http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_269629.html
Speakers' Corner: protests ok
By Jeremy Au Yong
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For a start, the management of Speakers' Corner will be taken off the police and handed over to the National Parks Board. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
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THOSE who want to hold outdoor demonstrations will soon be allowed to do so, but only at Speakers' Corner.
The total ban on such protests had been a bugbear for years for activists and opposition politicians, but on Sunday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met them halfway when he indicated that the ban will soon be eased.
However, those who want to hold one can only do so in Hong Lim Park, already designated as a forum for people to make speeches without a licence.
Speakers' Corner in Hong Lim Park was chosen because it was a well-defined location, accessible and near the MRT, he said.
He eased the restrictions, he said, because he recognised the need to allow people to 'let off steam a bit more'.
In announcing the move he joked: 'I think we'll still call it Speakers' Corner. No need to call it Demonstrators' Corner.'
Still, concerns over safety remain and PM Lee explained to the 1,700-strong audience at the National Day Rally why many restrictions on outdoor demonstrations have been maintained.
'Our concern is law and order, and security. It comes back to race and religion, because one incident could undermine our racial harmony, and confidence in Singapore,' he said.
He did however promise that the Government would maintain a light touch.
For a start, the management of Speakers' Corner will be taken off the police and handed over to the National Parks Board.
Next, they will also consider setting up online registration so that potential speakers and protesters would not need to go down in person to apply.
The new move, however, met with guarded reactions from political bloggers and activists yesterday.
Visual artist and activist Seelan Palay, 23, for one, worried that it would work against protesters.
'Now every time we exercise this right somewhere else, they will use it against us. We will be called troublemakers because there is already a place set for us but we choose to do it elsewhere. Who really goes to Hong Lim Park?' he said.
He is one of 18 people who were charged recently for taking part in an illegal assembly outside Parliament House in March, when they protested against rising prices.
Law undergraduate Choo Zheng Xi, 22, who eight years ago became the youngest-ever speaker at Speakers' Corner, hoped the move would just be the start of even more moves to open up the political space.
'This should be only the first step. There needs to be a more fundamental recognition that freedom of speech and expression are fundamental parts of a democracy,' he said.
Political watcher and law lecturer Eugene Tan from the Singapore Management University believes it is a 'good move'.
'It reflects a growing maturity of both the Government and Singaporeans. Political discernment comes from allowing people to make decisions for themselves and living with the consequences of their choices,' he said.
Speakers' Corner: protests ok
By Jeremy Au Yong
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
For a start, the management of Speakers' Corner will be taken off the police and handed over to the National Parks Board. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
THOSE who want to hold outdoor demonstrations will soon be allowed to do so, but only at Speakers' Corner.
The total ban on such protests had been a bugbear for years for activists and opposition politicians, but on Sunday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met them halfway when he indicated that the ban will soon be eased.
However, those who want to hold one can only do so in Hong Lim Park, already designated as a forum for people to make speeches without a licence.
Speakers' Corner in Hong Lim Park was chosen because it was a well-defined location, accessible and near the MRT, he said.
He eased the restrictions, he said, because he recognised the need to allow people to 'let off steam a bit more'.
In announcing the move he joked: 'I think we'll still call it Speakers' Corner. No need to call it Demonstrators' Corner.'
Still, concerns over safety remain and PM Lee explained to the 1,700-strong audience at the National Day Rally why many restrictions on outdoor demonstrations have been maintained.
'Our concern is law and order, and security. It comes back to race and religion, because one incident could undermine our racial harmony, and confidence in Singapore,' he said.
He did however promise that the Government would maintain a light touch.
For a start, the management of Speakers' Corner will be taken off the police and handed over to the National Parks Board.
Next, they will also consider setting up online registration so that potential speakers and protesters would not need to go down in person to apply.
The new move, however, met with guarded reactions from political bloggers and activists yesterday.
Visual artist and activist Seelan Palay, 23, for one, worried that it would work against protesters.
'Now every time we exercise this right somewhere else, they will use it against us. We will be called troublemakers because there is already a place set for us but we choose to do it elsewhere. Who really goes to Hong Lim Park?' he said.
He is one of 18 people who were charged recently for taking part in an illegal assembly outside Parliament House in March, when they protested against rising prices.
Law undergraduate Choo Zheng Xi, 22, who eight years ago became the youngest-ever speaker at Speakers' Corner, hoped the move would just be the start of even more moves to open up the political space.
'This should be only the first step. There needs to be a more fundamental recognition that freedom of speech and expression are fundamental parts of a democracy,' he said.
Political watcher and law lecturer Eugene Tan from the Singapore Management University believes it is a 'good move'.
'It reflects a growing maturity of both the Government and Singaporeans. Political discernment comes from allowing people to make decisions for themselves and living with the consequences of their choices,' he said.
