Float

Float

Tuesday 7 December 2010

Permit denied for human rights march

In the home section of the Straits Times today, an article with this title can be found.

In a gist: "Police have turned down an application by the Singaporeans for Democracy political association for a permit to stage a march on Friday to commemorate International Human Rights Day"

So That's the first line of the article, and I'm immediately thinking: "Wtf, how could they? Its perfectly commendable!" Police cited a vague reason as usual 'law and order issues' they say. Once again, I'm astonished, is it an inside job? I'm already thinking.

Then I went on reading and found the answer.

"30 people...march with placards calling for freedom of speech and assembly, and free and fair elections, among other things" and "planned to hold the march from Hong Lim Park to Parliament House" AND "Police are advising the organiser to hold the event at Speakers' Corner in Hong Lim Park.

Want an L4 answer? The police is a branch under the government and hence blah blah blah. Standard no-brainer.

Now do you want an L5 answer?  Well IMO, protests and march have a knack for drumming up issues for no reason. For instance, after witnessing the Red Shirt protests on the news, for some reason, I just thought half of Thailand's population consists of red shirts, the other half being yellow shirts. Which is really superficial thinking, but its true. People just need to see these sort of big events staged by a small numbers to become over analytical.

In fact, the red shirt protests only covered SOME of Bankok. Compared to the rest of Thailand. Super small. Yet, there's so much hype about it! True, there was also a lot of violence in this event. But don't you think calling for human rights and free and fair elections in front of Parliament may cause some misconceptions?

Passerbys may start thinking that Singapore's system of Government is in some kind of peril or facing imminent collapse and about to be taken over by Hitler or something. Don't underestimate the power of suggestion.

Bottom line: Staging such a march MAY cause a frenzy for no reason. It may even undermine the government in the process.

In fact, I was just talking to my ex-classmate yesterday (actually today at around 1am). To me, protests always bring attention, but rarely change.

Do you know Jon Stewart from the daily show? He organised a 'rally to restore sanity'. One of his key points was: We cannot allow radicals from different sides to always be shown on the news and slowly becoming the voice of the people. He was speaking of recent Christians VS Islam events in the USA. And I agree with him. Seeing all these marches/protests may not really be the voice of the people, but merely a small group of radicals CLAIMING they represent the majority.

Of course, you can disagree with me! This is a blog, not a encyclopedia. There have been protests that succeeded, and I think partially because they did represent the majority. Like marches for Women Rights back in 1960-80s? America.

-------------------------------------------------------

Just watched Valkyrie yesterday (rented the DVD from VideoEzy)
Good movie, as history students, we know the outcome but we still want to know what really happened that led to it. Was a good thriller and most of the facts are fundamentally there. Tom Cruise seriously looks like Von Stauffenberg, the other actors and their respective roles too.
About the real story, they tested certain change in factors later on and the conclusion is really sad.
Had the 20 July bomb:
1. Been detonated with both explosive packs that Von Stauffenberg had
2.Been detonated inside the reinforced command bunker as was planned before the day was too hot and shifted to the conference hut with windows
3. Not been shifted by one of the German officers to behind the table's leg that shielded Hitler by accident
Hitler would have been killed.
I respect these brave men.

No comments: