Wish1719 1st Gear July 11, 2008 Share July 11, 2008 RTRS - Singapore charges 19 for protest on rising prices SINGAPORE, July 11 (Reuters) - A Singapore court charged 19 people on Friday, including several opposition party members, for taking part in a protest over rising prices in the city-state. Amongst those accused was Chee Soon Juan, leader of Singapore's most vocal opposition party, the Singapore Democratic Party, and several of its executive members. Court documents showed they were charged for participating in a procession and an assembly, offences that carry a maximum fine of S$1,000 ($735). "The Tak Boleh Tahan Protest was meant to speak out against the multitude of ill-timed price hikes initiated by the government," said a joint press statement by the group. Tak Boleh Tahan means "Cannot Take It" in Bahasa Malay. Singapore's inflation is at a 26-year high, leaving increasing numbers of the city's poor turning to temples for free food. Some economists believe the government's two percent tax hike on goods and services last July helped stoke inflationary pressures. Protests in Singapore are rare and an assembly of five or more people requires a permit from the police. Singapore says it needs tough laws on assembly for the maintenance of peace and stability. The accused said they will go to trial but are currently without legal representation. In a press statement, the group's sole lawyer, Chia Ti Lik, said he was unable to represent them because he was also accused. "We are now all the more convinced that the protest was needed and justified and simply had to be done," the statement said. "We make an appeal for Singaporean lawyers to come forward to represent us in these proceedings." ($1=1.360 S$) (Reporting by Melanie Lee; Editing by Neil Chatterjee and Jerry Norton) (([email protected]; +65 6403 5666; Reuters Messaging: [email protected])) Please double-click on the newslink: [iD:nSINLIFE] for stories on Singapore Keywords: SINGAPORE PROTESTS/ ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Friendstar Supercharged July 11, 2008 Share July 11, 2008 Good initiative!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damienic 5th Gear July 11, 2008 Share July 11, 2008 the number of pple protesting is currently too small..that's why they can round them up and bring them to court..if the number of protestors swelled up to tens of thousands, I doubt they can do anything.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnchee Clutched July 11, 2008 Share July 11, 2008 WTF ... good effort though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damienic 5th Gear July 11, 2008 Share July 11, 2008 Have to agree with the article..if someone not from the govt made an inaccurate statement like tat under oath, definitely will get into trouble...newspapers will splash headlines all over the place abt the misbehaviour..someone though can just shoot anything off from his mouth but gets away with it and the press keep quiet..there is no justice on this small island.. http://yoursdp.org/index.php/component/con...-up-under-oath- Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silhoutte Clutched July 11, 2008 Share July 11, 2008 Yeah man I agree but few have the balls to do so. That only means we haven't "Tak Boleh Tahan" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apollo 1st Gear July 11, 2008 Share July 11, 2008 wat's there to charge? freedom of speech is in the constitution. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackyv Turbocharged July 11, 2008 Share July 11, 2008 Good initiative!!! but kena fixed.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kezg1 5th Gear July 11, 2008 Share July 11, 2008 When will it be the day like the korean did on the beef matter against the US...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thug Clutched July 11, 2008 Share July 11, 2008 the number of pple protesting is currently too small..that's why they can round them up and bring them to court..if the number of protestors swelled up to tens of thousands, I doubt they can do anything.. Then u go join lo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thug Clutched July 11, 2008 Share July 11, 2008 Sigh...protesting in sg...its impossible... Got time to protest why not go earn more money... now shiok...1000 goes to government... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnoikj Neutral Newbie July 11, 2008 Share July 11, 2008 We need a good lawyer to represent them..Knowing how supportive MCF is, I exhort someone here to throw in their support! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnoikj Neutral Newbie July 11, 2008 Share July 11, 2008 Waste of time right? Take a look at the constitution...esp clause (2)...'subject to restrictions'...does it mean anything? of course...u can speak, assemble etc etc...but subject to conditions... __________________________________________ Freedom of speech, assembly and association 14. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gendut 2nd Gear July 11, 2008 Share July 11, 2008 I can only say THANK YOU to these guys who are standing up for me, for I myself couldn't do it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_b20 6th Gear July 11, 2008 Share July 11, 2008 no need to waste time protest.. just show the power of every single vote in 2011 election ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kifakw Clutched July 11, 2008 Share July 11, 2008 (edited) singaporeans all talk only, no action one. complain this complain that, tsk tsk. Edited July 11, 2008 by Kifakw Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beei 1st Gear July 11, 2008 Share July 11, 2008 Even though i think he is crazy 9/10 times, i felt he had done something right this round.. Esp after certain MIWs talked about HUMAN RIGHTS.. This is the Rights we have.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apollo 1st Gear July 11, 2008 Share July 11, 2008 the common denomination that any peasant can agree with MIW is $ the same denomination is also a bone of discontent when it comes to taxes, hidden taxes and inflation. it's all a matter of tahan-ness. even the so called well disciplined gurkhas can turn into hooligans engaged in scuffles tat polis will say is rioting if this happen to b done by peasants. then again.. think. burmese protest almost to hundreds.. at cityhall mrt, then in front of their embassy. polis ball less to arrest them... why? mebbe they r only good to deal with pple like CSJ. does these pple deserve to get their pay fr ur tax? go figure.. ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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