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Source:
www.gov.sg |
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Statement by Minister for
Defence Teo Chee Hean at Committee of Supply Debate |
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An Excerpt |
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Sir, Mr Tan Soo Khoon and Dr Ong Chit Chung
asked about the training deaths last year. |
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There were 4 training incidents that
resulted in fatalities in 2005. |
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In the first incident in June 2005, a
regular serviceman in training for the Special Operations Force drowned
during maritime counter-terrorist training. |
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This is very demanding training to carry out
the extremely difficult mission of approaching a ship which may be in
the open sea, and then taking it over, by force if necessary, with
minimum casualties to any hostages. |
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Only specially selected regular troopers who
volunteer for this Force undergo such training. And they are rigorously
prepared in step by step, progressive training, in order to be able to
conduct such missions. It is a very very demanding mission. These are
things which ordinary human beings don't do. |
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These are very special men and I certainly am deeply
grateful and the nation should be deeply grateful that there are men,
Singaporeans who are prepared to volunteer for such missions and to put their
lives on the line at anytime, 24 hours a day when they are called upon to
undertake a rescue mission. |
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The Attorney General's Chambers, after
reviewing the facts of the case, the investigation reports by the
Police, and the findings of the Coroner's Court, found no legal
grounds for proceeding with criminal charges against the four
servicemen who were conducting the training. |
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AGC has now referred the matter to
MINDEF for possible action under military law. |
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MINDEF will conduct further
investigations before we decide on the next course of action. If our
investigations show that any of the 4 servicemen has failed to
perform his duties as required, we will take the appropriate
disciplinary proceedings against the serviceman under military law. |
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The second incident in July 2005
involved two servicemen - an SAF serviceman and a foreign
serviceman. |
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They were doing helicopter rappelling
training when they fell after their ropes disengaged from the rope
attachment device on the helicopter. |
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The Police investigation is still in
progress. This training has since resumed after a thorough review
has been done and improvements were made to the rope attachment
device and dispatch procedures. |
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The other two cases were of two
servicemen who collapsed while taking part in runs and subsequently
died. |
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The autopsies revealed that these were
cases of Sudden Cardiac Death. Our investigations showed that the
medical responses in both cases were appropriate and adequate. |
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The SAF has a regime for screening for
cardiac risk factors, starting before a serviceman is enlisted. |
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But it is not always possible to detect
a heart ailment before a person suffers a heart attack. Over the
last five years, there were 6 cases of Sudden Cardiac Death in the
SAF that occurred during training. |
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Sir, the SAF will continue to strengthen
its safety systems and procedures, as well as its safety culture.
Even as we proceed with tough and realistic training - as we must,
to enhance the SAF¨s capabilities and operational readiness - MINDEF
will continue to make sure that we do so without compromising
safety. |
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On Ms Irene Ng's suggestion to erect a
memorial to commemorate servicemen who lost their lives in the line
of duty, MINDEF recognises that the servicemen who lose their lives
have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the country. We will
consider her suggestion. |
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During the SAF Day Parade on 1st July
each year, a minute's silence is observed to pay tribute to the
servicemen who lost their lives in the course of duty. This is a
deeply significant segment of the annual parade. MINDEF believes
that this is a meaningful and solemn recognition of SAF servicemen
who lost their lives during training. |
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Full Text of Speech |
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Source:
www.mindef.gov.sg Media
Release 6 Mar 2006 |
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FrontPage Edition: Thu 9 Mar 2006
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