#討論 #翻譯作業 英譯中 新聞翻譯
新加坡國立大學 化學系
SINGAPORE: Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam rejected the notion that Singapore is softening its stance on drugs as Parliament passed amendments on Tuesday (Jan 15) to the Misuse of Drugs Act, some of which will bolster the country's drug rehabilitation regime.
（新加坡訊）法務暨內政部長尚穆根 (K. Shanmugam) 針對星期二（1/15）國會通過之修改《濫用藥物法》一案為「對毒品立場趨軟」一說予以否認。新版法案也將加強新加坡戒毒機制。
One of the changes to the Act would allow recalcitrant drug abusers - who have been caught three times or more, but do not face other criminal charges - to be sent for rehabilitation instead of being put in jail.
Under the previous long-term imprisonment regime, these offenders faced at least five years in jail and three strokes of the cane.
新版法案的通過，意味著遭逮捕三次以上，但無其他刑事責任之吸毒累犯者可被送入戒毒所，而非將其監禁。在過去的重罪制度下，凡犯下上述罪行者，將面臨五年有期徒刑及三下鞭刑。
"There is a risk of these changes being characterised as we are going soft ... we will point out that the approach we are taking is based on evidence. It's not about going hard or going soft," Mr Shanmugam said during his closing speech in Parliament.
"The knowledge and experience built up over the last 20 years enables us to take a risk-based approach which, as far as possible, takes into consideration an individual's risk and protective factors so that the intervention is most effective and appropriate."
尚穆根在國會演說時說道：「這些改變可能會使外界認為我們立場趨軟。然而，我們必須聲明，我們採取的一切手段都是基於實證。我們在過去二十年所得到的知識與經驗促使我們採取風險管理的方法。在這樣的架構下，我們盡量考量每個個體的風險及保護性因素，使我們的介入更為正當且有效。」
During the debate, several Members of Parliament raised concerns that the move could be perceived as a softening of Singapore's stance on drugs.
"I am concerned that this approach may be perceived to be soft, a slap on the wrist, and may send the wrong signal to those tempted to experiment with drugs," MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC Chia Shi-Lu said.
在國會辯論時，部分議員提出了擔憂，並表示這項行動可能會被認為是對毒品趨軟。丹戎巴葛集選區議員謝世儒 (Chia Shi-Lu) 便說道：「我擔心這樣的方式可能會被認為過軟，且將對欲嘗試吸毒者傳達錯誤訊息。」
MP for Tampines GRC Desmond Choo asked if “removing the threat" of long-term imprisonment would send "conflicting signals" on Singapore's zero-tolerance approach to drugs, as he urged authorities to consider a cap on rehabilitation stints before a jail term is imposed.
淡濱尼集選區議員朱倍慶 (Desmond Choo) 則呼籲相關單位訂定吸毒者被送入戒毒所的次數上限，並也問及移除長期監禁的威脅，是否將傳達與毒品零容忍立場相互抵觸的訊息。
Mr Shanmugam said authorities will distinguish between offenders who consume drugs and those who also face charges for other offences.
Noting that the drug situation has improved - almost 5,800 abusers were arrested in 1996 as compared to slightly more than 3,000 in 2017 - Mr Shanmugam said authorities can afford to focus more on rehabilitation for abusers.
針對以上說法，尚穆根指出，相關單位將區分僅犯下吸毒罪以及同時因犯下其他罪行而遭起訴之罪犯。另外，基於毒品狀況得到改善（自 1996 年的 5800 名吸毒者下滑至 2017 的 3000 餘名），相關單位現在也可更專注於提供吸毒者戒毒療法。
"Long periods of detention can affect abusers' employability after they are released," he stated, adding that reintegration is also a challenge they face.
「長期監禁將對吸毒者的就業帶來影響。」尚穆根道，並指出更生人也面臨回歸社會的重大挑戰。
Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Sun Xueling said the Government is "keeping abreast with new research and developments" to better achieve its aim of reducing overall drug abuse.
"I also want to emphasise that we are not becoming more permissive about drugs," she added. "Drugs come at a high cost to society and suffering behind every abuser is a family. We have no reason to go soft and we must not."
內政部高級政務次長孫雪玲 (Sun Xueling) 指出，為了達成降低吸毒人數的目標，政府一直都有隨著新研究與發展調整腳步。她也說：「我必須強調，我們並沒有因此而增加對毒品的容忍。毒品不僅造成巨大社會成本，每個吸毒者背後也都意味著一個家庭的不幸。因此，我們沒有任理由且也不能趨軟。」
RESOURCES A CHALLENGE?
資源或為一大考驗？
Beyond matters of principle, the changes to the Act also mean that more drug abusers will enter the Drug Rehabilitation Centre. One out of every two abusers who may have been jailed will now qualify for rehabilitation, Mr Shanmugam said.
除了上述問題與觀點外，法案的修改也意味著更多吸毒者將進入戒毒所。尚穆根表示，每兩名吸毒者就有一人具進入戒毒所的資格。
The maximum period of detention in the centre will also be raised from three to four years.
戒毒所服刑時間上限也將增加，從原本的三年提升至四年。
Several MPs raised concerns about the resources needed to fulfil these initiatives, noting that counsellors already face challenges - like mental health stressors - in their jobs.
數名議員也針對落實這些倡議所需的資源表示關切，並指出輔導員當前已在工作上面臨許多挑戰，如心理壓力等。
"While the amendments do not foresee any increase in public expenditure, how much more support will be given to counsellors and halfway house employees and volunteers to help keep recidivism numbers low?" Workers’ Party MP Pritam Singh asked.
"The reality when we speak of rehabilitation and the new calibrated approach is that someone, somewhere will be on the delivery end of the outcome sought."
工人黨議員畢丹星 (Pritam Singh) 問道：「雖然法案的修改並不會帶來更多公共支出，但我們又能給予輔導員及重返社會訓練所裡的員工們多少支持，以助維持低再犯率？ 在討論戒毒治療時，我們必須意識到為達成目標，代表著這項工作必須有人去執行。」
Ms Sun acknowledged that the initiatives could be resource-intensive, but said the use of digital technology will help where possible.
For instance, she pointed to the Singapore Prison Service’s plans to hold counselling sessions via video-conferencing and an app containing self-help resources and a job database for former offenders as examples.
“The app and video conferencing initiatives will go a long way to benefiting inmates, including drug offenders,” she added.
孫次長意識到這些倡議所需之龐大資源，但也提到數位科技將在必要時予以輔助，例如新加坡監獄署將計劃透過視訊模式進行輔導，以及提供前罪犯自助資源與工作推薦平台的應用程式。她說：「應用程式與視訊輔導將為囚犯與吸毒者們帶來幫助。」
PROTECTING CHILDREN
保護孩童
The MPs, however, welcomed changes that would make it mandatory for parents and guardians of youth drug abusers who are under supervision orders to attend drug counselling.
If the parents or guardians refuse to be involved in the counselling without a reasonable excuse, the Court can fine them or order them to attend the sessions.
儘管上述立場出入，議員們依舊對法案的其他面向表示認同，如受監管青年吸毒者之家長與監護人也必須參加戒毒輔導。倘若他們無正當理由而拒絕參加，法院將有權開罰或勒令參加輔導。
In addition, the changes criminalise various acts that expose children to drugs. For example, it is now an offence for an adult to recklessly leave drugs or drug utensils within easy access of a child.
此外，新版法令也將針一系列使孩子有機會接觸毒品之行為刑事化。例如，罔顧後果地將毒品或吸毒工具置於孩子可取得之範圍，將負上刑事責任。
Mr Shanmugam said this serves to "protect children, young persons from the reckless acts of older people".
“We have to give the next generation the best chance of living a drug-free life,” he added. “Young people who have already started on drugs, we must provide them with the support to get out of that cycle as quickly as possible.”
尚穆根指出，這樣的改變，是為了針對長輩魯莽行為並給予孩子與年輕生命保護。「我們必須提供下一代一個無毒品的環境。至於已經涉毒之年輕人，我們則會幫助他們脫離毒品的控制。」他說道。剛翻譯好的文章，是這次的翻譯作業，歡迎討論。
對於這次的修法，我想總體來說是進步的。至少，可以看到新加坡官方逐漸擺脫了嚴刑峻法的緊箍咒，並轉向較溫和的戒毒療法與機制。我甚至可以說，我對尚穆根這位極保守派的部長如此捍衛思想相對進步的新版法案感到驚訝。
此外之前文章也提到，單靠監獄與重刑，而不重視戒毒與回歸社會的輔導，對於罪犯的再犯率方法來說無法起實際作用。相關論點請參考：不過，稍稍讓我失望的，是在走私毒品的刑罰方面，國家依舊沒有給予法官太多的量刑空間。希望政府在未來可以在這方面有更多作為。
