Singapore bus death triggers riot

[SU8ZER0]

8 December 2013 Last updated at 21:07 GMT

Singapore bus death triggers riot

Riots in Singapore's Little India district. 8 Dec 2013

Police in Singapore have made 27 arrests after hundreds of people took part in a riot sparked by the death of an Indian national.

Trouble started after the 33-year-old man was knocked down by a private bus in a district known as Little India.

About 400 people took to the streets, hurling railings at police and torching police cars and an ambulance.

At least 16 people were hurt, most of them police officers, before the violence was brought under control.

Police commissioner Ng Joo Hee said it was the first rioting in Singapore in more than 30 years.

He condemned the rioting as "intolerable, wanton violence".

"It is not the Singapore way," he added.

'Criminal behaviour'

Pictures and videos posted in social media showed two police cars being overturned by the mob. Several private vehicles were also damaged.

Rioting in Singapore is punishable by up to seven years in prison plus caning.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that "whatever events may have sparked the rioting, there is no excuse for such violent, destructive, and criminal behaviour".

"We will spare no effort to identify the culprits and deal with them with the full force of the law," he said in a statement.

Correspondents say the outbreak of public disorder is rare in strictly governed Singapore.

The hi-tech, wealthy city-state depends heavily on guest workers, with labourers from South Asia dominating sectors like construction.

Many congregate in Little India on Sundays to shop, drink and socialise.

Rioters overturned two police cars

Little India is home to Singapore's South Asian workforce

 

[KingsOfTheDay]

Rare riot shocks Singapore

AFP
December 9, 2013, 4:09 pm

Singapore (AFP) - Singaporeans woke up to unfamiliar images of burnt cars and littered streets Monday after a fatal road accident triggered a riot by South Asian workers, the worst outbreak of violence in more than 40 years.

The riot erupted late Sunday in tightly-controlled Singapore's congested Little India district after a 33-year-old Indian worker was run over by a private bus.

Police said about 400 people were involved in the rare outbreak of public disorder, adding that 27 South Asian workers had been arrested on charges of rioting, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison as well as caning.

At least five vehicles including three police cars were torched in the violence. The situation was brought under control after elite police commandos arrived at the scene.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said "whatever events may have sparked the rioting, there is no excuse for such violent, destructive, and criminal behaviour."

"We will spare no effort to identify the culprits and deal with them with the full force of the law," he said in a statement.

Commissioner of Police Ng Joo Hee also denounced the violence as "intolerable".

"Rioting, destruction of property, it is not the Singapore way," he told a news conference early Monday.

The violence has tarnished multi-ethnic Singapore's long held reputation for public order.

Migrant labour activist Jolovan Wham said it was difficult to determine whether the violence was a symptom of "pent-up rage" among the workers.

"We should not see this ?riot? as just mindless violence which does not reflect the ?Singapore way?, as the commissioner for police says," he said. "We'll need to wait for more information before drawing any firm conclusions."

State-linked broadcaster MediaCorp said it was the first riot in Singapore since racial disturbances in 1969.

Singapore depends heavily on guest workers, with labourers from South Asia dominating sectors like construction. Many congregate in Little India on Sundays to shop, dine and drink.

The incident immediately triggered online attacks on foreign workers in Singapore, but officials called for calm and warned against speculation.

Retiree Basher Marican, 69, who was returning home when the riot escalated, said the "crowd was clearly drunk".

"They had beer and liquor bottles in their hands and some were throwing them," he said in Tamil.

"It was very unruly, I walked passed a crowd along the restaurants. There were some who were cheering others as they attacked the bus," he told AFP.

 

[WildestDreams]

Published: Monday December 9, 2013 MYT 7:29:00 AM
Updated: Monday December 9, 2013 MYT 9:21:08 AM

Singapore riot: 27 South Asians arrested

Firemen douse a charred ambulance after a riot broke out in Singapore, in the early hours of December 9, 2013Firemen douse a charred ambulance after a riot broke out in Singapore, in the early hours of December 9, 2013

SINGAPORE: Twenty-seven men from South Asia were arrested in connection with Sunday night's riot in Little India, which apparently started after a bus ran over and killed an Indian worker as he was crossing a road.

Videos uploaded on social media within the hour of the accident showed the private bus being set upon by an angry mob even as the 33-year-old victim's body remained pinned under the vehicle.

One man from the mob was seen in a video striking the windscreen and windows of the bus with a pole, while another tossed a litter bin at the vehicle from close range, shattering the front windscreen.

This even as the crowd continued to grow, cheering and shouting vulgarities in Tamil - turning violent in a matter of minutes, said eyewitnesses.

First responders to the accident, including a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) ambulance and a police patrol car, arrived at the junction of Race Course Road and Hampshire Road shortly after they received a call for help at 9.23pm.

SCDF rescuers were trying to reach the victim, who was trapped under the bus with hydraulic tools when the crowd apparently attacked them.

"Projectiles were thrown at the SCDF rescuers while they were extricating the body," said a spokesman.

The mob spiralled out of control quickly after that, turning on the police, including the reinforcements who had arrived by then.

"Some of the men lit beer bottles with fire and threw them at the police, I saw them throw more than 10 bottles," said P. Kannan, who was waiting for a friend at the Little India MRT station.

Police estimates later put the mob at about 400-strong.

Commissioner of Police Ng Joo Hee said 300 police officers were activated to contain the rioters. These included men from the Special Operations Command (SOC) and Gurkha Contingent, who arrived at scene clad in anti-riot gear.

Residents living at Blk 661 Buffalo Road, many of whom had a bird's eye view of how the riot unfolded, said they saw at least three police patrols cars being turned onto their sides by the mob. Two ambulances at the scene were also attacked, one was seen with its windscreen smashed, while another, which was next to a Traffic Police Expressway Patrol, was on fire.

Said Rohit Sodhi, 25, a service staff member at the Jungle Tandoor Restaurant: "I heard what sounded like bombs going off. Three times. Then I saw a huge mob running towards my restaurant and down Upper Dickson Road. The police chased them."

SOC officers, fanned out in anti-riot formation along the street, managed to break up the violent mob shortly after they arrived at the scene. Commissioner Ng said during a press conference after the incident, that the situation was resolved within the hour of the first call received.

"As far as we know now, there was no Singaporean involved in the riot," said Commissioner Ng. "The unwanted violence, rioting, destruction of property, fighting the police, is not the Singapore way."

Two police patrol cars and an ambulance were still ablaze when The Straits Times arrived at the scene. The burning vehicles triggered a few explosions before firefighters were at scene to put out the fire. A total of nine of SCDF and police vehicles were damaged in the incident, including an ambulance and three patrol cars that were burnt.

The SCDF said at press time that it had conveyed 18 casualties including four SCDF officers to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) for treatment. The police said 10 of its officers were hurt during the riot.

The Straits Times understands that the driver of the bus was still undergoing an operation in hospital to treat a deep gash in his neck. His bus conductor was also hurt during the riot.

The incident came as a surprise to many, because not since the racial riots in Singapore in 1964, have the police been activated to respond to such unrest.

Said 19-year-old polytechnic student Jovial Ng who lives on Buffalo Road: "We studied about the Maria Hertogh riots in social studies but we never expected to witness anything like this in real life."

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a Facebook post on Monday morning, called the riot a "very grave incident". "The situation is now under control, and investigations are underway. Whatever events may have sparked the rioting, there is no excuse for such violent, destructive, and criminal behaviour. We will spare no effort to identify the culprits and deal with them with the full force of the law.

"I urge all Singaporeans to stay calm. Do send the police any information, photos or videos of the incident that you may have. I also wish the injured officers a full and speedy recovery."

When The Straits Times visited TTSH at about 1.45am Monday, more than 10 SCDF officers were seen resting at a staging area, after receiving treatment for their injuries. Most had bandages to their face or arms, although one officer was in a wheelchair with a bandaged knee.

A nurse said roughly 15 SCDF officers arrived at about 1am for treatment at the hospital. Some family members of the injured were also spotted waiting at the hospital.

Rafi Yaacob, 24, was at the hospital together with his mother and brother for his father, an SCDF ambulance driver, who had responded to the accident earlier.

The pest control officer said that rioters had smashed the windscreen of the ambulance his father was driving, and the glass shards had cut his face. His father was also injured when rioters threw stones at the paramedics.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who visited the scene after the riot with Second Minister for Home Affairs, S, Iswaran, urged members of public to stay calm and not react to speculation, and let the facts be ascertained.

"The Government will not tolerate such lawless behaviour," said Teo, who is also Minister for Home Affairs. "I have asked Police to deal with all aspects of the incident, including the traffic accident, what happened immediately after the traffic accident, and all ensuing incidents."

Commissioner Ng said: "You can expect that we will make further arrest in the hours and the days that follow. Anyone with information about people who were involved in the violence last night should tell the police.

"We will go all out to find, to bring to custody, everyone who was involved in this incident." - The Straits Times/ANN

 

[WildestDreams]

Published: Monday December 9, 2013 MYT 7:48:00 PM
Updated: Monday December 9, 2013 MYT 8:02:49 PM

Singapore riot: Complete alcohol ban in Little India this weekend

Police arresting a suspect during the riots in Little India on Sunday night.

SINGAPORE: There will be a complete ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol this weekend in the Race Course Road area where a riot broke out in Little India on Sunday night.

Second Minister for Home Affairs S Iswaran told reporters on Monday evening that details of the ban, such as exactly what time it will apply and what geographical area it will cover, will be worked out by the police.

Though it is too early to say definitively what caused the riot - which was triggered after a fatal traffic accident - it is "plausible that alcohol consumption was a contributory factor", he added.

"And that is why we have taken this step in the first instance in order to stabilise the situation."

Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew, who is the MP for the ward in Moulmein-Kallang GRC, said that he has wanted curbs on the sale of alcohol in the area for some time, after seeing the proliferation of liquor licences there.

"I know my residents will fully support this immediate measure," he said. He and Mr Iswaran were speaking to the media after a visit to the area, during which they spoke to shopkeepers. - The Straits Times/ANN

 

[WildestDreams]

Published: Monday December 9, 2013 MYT 3:54:00 PM
Updated: Monday December 9, 2013 MYT 7:16:32 PM

Singapore riot: Singaporeans in disbelief

BY DESIREE TRESA GASPER

SINGAPORE: Singaporeans are still in a state of disbelief that a riot by a group of foreigners at Little India actually happened in this relatively trouble-free island late Sunday night.
Bank employee Eugene Leong, 28, said that it was difficult to digest the images of about 200 foreigners attacking several police petrol cars, ambulance, a bus and setting them on fire.

"Its not something that you would think would ever happen, especially in Singapore, as we are famed for our stringent regulations.

"Watching the incident on the news was shocking and scary and now many of us want to know what action will be taken to make sure it doesn’t happen again," he said when interviewed along Race Course Road where the rioters ran rampant.

Leong said that while action should be taken against those involved, the government should immediately beef up police presence, especially in areas where there were high number of foreigners.

"Another option that could be looked into is to limit the timings for selling alcohol so that drunkards do not loiter around the shops and later cause trouble," said the 28-year-old.

Investment consultant Davian Sim,30, also said that he was shocked when news broke out about the riot.
"We have never heard of such thing happening here and the last major riot were the racial-based ones that occurred in 1969," he said.

He added that the incident was a frightening one that could repeat itself if action was not taken.
"The government should study the matter and come up with ways to deal with this.

"One way could be to adopt a policy from Australia where open drinking in public places is prohibited," he said.

Meanwhile, resident S. Ram Prakash, 14, who witnessed the whole incident from his home on the 17th floor of a nearby flat said that it was beyond frightening.

"Seeing the angry mob attack the bus with sticks and rubbish cans was something that I will not forget.
"The group could not be controlled and continued to cause havoc even after a group of about 10 policemen were deployed to the area," he said.

He added that the most frightening was when rioters set fire to several police petrol cars and overturned the vehicles.

"I believe that they were all drunk because they were dancing and shouting as the fires blazed," he said, adding that the crowd dispersed only when riot police were deployed.

Ram said that the whole fiasco ended at around 12pm and the remains of the burnt petrol cars were cleared up at around 4am on Monday morning.

 

[WildestDreams]

Published: Monday December 9, 2013 MYT 11:49:00 AM
Updated: Monday December 9, 2013 MYT 5:44:12 PM

Singapore riot: Traffic victim whose death sparked off riot is identified

SINGAPORE: The 33-year-old Indian national who died in the fatal accident, which sparked the Little India riot on Sunday night has been identified.

Sakthivel Kumaravelu (pic) was working in Singapore as a construction worker with Heng Hup Soon, a scaffolding company, for about two years, said a man who identified his body at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) mortuary on Monday morning.

The man, who declined to be named, said Mr Kumaravelu's family has not been notified of his death. He added that Mr Kumaravelu's body was not decapitated as reported by some news outlets but he did suffer injuries to his face.

Twenty-seven men from South Asia have since been arrested in connection with Sunday night's riot, which broke out at about 9.30pm along Race Course Road. Investigations are ongoing. - The Straits Times/ ANN

 

[MOLANY0NG]

Singapore charges 24 Indian workers for rioting

AFP
December 10, 2013, 7:41 pm

Singapore (AFP) - Singapore on Tuesday filed charges against 24 Indian nationals who allegedly took part in its first riot for over 40 years, as officials and activists warned against inciting racial hatred over the incident.

The men face up to seven years in jail plus caning for the hour-long fracas on Sunday night, triggered when an Indian construction worker was struck and killed by a private bus in a district known as Little India.

They were among an estimated 400 South Asian migrant workers involved in the rampage that left 39 police and civil defence staff injured and 25 vehicles -- including 16 police cars -- damaged or burnt.

The charge sheet said the men threw pieces of concrete and were "members of an unlawful assembly whose common object was to overawe, by a show of criminal force, police officers in the exercise of their lawful power to maintain law and order at the scene".

The suspects, aged between 22 to 40, looked sombre as the charges were read in Tamil in court by an interpreter.

They were remanded at a police complex for one week for further investigations.

Police earlier said the suspects could be charged with a more serious offence punishable by up to 10 years in jail, but they faced a lesser charge on Tuesday.

Singapore's foreign ministry said it was working closely with the Indian High Commissioner (ambassador) "to facilitate consular access and support for their nationals, including legal representation".

Two Bangladeshis, another Indian national and a Malaysian also arrested after the riot were released because investigations showed they were not involved.

The 55-year-old Singaporean bus driver who knocked down and killed Indian construction worker Sakthivel Kumaravelu, 33, has been released on bail after being charged with causing death by a negligent act.

The wealthy but tiny Southeast Asian nation of 5.4 million depends heavily on guest workers, with labourers from South Asia dominating sectors like construction.

Sunday's riot was the second incident involving a large group of foreign workers in the past year.

In November 2012 171 Chinese bus drivers stopped work to demand better wages and living conditions -- the first industrial strike in Singapore since 1986.

Five of the drivers served jail terms after it was declared an illegal strike, while 29 others were deported without trial.

Officials have called for calm after the Little India riot, which triggered a wave of foreigner-bashing in social media.

On the Facebook page of Yahoo! Singapore, reader Tan Beng Ming wrote: "Jail them, cane them and send them packing! For good measure, send their compatriots back too!"

"Only foreigners will start a riot, it is their norm," wrote another reader, Koh Koh.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged Singaporeans Monday not to let the "isolated incident" tarnish their views of foreign workers, who number more than a million.

Lee also ordered the formation of a special committee to review the factors that led to the riot, as well as measures to manage areas where foreign workers congregate.

There will be a ban this weekend on the sale and consumption of alcohol in the area where the riot broke out following eyewitness accounts that many attackers were drunk.

Activists have urged authorities to investigate whether the violence on Sunday was an indication of wider discontent among poorly paid migrant workers.

"If these factors go unaddressed, the threshold for escalation remains low. The smallest incident gets to a tipping point quite easily," socio-political blogger Alex Au wrote.

Russel Heng, president of welfare group Transient Workers Count Too, said in a commentary in the Straits Times on Tuesday that "I find the on-line xenophobic comments targeting foreign workers offensive".

"If a majority of Singaporeans are reasonable fair-minded people, then I would urge every single one of us to rebuke, rebut or ignore the nasty xenophobes among us," he added.