Public Protest in China.More Liberty in China Than S'pore
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Hundreds protest Shanghai maglev rail extension
Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:08am GMT
By Royston Chan and Sophie Taylor
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Hundreds of people marched through China's financial hub of Shanghai on Saturday protesting a planned extension of the city's magnetic levitation train, or "maglev", worried it would emit radiation and sicken them.
Police initially detained dozens of people, bundling them into waiting cars, vans and buses, as protesters gathered in front of city hall shouting "We don't want the maglev" and carrying placards reading: "No to maglev -- bad for health".
"We are afraid how the radiation will affect us. Why does the government not listen to our concerns?" said a protester surnamed Guan, adding the extension would pass within 100 metres (328 ft) of her house.
As police cordoned off the city government in People's Square, once home to a race track in Shanghai's colonial heyday, demonstrators took off down the fashionable Nanjing Road shopping area.
The protest was the largest the cosmopolitan and wealthy city has seen since thousands took to the streets in sometimes violent anti-Japanese demonstrations in 2005.
"I'm marching against the proposed line as it's too close to town. It's going to be noisy and emit pollution," said another protester, who would only give his family name, Liu.
"If you have a house near the line, you will not be able to sell it for as much money," he added.
Some demonstrators handed out anti-Nazi resistance poems in German, while others sang the Chinese national anthem.
In a prepared statement, a spokesman for the Shanghai city government said authorities had "persuaded" the protesters to disperse because they were affecting public order.
He said the government was still in the process of showing to the public a proposal for the maglev project, which would help to improve the transport system of the city and the whole country.
"We hope city residents will go through legal channels to express their opinions rationally, and not use methods that affect public order," he added.
The protest gradually dispersed peacefully under a light drizzle in the early evening. The police kept their distance as people left.
The country is grappling with an acknowledged rise in unrest, driven by anger at illegal land grabs, corruption, environmental woes and a rising rich-poor gap, though large scale protests in big cities are rare.
"Yes, it's an illegal protest. But we've been pushed into a corner," said another protester.
EXTENSION PLAN "SAFE"
China has the only commercial maglev in operation in the world, developed and built by the government and a German consortium including industrial giant Siemens.
Launched in 2003, the maglev floats on a magnetic cushion over a distance of 30 kilometres between an outlying part of Shanghai's financial district in Pudong and the international airport.
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Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKPEK32757920080112?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews -
Sad to say, but it seems that Communist China has more Liberty and Freedom than "Democratic" Singapore, which is very much a misnomer. -
They still got bundled into the vans and arrested.
In fact, it's not whether you can protest, its whether you think nothing of being detained.
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Yeah lor.....
So, anyone thinking of moving there soon
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Were they arrested?Originally posted by LazerLordz:They still got bundled into the vans and arrested.
In fact, it's not whether you can protest, its whether you think nothing of being detained.
It wasn't mentioned in the article.
The article only stated:
"We hope city residents will go through legal channels to express their opinions rationally, and not use methods that affect public order," he added.
The protest gradually dispersed peacefully under a light drizzle in the early evening. The police kept their distance as people left.
Maybe you have some information which I don't, please share. Thanks. -
Funny isn't it?Originally posted by hloc:Yeah lor.....
So, anyone thinking of moving there soon
Singapore professes to be democratic in her pledge, but ends up denying civil liberties to all her citizens.
Yet China a communist country respect her citizen's rights to public protest.
Don't be silly, nobody's moving there at this point in time. Doesn't mean that another Communist country excel Singapore in Human Rights and every one of Singapore's citizen is contemplating emigration. I am just showing the "politically inept" the stark differences in terms of political liberty. Maybe when their GDP per capita is comparable to Singapore, there would be a possibility for emigration.
It would seemed that citizens can't discuss about issues regarding a low liberty country (communist), surpassing that of Singapore without "SOME" forumers suggesting that one should emigrate there.
It's just a discussion, no harm done. Why fear it? Why does it irk you that other forumers discuss about it? Does it affect your livelihood (rice bowl)? -
singapore don need to work mehz??
if u`ve too much time to protest means
1. u go jail, arrested,
2. no go for work, boss see no see u no happy
3. fire u , no job
4 eat shit.
tell me which singaporean wanna eat shit? -
Originally posted by maurizio13:
2nd paragraph
Were they arrested?
It wasn't mentioned in the article.
The article only stated:
[b]"We hope city residents will go through legal channels to express their opinions rationally, and not use methods that affect public order," he added.
The protest gradually dispersed peacefully under a light drizzle in the early evening. The police kept their distance as people left.
Maybe you have some information which I don't, please share. Thanks.
[/b]
"Police initially detained dozens of people, bundling them into waiting cars, vans and buses, as protesters gathered in front of city hall shouting "We don't want the maglev" and carrying placards reading: "No to maglev -- bad for health". "
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Ok, my mistake, I skimmed thru too fast, stupid of me to miss the starting portion like this.Originally posted by LazerLordz:2nd paragraph
"Police initially detained dozens of people, bundling them into waiting cars, vans and buses, as protesters gathered in front of city hall shouting "We don't want the maglev" and carrying placards reading: "No to maglev -- bad for health". "
But the protest still continued despite the dozen that was arrested, till it was dispersed in the evening. -
If this was in Hangzhou or some of the lesser well-off and less internationally-watched provinces, you'd see beatings and rampant arrests.Originally posted by maurizio13:Ok. I skimmed thru too fast.
But the protest still continued despite the dozen that was arrested, till it was dispersed in the evening. -
I would think that Singapore is more built up and has similar international standings.Originally posted by LazerLordz:If this was in Hangzhou or some of the lesser well-off and less internationally-watched provinces, you'd see beatings and rampant arrests.
If such protest do happen here, you can more or less guarantee the red buses (riot squad) coming in as oppose to Shanghai.
I believe that as China progresses economically, it will also progress politically allowing her citizens more liberty. Why would they allow more liberty? It's because her political system does not allow a leader to be entrenched in the political system to benefit himself. So there is no advantage of denying citizens more liberty, as the current President will also devolve into a commoner after afew terms. -
obviously u haven't read much about chinese politics... go read more before you make this comment...Originally posted by maurizio13:I would think that Singapore is more built up and has similar international standings.
If such protest do happen here, you can more or less guarantee the red buses (riot squad) coming in as oppose to Shanghai.
I believe that as China progresses economically, it will also progress politically allowing her citizens more liberty. Why would they allow more liberty? It's because her political system does not allow a leader to be entrenched in the political system to benefit himself. So there is no advantage of denying citizens more liberty, as the current President will also devolve into a commoner after afew terms.
even after jiang zemin retired as president, he still held power in the government...
why, cos he still had the command of the military....
and one of those new generation leaders was his protege...
which meant that any excesses he made during his time, he still had someone covering him from prosecution...
chinese succession politics is all about bargaining...
you let my protege hold this post and i concede the other post to you... -
And they are increasingly media savvy.
Come to think of it, our demonstrations are met with less force than NYC. Have you seen how the NYPD deal with stubborn protestors post-911?
It's ugly very ugly. -
Was it violent protest or peaceful protest?Originally posted by LazerLordz:And they are increasingly media savvy.
Come to think of it, our demonstrations are met with less force than NYC. Have you seen how the NYPD deal with stubborn protestors post-911?
It's ugly very ugly.
Do share the source of your information.
When I Googled, didn't come up with any crackdown by NYPD on peaceful protesters post-911.
1) NEW YORK — Thousands of immigrant rights supporters formed a line stretching more than a mile long Saturday as they marched across the Brooklyn Bridge, waving flags from more than a dozen countries as they demonstrated against possible immigration reform in Congress.
2) Wal Mart Protest
3) In five internal reports made public yesterday as part of a lawsuit, New York City police commanders candidly discuss how they had successfully used "proactive arrests," covert surveillance and psychological tactics at political demonstrations in 2002, and recommend that those approaches be employed at future gatherings.
Mr. Browne also said that the "proactive" arrests referred to in the report — numbering about 30 — involved protesters with pipes and masks who he said presented an obvious threat.
4) Until Sept. 11, the secret monitoring of events where people expressed their opinions was among the most tightly limited of police powers.
Provided with images from the tape, the Police Department's chief spokesman, Paul J. Browne, did not dispute that they showed officers at work but said that disguised officers had always attended such gatherings - not to investigate political activities but to keep order and protect free speech. Activists, however, say that police officers masquerading as protesters and bicycle riders distort their messages and provoke trouble.
For nearly four decades, civil liberty advocates and police officials have fought over the kinds of procedures needed to avoid excessive intrusion on people expressing their views, to provide accountability in secret police operations and to assure public safety for a city that has been the leading American target of terrorists.
If you are talking about violent protest, I have no qualms about having them arrested, because it threatens public safety. -
I'm recalling off hand. You can try searching for some on the net.Originally posted by maurizio13:Was it violent protest or peaceful protest?
Do share the source of your information.
Try 2005-2007 period. Focus on community assemblies in NYC and other states. One of which was a protest against some new municipal laws.
Others are told by friends of mine living in Queens. -
... yes indeed, China does have more freedom for its people...
... but o nthe other hand, I'm wondering how does Magnetism or Magnetic Technology affect human health?? What radiation?
... secondly, if they are worried about health, they should look at the amount of polution their industries are producing & directly adding on to Global Warming effects... -
To be fair..... In S'pore you could also protest like those in China..... Just end up arrested lor....
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Studies indicate strong magnetic fields cause cancer.
You're looking at your homes becoming a cancer zone. -
Wha?Originally posted by maurizio13:Sad to say, but it seems that Communist China has more Liberty and Freedom than "Democratic" Singapore, which is very much a misnomer. -
Like I said, if people see spending time in the lock-up as nothing out of the ordinary, then its a mindset change.Originally posted by hloc:To be fair..... In S'pore you could also protest like those in China..... Just end up arrested lor....
Most places you're allowed to assemble till a certain time, then if you're not dispersed or turn rowdy, then in you go. -
No surprise. Many of us in Singapore know that the gahmen here are worse than than the China government. To many of us, Singapore is worse than communist countries. Thanks to LEE KUAN YEW. No wonder so many want him dead - so don't blame the people for it. Lee Kuan Yew is the present day Empress Dowager.
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how can maglev have radiation?
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Are you moving to China anytime soonOriginally posted by qlqq9:No surprise. Many of us in Singapore know that the gahmen here are worse than than the China government. To many of us, Singapore is worse than communist countries. Thanks to LEE KUAN YEW. No wonder so many want him dead - so don't blame the people for it. Lee Kuan Yew is the present day Empress Dowager.
I'm suprise that thousands of China Citizen coming here to work and stay is doing it so that they could be in a country with a 'WORST' Govt....... Its a known issue that Chinese Prisoner who are excuted, had their body organs remove to be sold in the open market for transplant...... U seen that happening here
By your way of thinking...... S'porean going to Aust must be because the Oz Govt is worst then PAP 
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This I agree..... look at all those (hope I spell it right) 'Falonggong' ppl would every once in a while will protest in the streets here. Police will 1st tell them to go away..... only arresting them is if they refuse..... they will then be question and release on bail. Most time, they are fine a few thousands bucks. The reason that these protester are in prison was because they refuse to pay and want to be Martyr for their cause..... the sentence is mostly 1-2 weeks jail. Non are beaten up or killed.......Originally posted by LazerLordz:Like I said, if people see spending time in the lock-up as nothing out of the ordinary, then its a mindset change.
Most places you're allowed to assemble till a certain time, then if you're not dispersed or turn rowdy, then in you go.
The reason S'poreans are scare to protest is mainly due to fear of losing their Jobs if they are arrested....... Without money in S'pore, U are a NOBODY
Sadly, It is NOT the Govt which is preventing S'porean to protest..... but S'porean themselves who doesn't wants to RISK their present lifestyle. -
Originally posted by hloc:
Hello, I have not come across any chinese national who want to stay here permanently. When I asked them they said they are here to earn $ and when time is up they will go back. Some of them expressed that they prefer the way the china govt is treating the people of China. So far feedback from the china chinese is that they prefer to be paid pension but PAP gahmen don't practise this and they find that the china govt take better care of the nation. Anyway, I am surprised to know about the China govt taking better care of the people compared to PAP. Before receiving these feedback and info, I thought China govt are worse than PAP where taking care of the people is concerned.
Are you moving to China anytime soon
[b]I'm suprise that thousands of China Citizen coming here to work and stay is doing it so that they could be in a country with a 'WORST' Govt....... Its a known issue that Chinese Prisoner who are excuted, had their body organs remove to be sold in the open market for transplant...... U seen that happening here
By your way of thinking...... S'porean going to Aust must be because the Oz Govt is worst then PAP [/b]