Operation Coldstore in Singapore in 1963

Fifty years after Operation Coldstore, it is certainly not too early to discuss our understanding of the experience of imprisonment. I maintain that I was imprisoned because I was part of the left-wing anti-colonialist movement and we posed a threat to Lee Kuan Yew in the upcoming 1963 general election.
Charges of communism and subversion are often leveled against people like me, a tactic reiterated and arbitrarily used even today. Our objections to these charges have been flatly ignored, with no attempt to provide evidence or specific circumstances to enable us to defend ourselves. Yet, we must respond, especially as I feel an obligation to speak for all my deceased friends. We were all once together, and I feel a sense of responsibility to explain our circumstances, the struggles we participated in, and our subsequent experiences.
——Dr. Fu Shujie

Operation Coldstore remains one of the most controversial events in Singapore's post-colonial history. Despite attempts by authorities to silence former detainees by warning them not to rewrite history in a way that differs from their own, the authors in this collection have defied warnings and resolutely rewrote history, documenting the facts from their own perspectives and perspectives.

Interwoven with the author's autobiographical narrative, the book brings to life these left-wing political figures who responded to the call to action, embraced the anti-colonial movement, and accepted the challenge of building a new society. These thought-provoking narratives, complemented by scholarly contributions, offer a profound analysis of the context of Singapore's historical events. These contributions also offer a critical reinterpretation of much of the history of Singapore that simply and blindly follows the narratives of those in power.

As we commemorate Operation Coldstore, we fully acknowledge the personal price paid by the most tenacious leaders of their generation, so that the people of Singapore can better understand the nature of state power throughout their society.