Protest Singapore style: 3 marchers, 19 media, 1,000
police
Stephanie Phang
Bloomberg
19 Nov 07
A planned protest in Singapore against Asian leaders' "tacit''
approval of Myanmar's fatal crackdown on demonstrations fizzled
today when only three students braved the city-state's tough laws
against marches.
The three protesters were followed by 19 reporters and
photographers in an area of the city surrounded by 1,000 armed
police and soldiers. The protest was planned to coincide with a
meeting of leaders from the 10-member Association of Southeast
Asian Nations, including Myanmar.
Singapore, where a protest gathering of more than four people needs
to be approved by police, is hosting the 13th Asean leaders'
summit. City authorities have banned protests against
Mynamar.
"A lot of people wanted to come, but they were afraid of the
repercussions,'' said Daniel Babiak, a student from the National
University of Singapore. The university also called them to warn
them about Singapore's laws, he said.
The three students, wearing red T-shirts and holding candles, were
protesting against Asean's lack of response against the Myanmar
junta's September crackdown on its largest anti-government
demonstrations, which killed more than 100 people, according to the
United Nations.
Asean leaders have rebuffed calls for sanctions against Myanmar
over the violence.
Singapore, which has restricted public assembly since communal
violence killed 36 people in the 1960s, said it can't make
exceptions for overseas visitors protesting at the meetings.
Tough Penalties
Singapore metes out fines for petty crimes such as littering and
has a reputation for tough punishments. Demonstrators can be
jailed.
More than a decade ago, Singapore's caning of American teenager
Michael Fay on vandalism charges strained relations with then U.S.
President Bill Clinton.
The three students, who were heading toward the Shangri-La hotel,
where the leaders are meeting, were stopped by security officials
and warned before they could reach the venue. The three held a
candlelight vigil at a corner near the hotel instead.
http://www.singaporedemocrat.org/articleburmaprotest61.html
