Changes

At the outbreak of [[World War II]], Singapore was regarded as a well-defended base for the Allies in the Far-East.  However, on February 15, 1942 Singapore fell to the [[Japanese]] after six-days of fighting. The occupation of the next three and a half years was brutal with many atrocities and war-crimes being committed. The island was renamed Syonan (Light of the South) until the defeat of Japan.  The occupying forces formally surrendered to the British at the Changi prison-camp in September 1945.

At the outbreak of [[World War II]], Singapore was regarded as a well-defended base for the Allies in the Far-East.  However, on February 15, 1942 Singapore fell to the [[Japanese]] after six-days of fighting. The occupation of the next three and a half years was brutal with many atrocities and war-crimes being committed. The island was renamed Syonan (Light of the South) until the defeat of Japan.  The occupying forces formally surrendered to the British at the Changi prison-camp in September 1945.

[[File:Lee Kuan Yew.jpg|thumb|left|270px|Lee Kuan Yew, Ex-Prime Minister of Singapore, in office: 5 June 1959 – 28 November 1990.]]

[[File:Lee Kuan Yew.jpg|thumb|right|270px|Lee Kuan Yew, Ex-Prime Minister of Singapore, in office: 5 June 1959 – 28 November 1990.]]

In 1946, Singapore became a British Crown Colony. However, the communist insurgency in Malaya of 1948 put Singapore in a state of emergency for 12 years. There was a rise of nationalism during the 1950s as the merchant classes wanted to have a say in government and in 1959 Singapore was granted self-government under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew. In 1963 Singapore merged with [[Federation of Malaya|Federated Malaya]] and the Borneo states of Sarawak and North Borneo (Sabah) to create Malaysia.  The third Borneo state of Brunei opted for independence. This merger was actively opposed by the neighboring states of Indonesia and the Philippines. ''Singapore was particularly hard hit by the loss of its Indonesian barter trade. Indonesian commandos conducted armed raids into Sabah and Sarawak, and Singaporean fishing boats were seized by Indonesian gunboats. Indonesian terrorists bombed the Ambassador Hotel on September 24, beginning a year of terrorism and propaganda aimed at creating communal unrest in Singapore.'' [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field%28DOCID+sg0033%29 Singapore as Part of Malaysia.] The union did not last long, owing to ideological differences between Lee Kuan Yew's PAP (People's Action Party) and the federal government in Kuala Lumpur.  Singapore was obliged to withdraw and became a sovereign, independent nation on August 9, 1965. ''Lee declared Singapore a sovereign, democratic, and independent state. In tears he told his audience, "For me, it is a moment of anguish. All my life, my whole adult life, I have believed in merger and unity of the two territories."'' <ref>[http://www.loc.gov Singapore as Part of Malaysia.]</ref>

In 1946, Singapore became a British Crown Colony. However, the communist insurgency in Malaya of 1948 put Singapore in a state of emergency for 12 years. There was a rise of nationalism during the 1950s as the merchant classes wanted to have a say in government and in 1959 Singapore was granted self-government under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew. In 1963 Singapore merged with [[Federation of Malaya|Federated Malaya]] and the Borneo states of Sarawak and North Borneo (Sabah) to create Malaysia.  The third Borneo state of Brunei opted for independence. This merger was actively opposed by the neighboring states of Indonesia and the Philippines. ''Singapore was particularly hard hit by the loss of its Indonesian barter trade. Indonesian commandos conducted armed raids into Sabah and Sarawak, and Singaporean fishing boats were seized by Indonesian gunboats. Indonesian terrorists bombed the Ambassador Hotel on September 24, beginning a year of terrorism and propaganda aimed at creating communal unrest in Singapore.'' [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field%28DOCID+sg0033%29 Singapore as Part of Malaysia.] The union did not last long, owing to ideological differences between Lee Kuan Yew's PAP (People's Action Party) and the federal government in Kuala Lumpur.  Singapore was obliged to withdraw and became a sovereign, independent nation on August 9, 1965. ''Lee declared Singapore a sovereign, democratic, and independent state. In tears he told his audience, "For me, it is a moment of anguish. All my life, my whole adult life, I have believed in merger and unity of the two territories."'' <ref>[http://www.loc.gov Singapore as Part of Malaysia.]</ref>