Culture of protests is finally taking root in the
island
Ladies and Gentlemen,
If there was a day of victory for the cause of freedom over Lee
Kuan Yew's authoritarianism in Singapore, it was October 1, 2007,
outside the gates of the Burmese Embassy, 15 St Martin Drive,
Singapore 257996, where peaceful protesters stood bravely in
defiance of police orders that they should disperse, proclaiming
their right to freedom of peaceful assembly, even if Singapore law
makes it illegal.
On that day, according to the Singapore Democrat, the newspaper of
the Singapore Democratic Party, Dr. Chee and other political
activists organized a protest and a petition campaign outside the
Burmese Embassy in Singapore, against the Burmese government's
action in brutally suppressing peaceful demonstrations by Burmese
demanding freedom in their country.
The number of people who had assembled outside the embassy in
Singapore clearly exceeded 5, which therefore required a permit
under Singapore law.
Needless to say, such a law is clearly illegal among the free
nations of the world.
Dr. Chee and his protesters did not have that permit.
DSP Deep Singh of the Tanglin Police station had come around with
his police subordinates which included several plain clothes
policemen armed with video cameras, who began filming the
protesters, who were clearly in violation of the law which required
a permit.
DSP Deep Singh went around the crowd of people, repeatedly, perhaps
no less than 50 times, saying the same thing again and again; that
they were in violation of Singapore law in not having a permit;
that the police will and are investigating their conduct; that they
should therefore leave the area immediately.
This was a clear and unequivocal order from the police, who were
the representatives of the Singapore government. There was no doubt
at all that the protesters were breaking the law.
The protesters there appeared to show exceptional courage and
defiance to the direct order of a senior ranking police officer,
DSP Deep Singh.
In total defiance to the authority of the Singapore Police Force
and the Singapore government, not a single person complied with his
order.
Dr. Chee and everyone there stayed put at their spot and eventually
DSP Deep Singh and his policemen were left with no choice but to
leave the place while the protesters jeered, mockingly thanking him
for his advice.
The Singapore Police Force had lost all it's authority and dignity
on that momentous day, October 1, 2007, outside the Burmese Embassy
in Singapore, at 15, St Martins Drive, Singapore 257996.
A video of the entire spectacle can be seen on the Singapore
Democrat Website http://singaporedemocrat.org/ in the article
"Steady Stream of petitioners despite harassment by Singapore
Police" Oct 1, 2007.
In that video, you will see the pathetic helplessness of DSP Deep
Singh, who had to walk away with his tail between his legs, his
side kick subordinate police officers at his tail, and indeed the
total helplessness of the Lee Kuan Yew regime.
The protesters, by their actions were telling the Singapore police
that such a law requiring a permit for 5 or more peaceful people to
gather is a violation of the Singapore Constitution; that it is an
unjust law; and unjust laws need not be obeyed; even if DSP Deep
Singh were to tell them a million times that such a gathering is a
breach of the law!
There is no doubt that on that day, in the battle between those who
seek freedom and the Lee Kuan Yew administration which wants to
suppress it, it was a resounding victory for the Dr. Chee and his
human rights activists for the cause of the right to free speech
and assembly.
Perhaps the authoritarian Singapore regime has finally realized
that it is becoming increasingly difficult to silence the democracy
activists and it is best to leave them alone; since afterall
justice in this case is with the activists.
And this surely must be the de facto end, if not de jure, of the
unjust law that requires a gathering of 5 or more peaceful people
to require a permit.
I can clearly see in the Singapore horizon, more and more protests,
by Burmese, by Filipinos, by mainland Indians, by mainland Chinese,
by Indonesians and of course by Singaporeans. Dr. Chee by his
dogged determination has managed to bring about the culture of
protest, which Singapore badly needs. We have to salute him for
this.
Not unlike Mahatma Gandhi defying British Law which forbid Indians
from making salt which was a British Government monopoly, at
Porbundur, Gujarat, India where he marched to the Indian Ocean
coast and in full view of the British Colonial masters, collected
salt.
What Gandhi was saying to the British was that unjust laws need not
be obeyed just as Dr. Chee and his activists were saying to
Singapore Police Officer Deep Singh that a law requiring 5 or more
people to gather is inherently illegal and in violation of the
fundamental human rights of citizens all over the world. Therefore
he will not obey.
Copy of this letter is sent Emailed to:
(1) Deputy Superintendat of Police, Deep Singh son of Piara
Singh
[email protected]
(2) Minister of Home Affiars, Wong Kan Seng
[email protected]
I urge all readers of this blog to Email both these people to stop
harassing citizens from exercising their human rights and reminding
Mr. Singh one more time that a law requiring a permit to peacefully
assembly is without any legal basis, even if the Lee Kuan Yew
Administration says so and that you will break it as many times as
you wish.
Gopalan Nair
http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/2007/10/culture-of-protests-is-finally-taking.html
