June - July 2013 - Association of Dutch Businessmen

Column
Labor Day
by Richard Soemita
Normally, after celebrating Queen’s Day, I wake up the next
morning with a massive hangover thinking what to write
on my placard for the protest march. Would it be ‘Increase
Minimum Wages’, ‘More Power to the Unions’ or something
more radical like ‘We want a new Den Uyl’? On my way
to the protest march I would also buy some petrol for my
empty beer bottles and old motorbike tires from the bicycle
shop down by my canal. After all, it can’t be a good protest
without a good fight with the Military Police and the burning
of tires. So this year I was very happy to hear that Singapore
would have its own Labor Day ‘event’ at Hong Lim Park,
which this is also known as Speakers Corner. My wife told me
that she would only escort me if I put on the Singaporean
national costume (burms, T-shirt and flip-flops) and leave all
my ‘accessories’ at home. This would be the first May Day
rally in Singapore’s history and I was getting very excited to
see how NTUC would rally workers to the park to listen to
their speeches. However, when we got there I was in total
shock to see the entire field converted to a huge picnic feast
with children running around and aunties stuffing their faces
with snacks. Where were the radicals, the police charges,
black smoke from burning tires and the good old smell of
teargas and stinging eyes? Of course this only happens in
Europe. Let me explain to you some interesting facts about
HL Park and the ‘rules’ governing Speakers’ Corner.
In Singapore, Speakers’ Corner is an area located
within Hong Lim Park where people can demonstrate,
hold exhibitions and performances, and speak freely on
most topics. It was launched on 1 September 2000 as a
“free speech area” where speaking events could be held
without the need to apply for a license under the Public
Entertainments Act, now the Public Entertainments and
Meetings Act (“PEMA”). However, it was necessary for
people to register their intention to speak at the venue with
a police officer at the Kreta Ayer Neighbourhood Police Post
any time within 30 days before the event, though there
was no requirement for the police to be informed of the
topic of the proposed speech. Other conditions imposed
were that speeches had to take place between 7:00 a.m.
and 7:00 p.m., and the use of sound amplification devices
was prohibited. In 2002, exhibitions and performances
were permitted to be held at Speakers’ Corner. Conditions
for use were further liberalized in 2008. Responsibility for
registering people wishing to speak or stage an exhibition or
performance was taken over by the Commissioner of Parks
and Recreation, and online registration was introduced.
It became possible to hold demonstrations provided they
were organized by Singapore citizens and the participants
were citizens and permanent residents. Events can now
be held around the clock, and self-powered amplification
devices like loudhailers may be used between 9:00 a.m.
and 10:30 p.m. In July 2009, the police installed CCTV
cameras for “safety and security”. The police said that the
cameras complemented the presence of their officers on
the ground and did not record audio inputs. On 1 December
2009, the size of Speakers’ Corner was reduced so that it
now occupies only half of Hong Lim Park. The number of
groups registering to stage events at Speakers’ Corner fell
from 39 between September 2008 and August 2009, to 9
between September 2009 and August 2010. The number
of individuals registering dropped from 102 to 57 during
the same period. According to the authorities its use has
declined because there are now other avenues for people
to express themselves such as the internet (including the
Government’s online feedback portal Reach), newspapers,
radio and television. Also the authorities say that people
might feel that the venue is not always the best place “to
meaningfully and constructively express their views on
issues”. Nowadays Speakers’ Corner plays the same role as
envisaged …. mostly dormant but good to have.
Then the afternoon changed. Finally speakers entered
the stage, banners were hung showing ‘Sign NO to 6.9
million population’ and more people gathered with placards
showing slogans like, “Singapore for Singaporeans” and
‘Save Singapore’. What I thought would be a protest for
the underpaid workers and fight for more social rights
changed to a second protest against the latest White Papers!
I was totally disappointed, especially when I found out
that foreigners were not invited. Then someone tried to
interrupt the speakers. The crowd obviously thought this
was a foreigner and chanted, ‘Go home, Go home’. Later it
appeared that this was a Singaporean who wanted to start a
proper debate, as you do in a speakers’ corner. The speeches
all had the same message - do not let any more foreigners
into Singapore. But the most remarkable line I heard was,
‘Most of our ancestors came from other countries and
settled in Singapore, but we DO NOT want this country to be
ruled by immigrants!’
A few days later I was at Kranji War cemetery for the 4
May commemoration. There lie 24,000 men and women
from United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Sri Lanka, India,
Malaya, the Netherlands and New Zealand who died
defending Singapore against the invading Japanese forces
during World War II. Without the hard labor of foreign
workers, Singapore would not be what it is today, which
brings me to the placard I will design for next year -
‘Remember Kranji, WE also fought and died for you!’
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