Those stupid laws are for flexibility. For example, draconian
internal security and SARS laws actually helped saved our nation
against external threat. Everyone's favourite examples of bastions
of democracy - Hong Kong, England, United States - failed in those
incidents. We can argue, if they can't even prevent a *major*
terrorist attack, can you trust them to prevent Yishun MRT station
from being bombed?
With regards to the "illegal gathering" outside the embassy, try to
view it objectively. Why when sincere Burmese gathered a few days
ago, they were not disbanded.
Read the SDP's account of the event.
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.
What happened to this group of people? Were they forcefully
disbanded?
Even by SDP's own admission, the police were half-hearted and
confused. It seems that the police reacted 'cos of CSJ and his
petition!
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?
