Petition-signing at Burmese embassy in
Singapore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7Yg05RDcZ4
Steady stream of petitioners despite harassment by
Singapore police
It started quietly with Mr Gandhi Ambalam, Dr Chee Soon Juan and Ms
Chee Siok Chin setting up a small table in front of the Burmese
Embassy at St Martins Drive. Daw Aung San Suu Kyis poster was
strategically propped up to ensure maximum visual impact.
It didnt take long for the police show up. Dr Chee was warned that
the gathering was an offence under the Miscellaneous Offences
Act.
By about 3 pm, the crowd started to build up. As they visitors
signed the petition, they also took the opportunity to write
messages to the Burmese junta and posted them on the gates of the
embassy. It didnt take long for the entrance to be covered up with
angry notes.
Sufficiently startled, the police swung into action. ASP Deep Singh
went around the crowd asking for all to leave the place as it was
an offence for five or more people to be assembled without a
permit. He received a polite but defiant applause for his
efforts.
His subordinates were, meanwhile, diligently confronting visitors
at the entrance to St Martins Drive. They were asking for
particulars and telling people that they could not go to sign the
petition.
Despite their best efforts, however, many people ignored the
polices half-hearted and confused demands. What if the people
there were residents in the area or were visiting friends?
More important, under what provision of the law can the police stop
people from walking down a street?
And so people continued to make their way to the Burmese embassy
and at one point they numbered more than 200. Each and every one of
them sat quietly on the pavement after they signed the petition, in
solidarity with the brothers and sisters at home.
Many were deep in prayer. Others sat stoically and munched
absent-mindedly on their dinner. Even when an embassy car drove up
to enter the compound, the crowd quietly parted to allow it
through. No shouts, no cussing. Just dignified anger.
It was a moving sight spoilt only by the pig-headedness of a
government to not allow any peaceful gathering as long as it didnt
adorn the PAP badge.
Come and support the Burmese democratic revolution. Don't look the
other way and pretend that nothing's happening. See you tonight
outside the Burmese embassy.
http://www.singaporedemocrat.org/articleburmaprotest6.html
