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WORLD NEWS Monday 11 June 2018

Singapore Postcard: Summit island hides macabre history

By ANNABELLE LIANG gathered outside the
SINGAPORE (AP) — A new hotel and across the
surveillance camera was road, waiting for signs that
installed and restaurants officials had arrived. Only
closed on Singapore's authorized vehicles were
Sentosa Island, a popular allowed to enter, and
tropical getaway thrust into hotel restaurants were not
the spotlight ahead of a taking reservations until
summit between President after the summit. Police
Donald Trump and North have marked the island
Korean leader Kim Jong Un. and some of its surrounding
Located a quarter mile waters as a "special event
(400 meters) off the coast area," where loud-hailers,
of the city-state, Sentosa flags or banners over a
is no stranger to celebrities meter (yard) long or wide
and VIPs. It is linked to are banned.
the city by a bridge and At a preserved fort, World
home to high-end resorts, War II cannons were
golf courses and a large decorated with flowers to
amusement park. honor the historic meeting.
The macabre history of the Lilies, eustomas, gerberas
island, which will become and olives were "chosen
the venue of the historic In this Saturday, June 9, 2018, photo, a World War II cannon is decorated with flowers to honor the specifically for their
summit on Tuesday, is less historic meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on representation as symbols
known. June 12, 2018. of peace."
In the 18th century, when Associated Press Adam Chen, a visitor from
Singapore was a British Hong Kong, thought that it
colony, an unknown of death from behind." Poh, a former member of doesn't expect the Trump- was a nice gesture. "I hope
epidemic killed off most of In 1970, the island parliament, spent 23 years Kim summit to affect his the talks are a success," he
its population of 60. Only was renamed after a in jail and under loose business. said.
two households survived. nationwide contest. house arrest there. "I think it's very good. Once Foreign worker Authur
During World War II, the Sentosa was subsequently He worked as a freelance they come, a lot of people Belver said he wouldn't be
British used artillery forts developed as a resort and translator for the island's will come here. All the bothered by extra security
and a battery on the island expanded on reclaimed management, before he Singaporeans want to see checks.
to unsuccessfully fend land. was allowed to visit the them," he said. "Ever since I've been
off a Japanese invasion, Nevertheless, Lee Kuan mainland for a short time The resort island plans to working here, the
which transformed it into a Yew, Singapore's prime every day and set free. keep welcoming tourists government's doing a great
prisoner-of-war camp. minister from 1959 to 1990, These days, the island this week despite boosted job in keeping Singapore
It's no wonder the island used the island to hold attracts around 19 million security for the summit as peaceful as possible.
was known as Pulau long-term political prisoners visitors every year. at the 112-room Capella The Singapore government
Blakang Mati, which who were often detained Mohamed Shafie, a Singapore hotel. is really capable of doing
roughly translates as "island without trial. Chia Thye 79-year-old snake charmer, A group of journalists it," Belver said.q