Petition-signing at Burmese embassy in Singapore
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Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:
I thought the Singapore government asked that the Burmese government not suppress peaceful demonstration?
[b]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[/b]
The Singapore government is so hypocritical.
I think the P4P government should practice what they preach. -
The key word is not to use VIOLENCE. "Peaceful" demonstrations were held in Malaysia recently. The government did suppress it but it was not violent. Asean wasn't bothered, neither was the world.Originally posted by maurizio13:I thought the Singapore government asked that the Burmese government not suppress peaceful demonstration?
The Singapore government is so hypocritical.
I think the P4P government should practice what they preach.
Edited as it wasn't that peaceful come to think of it. Not as violent though. -
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=484903
Based on what I read, I am glad Singapore is on such good terms with such affable and friendly Junta! -
Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:
Just the other day, George Yeo (the balls carrier) said that the Myanmar government should not suppress the peaceful demonstration. Then when a peaceful petition signing happens outside the Burmese embassy in Singapore, they send a team of police there to suppress it. Reason is assembly of more than 5 people is illegal (much like the law the Burmese government imposed on it's citizen).
[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]
P4P sucks!!!! -
Glad that we are on good terms with them.Originally posted by bigmouthjoe:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=484903
Based on what I read, I am glad Singapore is on such good terms with such affable and friendly Junta!
After all, people tend to listen to their friends more than to their enemies. If anyone is to persuade them to stop their killings, it should be us.
Or we should give them carrots - free medical treatment for you guys indefinitely.
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Think you still don't get the VIOLENCE part.Originally posted by maurizio13:Just the other day, George Yeo (the balls carrier) said that the Myanmar government should not suppress the peaceful demonstration. Then when a peaceful petition signing happens outside the Burmese embassy in Singapore, they send a team of police there to suppress it. Reason is assembly of more than 5 people is illegal (much like the law the Burmese government imposed on it's citizen).
P4P sucks!!!! -
Looking at the situation in totality, do you think ASEAN, China or UN can do anything?
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Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:
If we fear we will lost this freedom, the freedom is for the people who dare to use it, you have to use it. If you don't dare to use it you will loose it. This is up to you, now we are fighting for this freedom. We are not going to give it up. -protestor in video being interviewed
[b]Petition-signing at Burmese embassy in Singapore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7Yg05RDcZ4
I strongly agree with this. How about you Singaporeans, are you going to fight for your freedom? If the PAP want to stop it's hypocrisy it should not suppress peaceful demonstration in Singapore. Don't you think it is time to correct our assembly law in Singapore? -
I was there in my capacity as a citizen of an Asean country, never mind who organised it.
What I noticed was that there was no separation of signatories for both letters (one was to Myanmar regime and one to Singapore government). I had wanted to just sign the one for the Myanmar regime. This, I had feedback to the organisers, albeit not too directly. Anyway, I still went ahead to sign the combined petition and caught up on old times with the organisers whom I have known for some time.
At the entrance of St Martin's, I bumped into four police officers. One approached me to ask my purpose. I said, "To sign the petition, then I'll be off." He nodded slightly and walked away. He asked as a matter of factly and wasn't menancing. I don't feel suppressed and I think it depends on how one takes it.
However, the only thing I felt was why they would station police officers just to ask passer-by questions what they were up to. If I had an ill intention, would I tell them?
Regards -
Wayang.Originally posted by Melvin Tan:I was there in my capacity as a citizen of an Asean country, never mind who organised it.
What I noticed was that there was no separation of signatories for both letters (one was to Myanmar regime and one to Singapore government). I had wanted to just sign the one for the Myanmar regime. This, I had feedback to the organisers, albeit not too directly. Anyway, I still went ahead to sign the combined petition and caught up on old times with the organisers whom I have known for some time.
At the entrance of St Martin's, I bumped into four police officers. One approached me to ask my purpose. I said, "To sign the petition, then I'll be off." He nodded slightly and walked away. He asked as a matter of factly and wasn't menancing. I don't feel suppressed and I think it depends on how one takes it.
However, the only thing I felt was why they would station police officers just to ask passer-by questions what they were up to. If I had an ill intention, would I tell them?
Regards
Honestly, I think Singaporeans have become rather apathetic towards politics, and world affairs. Apathetic not because they boh chup, but because theres nothing they can do about it anyway, so why bother?
Sometimes I think its cos Singaporeans are Kiasu and Kiasee, just afraid of trouble. -
Singaporeans that I have come across who have little knowledge of politics, due to lack of interest or whatsoever, may not know enough to develop a certain depth and critical analysis. Not to belittle Singaporeans, they, of course, have the depth in their own fields, be it finance, engineering, law, medicine, operations, sales, administrative etc. which are acquired through extensive interest.Originally posted by Shotgun:Wayang.
Honestly, I think Singaporeans have become rather apathetic towards politics, and world affairs. Apathetic not because they boh chup, but because theres nothing they can do about it anyway, so why bother?
Sometimes I think its cos Singaporeans are Kiasu and Kiasee, just afraid of trouble.
This is not an easy problem to solve and spans several areas.
For one, there is fear. However, I do find that some political players end up instiling more fear even if their intentions were good.
This is why I relayed my incident with the police officer. He asked me a question like someone on the street asking me for directions. I answered and that was it. It doesn't achieve anything to get verbally tense and when you give him enough grounds to pin you, other people become fearful.
Regards -
Some political parties around the world practise activism. They are usually in cases where there are no elections or it is heavily rigged (in terms of vote count).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.
In Singapore, I guess it depends on how one views the PAP - whether it is like Iraq's Baath and North Korea's WPK (killed off all competition physically) or UK's Labour and Thailand's TRT (strong position despite in a country where votes are actually cast and tallied).
Regards -
I very much believe in PAP but alot of things they say are theoretical. I also believe in WP because they are very much down to earth. In reality, despite what i believe, there is a tradeoff as everybody has their experience in life as a Singaporean. I believe in PAP but i want WP, how do we reconcile ?Originally posted by Melvin Tan:Some political parties around the world practise activism. They are usually in cases where there are no elections or it is heavily rigged (in terms of vote count).
In Singapore, I guess it depends on how one views the PAP - whether it is like Iraq's Baath and North Korea's WPK (killed off all competition physically) or UK's Labour and Thailand's TRT (strong position despite in a country where votes are actually cast and tallied).
Regards
Personally i wish to share my dilemma on forums. However, most are either PAP supporters or Opposition supporters. Where do we draw a line and be a Singaporean supporter ? I like what PAP is doing and i also like what some oppostion like WP is doing, where do we draw the line?
Is discussing politics online a waste of time ? Sometimes i "support" PAP in certain areas and sometimes i don't. However when i support PAP on certain areas, people do seem to want to refute what i say and draw my attention to other areas. Clearly its PAP vs Opposition then. Do we have level headed people around ? -
Huh?Originally posted by kramnave:Think you still don't get the VIOLENCE part.
In what way was the monks parade in Burma or the petition signing in Singapore violent?
Please explain. -
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.” ........[/b]
1) Would a funeral wake and procession be considered illegal gathering?
2) Would the gathering for saying the SG pledge be illegal?
3) Would gathering to buy Toto (when queue is 5 or more long), be illegal?
5) Would 5 people gathered to celebrate Mother's Day be illegal?
6) Would 5 students from the same school waiting for bus be illegal gathering? -
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.”
Bullshit law.
There should be a petition against the USA for spreading lies, occupying, invading and killing Iraqis as well.
I wonder who killed more.
Myanmar military regime or USA military.
http://members.aol.com/bblum6/aer50.htm -
Aiya .. think you don't get it.Originally posted by maurizio13:Huh?
In what way was the monks parade in Burma or the petition signing in Singapore violent?
Please explain.
The SDP report is biased, as expected. The police wanted to deal with the troublemakers. Their targets were the SDP people primarily 'cos they were there to fuel the flame; they have no business to be there. Of course anyone who turns violent will be their target as well.
To know what is happening on the ground, read Melvin Tan's account of the incident. -
like kramnave said, anyone asking these questions don't get the *violence* part.Originally posted by TheGoodEarth:1) Would a funeral wake and procession be considered illegal gathering?
2) Would the gathering for saying the SG pledge be illegal?
3) Would gathering to buy Toto (when queue is 5 or more long), be illegal?
5) Would 5 people gathered to celebrate Mother's Day be illegal?
6) Would 5 students from the same school waiting for bus be illegal gathering? -
The reason why the world is enraged is because blood is being spilled in Myanmar, not because the govt there encourage them to stop protesting.Originally posted by maurizio13:Huh?
In what way was the monks parade in Burma or the petition signing in Singapore violent?
Please explain. -
Hi,Originally posted by kramnave:I very much believe in PAP but alot of things they say are theoretical. I also believe in WP because they are very much down to earth. In reality, despite what i believe, there is a tradeoff as everybody has their experience in life as a Singaporean. I believe in PAP but i want WP, how do we reconcile ?
Personally i wish to share my dilemma on forums. However, most are either PAP supporters or Opposition supporters. Where do we draw a line and be a Singaporean supporter ? I like what PAP is doing and i also like what some oppostion like WP is doing, where do we draw the line?
Is discussing politics online a waste of time ? Sometimes i "support" PAP in certain areas and sometimes i don't. However when i support PAP on certain areas, people do seem to want to refute what i say and draw my attention to other areas. Clearly its PAP vs Opposition then. Do we have level headed people around ?
In my opinion, just be yourself, never mind what party you support. If you feel a post is worth engaging, engage. If not, then otherwise. This is what I normally practise these days.
I don't totally share the view that all forummers support only either the ruling party or any opposition party
There are good ones here and there who go for the issues.
Regards -
You want to sign, go sign.
You don't want to sign, then don't sign.
How hard is it?
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Hi,Originally posted by Icemoon:Aiya .. think you don't get it.
The SDP report is biased, as expected. The police wanted to deal with the troublemakers. Their targets were the SDP people primarily 'cos they were there to fuel the flame; they have no business to be there. Of course anyone who turns violent will be their target as well.
To know what is happening on the ground, read Melvin Tan's account of the incident.
Thanks, but my account was only one aspect. I was there on one day and the petition spanned several days; I am unsure what other people encountered.
My point was that I don't antagonise the police for the sake of antagonising or do it merely because they are serving a government which the PAP was elected to manage and I am with the WP opposition. Personally, I find it meaningless.
The case of the Burmese lady could have been an overreaction by the police, which happens at times, or the lady herself overreacted. Hence, I can't comment in detail that will tantamount to speculation.
Regards -
From what I understand, the police did not go all out to stop the protest. They did not enforce the law.Originally posted by Melvin Tan:Hi,
Thanks, but my account was only one aspect. I was there on one day and the petition spanned several days; I am unsure what other people encountered.
Police are also salaried workers. They need to show their presence, wayang a bit.