Petition-signing at Burmese embassy in Singapore
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Petition-signing at Burmese embassy in Singapore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7Yg05RDcZ4
Steady stream of petitioners despite harassment by Singapore police
It started quietly with Mr Gandhi Ambalam, Dr Chee Soon Juan and Ms Chee Siok Chin setting up a small table in front of the Burmese Embassy at St MartinÂ’s Drive. Daw Aung San Suu KyiÂ’s poster was strategically propped up to ensure maximum visual impact.
It didnÂ’t take long for the police show up. Dr Chee was warned that the gathering was an offence under the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
By about 3 pm, the crowd started to build up. As they visitors signed the petition, they also took the opportunity to write messages to the Burmese junta and posted them on the gates of the embassy. It didnÂ’t take long for the entrance to be covered up with angry notes.
Sufficiently startled, the police swung into action. ASP Deep Singh went around the crowd asking for all to leave the place as it “was an offence for five or more people to be assembled without a permit.” He received a polite but defiant applause for his efforts.
His subordinates were, meanwhile, diligently confronting visitors at the entrance to St MartinÂ’s Drive. They were asking for particulars and telling people that they could not go to sign the petition.
Despite their best efforts, however, many people ignored the policeÂ’s half-hearted and confused demands. What if the people there were residents in the area or were visiting friends?
More important, under what provision of the law can the police stop people from walking down a street?
And so people continued to make their way to the Burmese embassy and at one point they numbered more than 200. Each and every one of them sat quietly on the pavement after they signed the petition, in solidarity with the brothers and sisters at home.
Many were deep in prayer. Others sat stoically and munched absent-mindedly on their dinner. Even when an embassy car drove up to enter the compound, the crowd quietly parted to allow it through. No shouts, no cussing. Just dignified anger.
It was a moving sight spoilt only by the pig-headedness of a government to not allow any peaceful gathering as long as it didnÂ’t adorn the PAP badge.
Come and support the Burmese democratic revolution. Don't look the other way and pretend that nothing's happening. See you tonight outside the Burmese embassy.
http://www.singaporedemocrat.org/articleburmaprotest6.html -
SDP has no business there.
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Every decent Singaporean with a conscience has good reasons to be there...
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Yah true. Perhaps i'm biased against them. I see Chee Soon Juan using this opportunity to further his own cause, nothing more. Let the Burmese take care of their own problems with the embassy. Chee doesn't need to look like the "leader" or portray himself to be.
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I think it was appropriate for him to be there as he has similarly suffered but at the hands of a different regime.
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I see no reason why Chee Soon Juan shouldn't be there.
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Thats bull. If you compare to the monks, he is sill alive and he has not sustained any injuries. If you want to compare to Aung San Suu Kyi, she was voted in, he is not. Further, she is placed on house arrest while he in-out-in-out as and when he pleases to violate the law. He compares himself to Gandhi, Mandela, Aung, etc. He is clearly not.Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:I think it was appropriate for him to be there as he has similarly suffered but at the hands of a different regime. -
He, of all people would be able to empathize best, not just empathize but sympathize with the Burmese people suffering at the hands of a brutal regime.
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But they fight for same cause -- democracy.
Chee Soon Juan sees Singapore as a one-party state with a facade of democracy. -
People moan when opposition doesn't assert themselves... people complain when opposition assert themselves.Originally posted by kramnave:Yah true. Perhaps i'm biased against them. I see Chee Soon Juan using this opportunity to further his own cause, nothing more. Let the Burmese take care of their own problems with the embassy. Chee doesn't need to look like the "leader" or portray himself to be.
Mmmh but given our government's close ties with Myanmar junta, I wouldn't be surprise that our government wishes to avoid giving any explanation on their ''links''... hence the need to prevent a public outcry. -
Most people would be. When you see the papers, when you watch news, when you go to the forums, most will feel the same. He hasn't died, his head wasn't cracked, he is not bloodied....we read why the Burmese demonstrate. We understand but we never have been in their shoes and neither has he.Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:He, of all people would be able to empathize best, not just empathize but sympathize with the Burmese people suffering at the hands of a brutal regime. -
Opposition ? look at WP. It clear that the only thing SDP wants is PAP's downfall and the right to dissent, they want demonstrations etc. They should become activists, not politicians. There is nothing else they want or can offer.Originally posted by bigmouthjoe:People moan when opposition doesn't assert themselves... people complain when opposition assert themselves.
Mmmh but given our government's close ties with Myanmar junta, I wouldn't be surprise that our government wishes to avoid giving any explanation on their ''links''... hence the need to prevent a public outcry. -
He went to jail before .. counted?Originally posted by kramnave:Thats bull. If you compare to the monks, he is sill alive and he has not sustained any injuries. If you want to compare to Aung San Suu Kyi, she was voted in, he is not. Further, she is placed on house arrest while he in-out-in-out as and when he pleases to violate the law. He compares himself to Gandhi, Mandela, Aung, etc. He is clearly not.
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According to Chee Soon Juan, elections are just a charade in Singapore.
For show only.
There is no way that opposition can get into power in Singapore via elections, according to Dr Chee. -
Then be a respectable politician rather than be a lout. What is he rather than an activist ? You don't fight for your lonely cause without the citizen's vote. Nothing fruitfull will happen in Sg. No need to ride on the Burmese's misery and cause extra tension at the embassy by being a pest there. Let them do their own things.Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:But they fight for same cause -- democracy.
Chee Soon Juan sees Singapore as a one-party state with a facade of democracy. -
come on .. if the opposition contains people like him .. you think they ever get voted in?Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:According to Chee Soon Juan, elections are just a charade in Singapore.
For show only.
There is no way that opposition can get into power in Singapore via elections, according to Dr Chee.
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When a permit is required for compassion - disgusting
http://lalaland9.wordpress.com/2007/10/01/when-a-permit-is-required-for-compassion-disgusting/
Other countries all can demonstrate, all can protest.
Only Singapore with bullshit laws cannot protest.
And they still dare to call this the city of possibilities, don't make me laugh! -
Be it activist, opposition, anything.. I just hope that someone makes a noise. PAP is getting to smug.Originally posted by kramnave:Opposition ? look at WP. It clear that the only thing SDP wants is PAP's downfall and the right to dissent, they want demonstrations etc. They should become activists, not politicians. There is nothing else they want or can offer.
PAP is associated with the Myanmar Junta... mmh Birds of a feather flock together? -
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Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:
Thats what i'm saying. Its a burmese problem. They have a serious issue but some quarters in Singapore are taking the opp and focusing on the point that Singapore has a problem, with Chee Soon Juan in the frontline, making a nuisance out of himself while riding on the misery of the Burmese.
[b]When a permit is required for compassion - disgusting
http://lalaland9.wordpress.com/2007/10/01/when-a-permit-is-required-for-compassion-disgusting/
Other countries all can demonstrate, all can protest.
Only Singapore with bullshit laws cannot protest.
And they still dare to call this the city of possibilities, don't make me laugh![/b] -
Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:
You let people protest things might get ugly. When feelings are high, tensions are high, people tend to do stupid things. Like during a soccer match, one spark could lead to a big fight between the supporters.
[b]When a permit is required for compassion - disgusting
http://lalaland9.wordpress.com/2007/10/01/when-a-permit-is-required-for-compassion-disgusting/
Other countries all can demonstrate, all can protest.
Only Singapore with bullshit laws cannot protest.
And they still dare to call this the city of possibilities, don't make me laugh![/b]
Usually protests don't solve the problem. NGOs protest frequently during those big-shot politician meetings, but what have they achieved?
Also with all the people outside making so much noise, how you expect the Burmese ambassador to work?
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That is what Chee Soon Juan stands for. Making a nuisance out of himself to bring Singapore down whenever possible, for his personal agenda. When drug traffickers are hanged he would go round and spread what barbaric laws Singapore has etc. Anytime there is a diplomatic spat he will side the foreign counterparty etc. He rides on compassionate grounds. However, when the Tsunami struck, did he go and help rebuild houses in the region when Singapore did ?
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You let people protest things might get ugly.
It's the people's right in a democracy. -
Precisely! You need them to be smug. When they are smug, they think the citizens are supporting them. You put them on "high alert" they will start dishing out carrots .. and citizens will think twice before voting for the opposition.Originally posted by bigmouthjoe:Be it activist, opposition, anything.. I just hope that someone makes a noise. PAP is getting to smug.
PAP is associated with the Myanmar Junta... mmh Birds of a feather flock together?
PAP associated with Junta .. I call that clever. You know the chinese term ba2 mian4 ling2 long2? -
if democracy is a means to an end .. then let's focus on that end.Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:It's the people's right in a democracy.