Potential rioting at next year's IMF meeting in SG?
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Can something like this happen here?
Some worry that protests might take place at IMF-World Bank meetings here next year
By Chua Kong Ho
Dec 25, 2005
The Straits Times
THE nightmare of violence that rocked Hong Kong last week has given rise to a sense of foreboding that Singapore could face the same next September.
About 16,000 of the world's top money men and business leaders will congregate here from Sept 12 to 20 for the annual International Monetary Fund-World Bank meetings.
Mayhem at such meetings of rich and poor nations seems inevitable. The latest reminder were the scenes of clashes between militant South Korean farmers and Hong Kong police at last week's World Trade Organisation ministerial meetings. More than 1,000 protesters were arrested and about 200 protesters and police officers injured.
Can Singapore handle such battle-hardened protesters?
Security experts and activist groups believe measures can be taken to keep the situation under control, even prevent it.
For one, Singapore should suss out the troublemakers. Hong Kong apparently has a dossier of 300 key troublemakers from around the world.
But the most effective measure would be to stop activists with a history of violent protests from even setting foot in Singapore.
'The Singapore Government may wish to consider taking a harder line on granting visas to people with criminal records or a history of violence,' said Mr Andrew Work, executive director of the Lion Rock Institute in Hong Kong, which supports free trade.
Hong Kong was not strict in granting such entry permits, he added.
However, its police went to South Korea for weeks of training from their Korean counterparts, who are highly skilled and experienced in dealing with violent street protests.
Singapore should also do the same and take lessons from others, such as the United States and Italy, said Mr Richard Issacs, senior vice-president of New York-based security firm The Lubrinco Group, which provides global protective services for the rich, famous and powerful.
The US cities of Philadelphia and New York have held large- scale meetings without incident. However, Seattle in the US and Genoa in Italy can give tips on what not to do.
The Seattle authorities had to declare a state of emergency and impose curfews after rioters looted shops during the 1999 WTO meetings. Italian police shot dead one protester during clashes at the Group of Eight Summit in Genoa in 2001.
The Singapore organisers, however, appear unconvinced that public order will be under siege during the IMF-World Bank meetings.
Calling themselves the Singapore 2006 Organising Committee, its spokesman noted that accredited civil society organisations 'generally have a good track record of constructive behaviour' at past IMF-World Bank meetings.
Every three years, the IMF-World Bank holds its annual meetings outside the US.
At the 2000 meetings in Prague in the Czech Republic, protesters swarmed the venue. Teargas was used and the meetings wrapped up a day early although the organisers denied the protesters were the reason for it.
However, the 2003 meetings in Dubai passed without incident.
Mr Kishore Mahbubani, former ambassador to the United Nations and now dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, believes the benefits of hosting the meetings far outweigh the costs.
He said: 'It creates a stronger impression of Singapore among global policymakers who would all be visiting and networking during the meetings and dinners.'
During the nine days of meetings, Singapore expects to add $40 million to its coffers, said the Singapore Tourism Board.
However, businesses in Suntec City, where the meetings will be held, worry that the tight security could keep customers away.
They saw what happened at the Marina Bay area in July during the International Olympic Council meeting. Takings went down as shoppers stayed away.
ARA Trust Management (Suntec), which owns and manages the Suntec City mall, is taking preventive steps.
Said its chief executive Yeo See Kiat: 'We've been very candid with the authorities and are working very closely with them to ensure that security is tight. But they also recognise that business must go on.'
Mass Demonstrations in subdued SG? I think our immigration will bar such people from entering our city state already. -
Pretty possible that it will happen in Singapore. We do not know which tourist entering Singapore will be a potential rioter.
We just have to be prepared for that and pray that it will not happen. -
if all 300 comes, will our govt cane all of them?
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Yippee!!! At last we can get to see how our govt acts to this kind of thing instead of all the drills. Action speaks louder than mere words.
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oooo... ask the rioters to come!!! i really wan to see how our 'world class' police maintain peace and order
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Singapore style works on prevention better than cure.
First of all, you can expect trouble makers barred from entering Singapore.
Secondly, like they said, IMF World Bank meetings are not prone to attract protestors so there is unlikely to be a show down.
Finally, even if they start making trouble, I'm sure it will be put down very quickly.
My guess is, they will be broken up even when they start gathering.
In other words, there will be no mass protest and violence or very little of it. What do you think those Gurkhas with their kukri knives are for?
In the event if mass violence to breakout, you can expect a baton charge that will send a warning to the rest of the world not to mess with Singapore. I say we cane the arrested protestors for rioting. -
Wow, then the so-called bias Western Human Rights Group will have a field month.. might even call this a Singapore Tianamen Square.
Anyway, S'pore Riot equipment is a joke. There is simply no personal protection bodyarmour issued to the police. Their knees and shin area are open to attack. The koreans loved to use sticks and iron rods to those areas. The riot shields are of poor quality and hard to control and hold on to. The Headgears are simply construction helmets with poor visor fittings and no neck protection.
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Heng ah, i wun be deployed....SONG ! hor wa siam ger liao
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I agree with you that Singapore works on the basis of prevention is better than cure.Originally posted by Salman:Singapore style works on prevention better than cure.
First of all, you can expect trouble makers barred from entering Singapore.
Secondly, like they said, IMF World Bank meetings are not prone to attract protestors so there is unlikely to be a show down.
Finally, even if they start making trouble, I'm sure it will be put down very quickly.
My guess is, they will be broken up even when they start gathering.
In other words, there will be no mass protest and violence or very little of it. What do you think those Gurkhas with their kukri knives are for?
In the event if mass violence to breakout, you can expect a baton charge that will send a warning to the rest of the world not to mess with Singapore. I say we cane the arrested protestors for rioting.
However, how would we ever know anybody who steps into Singapore won't be a trouble maker? It's up to us to guess.
IMF World Banking meetings although are not prone to attract protestors, but there's always an element of surprise. This year IMF's meeting in Hong Kong is a good example.
As for how quickly will the trouble end really much depends on our police force skills. I may be wrong in this, most of our police officers are trained in just basic self defense skills and stuff, so I don't think we will be able to put down the protest fast unless with the help of STAR team and maybe the gurkhas. -
I think our police force will be fully capable of dealing with any potential riots.
Oh and fyi, STAR team is not for handling riots.. -
do rioters had the words "im a rioter" written on their forehead?Originally posted by Salman:Singapore style works on prevention better than cure.
First of all, you can expect trouble makers barred from entering Singapore.
Secondly, like they said, IMF World Bank meetings are not prone to attract protestors so there is unlikely to be a show down.
Finally, even if they start making trouble, I'm sure it will be put down very quickly.
My guess is, they will be broken up even when they start gathering.
In other words, there will be no mass protest and violence or very little of it. What do you think those Gurkhas with their kukri knives are for?
In the event if mass violence to breakout, you can expect a baton charge that will send a warning to the rest of the world not to mess with Singapore. I say we cane the arrested protestors for rioting.
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I think it is good to have riots so singapore police can gain some experience and more over if there is riot, then the whole world will know singapore better, and that makes singapore more famous on whole mapOriginally posted by RaTtY81:do rioters had the words "im a rioter" written on their forehead? -
Originally posted by t_a_s:I think it is good to have riots so singapore police can gain some experience and more over if there is riot, then the whole world will know singapore better, and that makes singapore more famous on whole map
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I highly doubt that this is gonna happen.
But it'll be wicked if it does! FINALLY the riot police can put their training into practice. -
Well, they WERE deployed in the case of those four protestors in front of the CPF building.Originally posted by Lingos:I highly doubt that this is gonna happen.
But it'll be wicked if it does! FINALLY the riot police can put their training into practice. -
Well, you never know. Probably Singapore will deploy whatever we have to put down the protest.Originally posted by Pitot:I think our police force will be fully capable of dealing with any potential riots.
Oh and fyi, STAR team is not for handling riots.. -
That's what I'm trying to say, but Salman doesn't seem to understand.Originally posted by RaTtY81:do rioters had the words "im a rioter" written on their forehead? -
just ignor him....
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I think it is the WTO that historically is proned to rioting and not the IMF.
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Hehe, my friend joined in the protest at HK as a 'representative' of Singapore.
Well, she was on tour then, and kpo ot see what was happening at the conference venue.
Apparently, she said everyone is quite friendly and peaceful in their protest. I think its only the Koreans. And when they need somebody to represent each country of the world, she volunteered. -
OH yeah i forgot the 5 threatening looking placard holding people.Originally posted by fudgester:Well, they WERE deployed in the case of those four protestors in front of the CPF building.
Sad. -
ya nothing much about it in hk actually... i was thinking of go take photo myself actually but too busy that time.... even the korean are very organised and guai most of the time.... dunno if they show in sg or not... got the 1) the 3 step 1 bow by them? 2) got see them pick up the rubbish after the protest? 3) got see the do 5BX together in the morning?Originally posted by laurence82:Hehe, my friend joined in the protest at HK as a 'representative' of Singapore.
Well, she was on tour then, and kpo ot see what was happening at the conference venue.
Apparently, she said everyone is quite friendly and peaceful in their protest. I think its only the Koreans. And when they need somebody to represent each country of the world, she volunteered.
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woah, but when the koreans start to protest, they look fierce worOriginally posted by I-like-flings(m):ya nothing much about it in hk actually... i was thinking of go take photo myself actually but too busy that time.... even the korean are very organised and guai most of the time.... dunno if they show in sg or not... got the 1) the 3 step 1 bow by them? 2) got see them pick up the rubbish after the protest? 3) got see the do 5BX together in the morning? 
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if they mobilised the riot police for 4 harmless protestors you can expect them to mobilise the entire saf for hundreds of militant protestors.
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Social activists are the least of the problems.
Terrorists are the more worrisome ones.