law Society and local church groups.
Below are the raw transcripts of the same message sent to different world bodies.
Another Telex update will be sent on 26 May 1987.
Leave a Reply