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 <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong>ficer 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 <strong>of</strong> the topic <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>July</strong> 2009, the police installed CCTV cameras for “safety and security”. The police said that the cameras complemented the presence <strong>of</strong> their <strong>of</strong>ficers on the ground and did not record audio inputs. On 1 December 2009, the size <strong>of</strong> Speakers’ Corner was reduced so that it now occupies only half <strong>of</strong> Hong Lim Park. The number <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> 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!’ 24
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