Huge turnout at Speakers' Corner for population White Paper protest

[Confuseous]

An estimated crowd of 4,000 people gathered at the Speakers' Corner at Hong Lim Park on Saturday afternoon to protest against Population White Paper which was endorsed by Parliament last week.

Organised by transitioning.org, the protest saw people of all age ranges and races turn up in the light drizzle, with umbrellas and some with placards.

A list of 12 speakers made up of activists and well as current and past opposition members were lined up to speak at the event.

More details to follow.

- http://sg.news.yahoo.com/huge-turno...population-white-paper-protest-101051153.html

 

[kopiauntie]

Hosay liao. Change is imminent. All PAP IBs can go fuck spider.

 

[laksaboy]

Even on a rainy weekend afternoon, the turnout was still better than any PAP election rally.

 

[Devil Within]

Any video on the speech made?

 

[Confuseous]

ST just reported that "more than 1,000 people" turned up. Technically, they are not wrong but morally and professonally, the 'prostitute' continues its good work for their masters.

 

[TracyTan866]

ST just reported that "more than 1,000 people" turned up. Technically, they are not wrong but morally and professonally, the 'prostitute' continues its good work for their masters.

ST might as well say more than 10 people tunred up at HLP. technically they are not wrong

 

[Confuseous]

It is the government's focus on Singapore's economy, rather than its people, that has stirred much of the public's discontent. Singapore is the third most expensive city in Asia.

The ruling People's Action Party (Pap), in power since independence in 1965, is seemingly on a one-track mission to maintain its own rule, despite having heavily lost a recent byelection and potentially standing to lose more, says Singapore expert Michael Barr of Australia's Flinders University.

"Pap has always presented itself as a party above vested interests … [but] that is not washing anymore," says Barr.

"Just like a multinational company's CEO has bonuses tied to the rise and fall of share prices, ministers and civil servants have bonuses tied to economic growth in Singapore. And we're talking about million-dollar bonuses here and more, so there's a lot at stake."

- http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/15/singapore-crisis-immigration-financial-crisis

 

[Confuseous]

SINGAPORE: A protest was held against the government's White Paper on Population at Speakers' Corner on Saturday, organised by Transitioning.org.

Organisers said close to 2,000 people turned up despite the rain.

The 12 speakers lined up for the event include young Singaporeans, bloggers, and opposition politicians.

Lawyer Nizam Ismail called on the Singapore government to supersede the White Paper with a Green Paper.

He said such a procedure is in practice in developed countries.

Mr Nizam argued that the Green Paper will contain the views of Singaporeans about the population challenges, and he stressed that this was missing in the formulation of the White Paper.

Former presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian argued that four rounds of the baby bonus had not solved the problem of declining total fertility rate.

He said at the end of the day, it all boils down to affordability for Singaporeans to first get married and then have children.

Mr Tan said it is important for a policy change on the part of the government to encourage marriage and procreation.

However, he did not offer any new solutions or ideas to improve the total fertility rate.

"The large crowd here shows the PAP government that they are not afraid any more, they don't want to hide behind a moniker on Facebook to show their displeasure," said chief organiser Gilbert Goh.

"They are showing their deep displeasure with the White Paper," he told AFP.

A spokesman for the Singapore Police told AFP that it was not monitoring the size of the crowd, which was largely clad in black, armed with clappers and clutched a sea of umbrellas.

Some pics here: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/photosgallery/gallery_20130216175858.htm

- CNA/AFP/xq

 

[wendychan]

Any video on the speech made?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upYDD8im5W0
crowd singing the\ National Anthem,

 

[wendychan]

ST just reported that "more than 1,000 people" turned up. Technically, they are not wrong but morally and professonally, the 'prostitute' continues its good work for their masters.

wait for pics OR NOT

 

[kopiuncle]

A historical gathering at Speakers' Corner

SINGAPORE: A protest was held against the government's White Paper on Population at Speakers' Corner on Saturday, organised by Transitioning.org.

Organisers said close to 2,000 people turned up despite the rain.

The intermittent drizzle did not deter the organisers, who led attendees in singing the national anthem and reciting the pledge.

"I think it's the largest protest in decades. It is also the first one where anger is directed squarely at the government," said Reuben Wong, an assistant professor of political science at the National University of Singapore.

"People are now more willing to air their grievances. They have been doing it on the Internet for the past few years, but it is new for them to physically come down in such numbers," he told AFP.

The 12 speakers lined up for the event include young Singaporeans, bloggers, and opposition politicians. Most of them called for more consultation with the public.

Lawyer Nizam Ismail called on the Singapore government to supersede the White Paper with a Green Paper.

He said such a procedure is in practice in developed countries.

Mr Nizam argued that the Green Paper will contain the views of Singaporeans about the population challenges, and he stressed that this was missing in the formulation of the White Paper.

Former presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian argued that four rounds of the baby bonus had not solved the problem of declining total fertility rate.

He said at the end of the day, it all boils down to affordability for Singaporeans to first get married and then have children.

Mr Tan said it is important for a policy change on the part of the government to encourage marriage and procreation.

However, he did not offer any new solutions or ideas to improve the total fertility rate.

"The large crowd here shows the PAP government that they are not afraid any more, they don't want to hide behind a moniker on Facebook to show their displeasure," said chief organiser Gilbert Goh.

"They are showing their deep displeasure with the White Paper," he told AFP.

A spokesman for the Singapore Police told AFP that it was not monitoring the size of the crowd, which was largely clad in black, armed with clappers and clutched a sea of umbrellas.

- CNA/AFP/xq

 

[kopiuncle]

Re: A historical gathering at Speakers' Corner

a very orderly gathering....

 

[kopiuncle]

Re: A historical gathering at Speakers' Corner

Singaporeans are patriots - disciplined, orderly and pragmatic people

 

[kopiuncle]

Re: A historical gathering at Speakers' Corner

Singaporeans enjoyed the freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of association and freedom of protest....Majulah Singapura. We are a democracy - a model to the world.

 

[kopiuncle]

Re: A historical gathering at Speakers' Corner

Singaporeans are orderly, peaceful and pragmatic people - even when they are protesting ...Majulah Singapura!!!

 

[kingrant]

Mediacorp News reported the event on its 9.30 pm news on Channel 5. It said the crowd was about 5,000.

SINGAPORE: A protest was held against the government's White Paper on Population at Speakers' Corner on Saturday, organised by Transitioning.org.

Organisers said close to 2,000 people turned up despite the rain.

The 12 speakers lined up for the event include young Singaporeans, bloggers, and opposition politicians.

Lawyer Nizam Ismail called on the Singapore government to supersede the White Paper with a Green Paper.

He said such a procedure is in practice in developed countries.

Mr Nizam argued that the Green Paper will contain the views of Singaporeans about the population challenges, and he stressed that this was missing in the formulation of the White Paper.

Former presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian argued that four rounds of the baby bonus had not solved the problem of declining total fertility rate.

He said at the end of the day, it all boils down to affordability for Singaporeans to first get married and then have children.

Mr Tan said it is important for a policy change on the part of the government to encourage marriage and procreation.

However, he did not offer any new solutions or ideas to improve the total fertility rate.

"The large crowd here shows the PAP government that they are not afraid any more, they don't want to hide behind a moniker on Facebook to show their displeasure," said chief organiser Gilbert Goh.

"They are showing their deep displeasure with the White Paper," he told AFP.

A spokesman for the Singapore Police told AFP that it was not monitoring the size of the crowd, which was largely clad in black, armed with clappers and clutched a sea of umbrellas.

Some pics here: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/photosgallery/gallery_20130216175858.htm

- CNA/AFP/xq

 

[DeathThreat]

confirmed mod will move and merge this thread later....

 

[Confuseous]

More than 1,000 Singaporeans attended the city-state's biggest protest rally in recent memory Saturday, amid growing public indignation over predictions of a surging foreign population.

The peaceful rally, held at an officially designated protest zone, was staged by a civic group after the government said foreigners could account for nearly half of the densely packed island's population in less than 20 years.

Organisers estimated the crowd at 3,000, but AFP reporters on the scene said between 1,000 and 1,500 people had taken part despite afternoon downpours, making it the biggest protest in Singapore in recent years.

Rally leaders, who used Facebook and other online platforms to draw support, openly attacked the People's Action Party (PAP), which has been in power for more than 50 years, over its immigration and other policies.

"The large crowd here shows the PAP government that they are not afraid any more, they don't want to hide behind a moniker on Facebook to show their displeasure," said chief organiser Gilbert Goh, a former opposition candidate for parliament.

"They are showing their deep displeasure with the white paper," he told AFP, referring to a controversial population projection issued last month.

A spokesman for the Singapore Police told AFP that it was not monitoring the size of the crowd, which was largely clad in black, armed with clappers and clutched a sea of umbrellas.

There were no signs of riot police in or around the rally venue, a grassy park where protesters are allowed to address the public in a spot known as Speakers' Corner.

- http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/...ass-rally-singapore-demands-immigration-curbs

 

[jw5]

Mediacorp News reported the event on its 9.30 pm news on Channel 5. It said the crowd was about 5,000.

Oh no Shaun Oh no...............................

 

[Confuseous]

Oh no Shaun Oh no...............................

Shaun sure kena shafted this time liaw.