Martyn See’s observations about the Hong Lim rally
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Written by Ng E-Jay
19 February 2013
Film and theatre director Martyn See has made some very good observations about the Hong Lim rally. Here I shall paraphrase and expand on them.
1. The notion of “public protests”, outlawed, tabooed and ridiculed in the preceding decades, took a giant stride into mainstream acceptability.
Prior to the liberalization of Speaker’s Corner, the PAP government has always come down hard on public demonstrations, first by using the Miscellaneous Offences Act to pursue legal action against those who assemble in public in groups of 5 or more for political causes, and then by enacting an enhanced Public Order Act which deems even a public assembly of one to be an offence.
As a result, the notion of public gatherings became a taboo subject in the Singaporean psyche. The fact was that there were no legal avenues to gather peacefully even to talk about non-political issues or other social causes.
But when the government legalized Speaker’s Corner for demonstrations, concerned Singaporeans gradually began utilizing the space. Niche groups such as Tan Kin Lian’s minibond rallies or Pink Dot were notable movements that used Hong Lim Park effectively as a legalized rallying ground for non-political, social issues.
Last Saturday, the public showed that they no longer deemed gatherings as taboo, as long as it was a just and noble cause about a social issue that affected everyone, and as long as it was conducted legally and peacefully.
2. A culture of political fear made way to a willingness to be photographed and filmed holding placards.
Former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew governed Singapore with an iron fist that tolerated no political dissent of any kind. Even under the softer approaches of Prime Ministers Goh Chok Tong and Lee Hsien Loong, the political climate remained fear-driven.
In recent years, all that has changed. The opposition managed to make strides into Parliament and the people slowly shed their fear of politics.
Today, social media like Facebook or blogs are used to discuss all issues that affect Singaporeans, spanning the entire spectrum from political affairs, to bread-and-butter topics, to niche subjects like LGBT rights. Many people make internet posts using their real identifies and are prepared to stand by what they write.
At Hong Lim Park last Saturday, many Singaporeans took the trouble to create fantastic placards that expressed their feelings and were not afraid to be photographed up-front holding them. Such is the remarkable progress we have made in becoming more open about expressing ourselves on social issues, especially issues that are hurting us deep within.
3. The community was able to monitor itself, to quickly condemn and nullify offensive remarks and sentiments from within.
When offensive and xenophobic comments were posted by Mr Gilbert Goh, people were quick to take his views to task, and Mr Goh apologized.
The swift action by the internet community shows that even without any formal government-approved Code of Conduct (or other such nonsense), the community can self-regulate.
At Hong Lim Park, speakers like Dr Vincent Wijeysingha took pains to explain that we should not be xenophobic, but treat foreigners with dignity and respect.
Singaporeans, after all, expect to be treated the same way when they go abroad to live, work or play. Singaporeans too are not a perfect species, and we also have certain social mannerisms that can be improved upon.
Instead, it is flawed government policies that must be the target of our anger and disenfranchisement. The distinction must be clear.
4. Dissidents in civil society have gained a fluidity that has made it harder for the State to target individuals in order to isolate them. The tiny pool of usual suspects – Chee Soon Juan, Alex Au, etc, have morphed into Pink Dot Committees, migrant workers’ help groups, human rights advocates, Bukit Brown campaigners, SlutWalk organisers, the lawyers behind the 377A constitutional challenge and a host of online commentators, bloggers and filmmakers.
In the past, the usual faces dominated the socio-political scene and the government easily clamped down hard on them, and used the compliant state-controlled media to tarnish them. Dr Chee Soon Juan, who believed in civil disobedience, and whose struggle in the area of non-violent action resulted in today’s liberalizing of Speaker’s Corner for demonstrations, was persecuted repeatedly and even bankrupted for his views.
Today, there are more social activists and political candidates from diverse backgrounds who are willing to stand up and be counted.
The police detained Ms Lynn Lee for many hours at a stretch in an attempt to extract intelligence from her, but she is unfazed by the event and is determined to continue her work.
Others too, like Dr Vincent Wijeysingha or Alex Au, remain steadfast in the face of political action against them.
As the saying goes, you can trample on the flowers but you can’t stop the spring.
When there are many people involved in causes they are passionate about, the government is forced to listen, or risk losing even more support.
Comments
5 Comments on Martyn See’s observations about the Hong Lim rally
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Wally on
Tue, 19th Feb 2013 10:07 am
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Daily SG: 19 Feb 2013 | The Singapore Daily on
Tue, 19th Feb 2013 12:36 pm
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Adam on
Tue, 19th Feb 2013 3:58 pm
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Geok Choo on
Tue, 26th Mar 2013 11:02 am
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blub on
Mon, 22nd Apr 2013 11:07 pm
“As the saying goes, you can trample on the flowers but you can’t stop the spring.”
Very poetic, but did anyone check back on Egypt?
Chaos lets in all manner of unwanted guests who just won’t leave.
It was interesting that Gilbert Goh’s track record of xenophobic posts was all but ignored till the eleventh hour and a number of political figures were had already signed up to take the stage.
Was it a case exposure at all costs, regardless of who set the context?
[...] Limpeh Is Foreign Talent: Was the Hong Lim Park protest xenophobic? – Sgpolitics.net: Martyn See’s observations about the Hong Lim rally – Diary of a Grumpy Spinster: I Love FOREIGNERS (whites only) – [FB] Syed Alwi Ahmad : [...]
1) Egypt is Egypt. Totally different. Not that there won’t be chaos when change happens here but nothing is set in stone.
2) I personally think the article singled out (written a couple of years ago, nothing to do with the protest) wasn’t xenophobic. Insensitive and offensive, yes, but not xenophobic. Nobody should be subjected to profiling. Singaporeans included.
3) Who’s set the context? Gilbert organized the protest, but everybody who attended set the context, including the speakers. Some even felt it was a good opportunity to educate against xenophobia.
4) Ironically, the same people who rightfully condemned the article also started to do the same thing themselves – they started accusing every single person at Hong Lim park on Saturday of xenophobia. Go figure.
Agenda for 1 May 2013 Hong Lim Park gathering:
Should we bring forward the GE??????
In the family and extended family of ONE jobless S’pore citizen (voter), there are definitely a few MORE eligible voters within the family.
To all jobless S’pore citizens: unite your family & care for them (amid your jobless situation),
show your family that you have been trying to get jobs but denied of fair employment opportunities in S’pore per unfair labour practice known by govt and yet take no correction measures,
apologize to your family members that you are unable to provide comfortable life to them because you are jobless and can’t get jobs (although you are stil trying), and
by next GE, after the whole family suffers and is hungry for years, your whole family (of >2-3 voters) shall VOTE for your own SURVIVAL.
Can jobless wait for next GE in 2016? No!
Should we bring forward the GE??????
yes s’pore needs more freedom of speech. hmmm… but is totally relaxing the ban on public demonstrations etc going to be really beneficial for us? s’pore might end up going back into the 1950-1960s when there were so many strikes and protests. i dont think we would be able to accept these trade-offs
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