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Three observations from these developments are worthy to note. First, the speed at which the alleged “trouble makers” were identified, arrested, charged and repatriated suggests that the Singapore state’s capacity for coercive action against mass mobilization is still very much alive.
Second, the manner in which the mainstream media parroted the Ministry’s stance on the illegality of the workers’ actions, disregarding the injustice of the law at stake, signals to other foreign and local workers in Singapore that they were clearly and rightfully emancipated of their rights to strike, and that they should stay in their “rightful” place.
Third, the majority of Singaporeans continue to express their agreement with the system of suppressed rights to mobilize and strike, judging by the snap poll conducted by a government feedback agency, as well as their generally muted response to the incident.
To the extent that these developments and observations can speak about the prospects of democratization in Singapore, one must surely end on a somewhat pessimistic note. They suggest that the majority of Singaporeans continue to wish to live their lives within the political comfort zones, and are inimical to the “disruptions” caused by mass mobilization. At best, they limit themselves to creating and sharing parody videos on the web to push the boundaries.
Rest of blog: http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2012/12/05/foreign-workers-strike-singaporeans-stare
Second, the manner in which the mainstream media parroted the Ministry’s stance on the illegality of the workers’ actions, disregarding the injustice of the law at stake, signals to other foreign and local workers in Singapore that they were clearly and rightfully emancipated of their rights to strike, and that they should stay in their “rightful” place.
Third, the majority of Singaporeans continue to express their agreement with the system of suppressed rights to mobilize and strike, judging by the snap poll conducted by a government feedback agency, as well as their generally muted response to the incident.
To the extent that these developments and observations can speak about the prospects of democratization in Singapore, one must surely end on a somewhat pessimistic note. They suggest that the majority of Singaporeans continue to wish to live their lives within the political comfort zones, and are inimical to the “disruptions” caused by mass mobilization. At best, they limit themselves to creating and sharing parody videos on the web to push the boundaries.
Rest of blog: http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2012/12/05/foreign-workers-strike-singaporeans-stare
