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sri_bom Member
Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:01 pm Post subject: Riots In Singapore |
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Shameful act from the subcontinent workers
http://www.thesmartlocal.com/read/riot-breaks-out-in-little-inda
At 9.23pm on the 8th of December, it was reported that a foreign worker was involved in a fatal bus accident in Little India along Race Course Road. This accident sparked a riot which saw over 400 foreign nationals join in, first attacking the bus and then the emergency vehicles that responded to the situation.
An ambulance was set on fire and exploded and police cars were turned over. 3 bus loads of riot police were called in and after about two hours the situation was effectively contained with 27 arrests and limited casualties reported |
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Nimish Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2006 Posts: 9757 Location: Bangalore, India
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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Horrible to hear about all the deaths. This being Singapore, I'm pretty sure the roiters/ guilty will be dealt with firmly and quickly and fairly. Should go a long way in ensuring that no one thinks they are above the law.
That being said, that whole Serangoon area on weekends is a strange sight - lots of young sub-continental workers hanging around with seemingly nothing to do. Why not something constructive like play a match or get involved in some social activity? _________________ We miss you Nalini! |
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stealthpilot Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: BLR, DXB
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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Nimish wrote: | Horrible to hear about all the deaths. This being Singapore, I'm pretty sure the roiters/ guilty will be dealt with firmly and quickly and fairly |
It was just one death right?
Why are you sure it will be fair in Singapore? Firm an quick absolutely.
Rioting+throwing stones at police is bad enough, attacking an ambulance is a different ballgame. There was definitely more to this than someone getting run over by a bus ..... _________________ eP007 |
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The_Goat Member
Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 3260 Location: South of France
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Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 12:54 am Post subject: |
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I happen to know many third and even fourth generation Singapore Indians, whose grand parents migrated over there in the 1930s and 1940s.
All of them tell me one thing, and that is there is a big difference between them and the new arrivals from India and other South Asian countries.
A good proportion of the newbie youngsters lack civic sense, are arrogant, violent, start fights at the smallest pretext, and generally make an ass of themselves.
It is becoming a disturbing trend in many countries where Indians, particularly the blue collar folk, are in sizeable numbers (except possibly the US or the Gulf , thanks to the very strict laws). Indians are increasingly starting to gain the reputation of the Algerians in France or the Turks in Germany. It does not bode well for a community that has so far been seen as industrious, peaceful and trustworthy.
There were several reports of the uncouth behavior by a very large number of Indian fans during the Champion trophy final in Birmingham. They even booed at Ravi Bopara for not playing for India, and attacked the Indo-Brits who were waving British flags, WTF?
Regarding this particular incident, we don't know the facts. But there should be no mercy shown to people who attack emergency vehicles. None at all, whatever the pretext.
I hope Singapore deals with this properly. _________________ I don't know which is the more pampered bunch : AI's widebodies (the aunties) or Jet's widebodies (the planes).
-Jasepl |
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ssbmat Member
Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 1710
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Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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Singapore is a city state. It HAS to deal with these incidents swiftly and ruthlessly. For it to survive as a nation, it needs to send out a deterrent signal to anyone else who may have bright ideas.
Who knows, there could be protests of a more complex nature, like religion , political rights etc. They surely do NOT want that kind of situation with the goings-on in the neighbourhood. |
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Jaysit Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346
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Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 4:44 am Post subject: |
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ssbmat wrote: | Singapore is a city state. It HAS to deal with these incidents swiftly and ruthlessly. For it to survive as a nation, it needs to send out a deterrent signal to anyone else who may have bright ideas.
Who knows, there could be protests of a more complex nature, like religion , political rights etc. They surely do NOT want that kind of situation with the goings-on in the neighbourhood. |
Or else it could investigate why it took the cops and the ambulance over 30 minutes to show up. Who wouldn't be outraged?
If this happened to an Aussie or a Brit (no dearth of those in SIN), and the cops and the ambulance took 30 minutes to show up, I can bet that said Aussie/Brit's compatriots would have laid waste to the entire street. |
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star*gold Member
Joined: 29 Jan 2009 Posts: 187
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Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 6:57 am Post subject: |
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Almost every opinion piece coming outside of Singapore talks about the brutal conditions in which these migrant workers live, underscoring how the economy was/is built by these workers. It was also pointed out in the Economist how none of the rioters looted or damaged any of the shops in the vicinity, and that their anger seemed to be directed towards authority.
Until this happened I was under the assumption that workers from India in Singapore were paid and treated well, unlike the middle east or Malaysia! Did not know about the dormitories that house them! Must be well hidden, for on my trips through that city, all that I saw were shiny high rises!
Surprised that some are talking about swift and fair action, in a country that still uses caning as a form of punishment! |
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ssbmat Member
Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 1710
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Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 8:34 am Post subject: |
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Let me repeat, Singapore is a city state, not a free and fair democracy as the western countries allegedly are.
For it to survive, some so called civic liberties have to be given the go-by.
Law and order are paramount to its existence. On the other hand, the city does provide infrastructure and facilities to a degree of sophistication and efficiency to those who can afford, that are unmatched by most western countries , let alone South and South East Asia.
In this quest, some "lesser" privileged labour class has to pay the price.
But that is a universal human societal issue. Otherwise we would be living in a perfect world.
The same is the case with Gulf countries BUT additionally, they impose religious standards on their residents, which Singapore does not and would hopefully never do, given the kind of neighbours it has. |
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Jaysit Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346
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Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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ssbmat wrote: | Let me repeat, Singapore is a city state, not a free and fair democracy as the western countries allegedly are.
For it to survive, some so called civic liberties have to be given the go-by.
Law and order are paramount to its existence. On the other hand, the city does provide infrastructure and facilities to a degree of sophistication and efficiency to those who can afford, that are unmatched by most western countries , let alone South and South East Asia.
In this quest, some "lesser" privileged labour class has to pay the price.
But that is a universal human societal issue. Otherwise we would be living in a perfect world.
The same is the case with Gulf countries BUT additionally, they impose religious standards on their residents, which Singapore does not and would hopefully never do, given the kind of neighbours it has. |
You belong in one of those Gulf States "paying the price."
What a prehistoric notion of liberties, you have. |
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ssbmat Member
Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 1710
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Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 8:25 am Post subject: |
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I dont fancy utopian ideas of justice, liberty and equality as espoused by the self professed beacons of democracy.
The reality is that these beacons have also from time to time trashed civic liberties /democratic rights as and when they have found it convenient, yet try to get away with it. This is nothing but hypocracy.
And @jaysit & others - NO PERSONAL COMMENTS. period. |
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ryder1650 Member
Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 554
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Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 9:19 am Post subject: |
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ssbmat wrote: | I dont fancy utopian ideas of justice, liberty and equality as espoused by the self professed beacons of democracy.
The reality is that these beacons have also from time to time trashed civic liberties /democratic rights as and when they have found it convenient, yet try to get away with it. This is nothing but hypocracy.
And @jaysit & others - NO PERSONAL COMMENTS. period. |
So what do you prefer then? Slavery, torture, and fascism? Like any human system, there are corrupt ones that come in and exploit others, but if we don't try and promote a good society, it will quickly devolve into something horrible. |
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ssbmat Member
Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 1710
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Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 9:29 am Post subject: |
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Of course good society can and should be promoted.
For countries like the Gulf and Singapore, cheap labour will always be required to ensure that majority of its residents enjoy the benefits of high living standards.
The moment this labour class starts creating political issues, the very existence of these states will be threatened.
It will take a long time for these states (perhaps beyond our lifetimes) to overcome this. USA was largely built on slave labour for many dozens of years. It is now serviced by Latin American labour. But the black population largely remains underprevileged. For all its economic might and democratic principles, US has still not been able to assimilate disparate racial and socioeconomic classes. So do you expect Gulf states and Singapore to do so ? |
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stealthpilot Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: BLR, DXB
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Jaysit Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 6:46 am Post subject: |
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ssbmat wrote: | Of course good society can and should be promoted.
For countries like the Gulf and Singapore, cheap labour will always be required to ensure that majority of its residents enjoy the benefits of high living standards.
The moment this labour class starts creating political issues, the very existence of these states will be threatened.
It will take a long time for these states (perhaps beyond our lifetimes) to overcome this. USA was largely built on slave labour for many dozens of years. It is now serviced by Latin American labour. But the black population largely remains underprevileged. For all its economic might and democratic principles, US has still not been able to assimilate disparate racial and socioeconomic classes. So do you expect Gulf states and Singapore to do so ? |
Apparently, you condone fascism. How tragic. |
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sri_bom Member
Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore
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Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 8:38 am Post subject: |
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Nimish wrote: | Horrible to hear about all the deaths. This being Singapore, I'm pretty sure the roiters/ guilty will be dealt with firmly and quickly and fairly. Should go a long way in ensuring that no one thinks they are above the law.
That being said, that whole Serangoon area on weekends is a strange sight - lots of young sub-continental workers hanging around with seemingly nothing to do. Why not something constructive like play a match or get involved in some social activity? |
After six long hard days of work under the scroching sun I do not think any one would like to get involved in social activity. As for cricket matches the area has very limited open fields hence they have no choice but congregate in Little India. Besides it brings them memories from home and they get to eat food of their choice. Also this is one place where they feel at home without being out of place. |
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Spiderguy252 Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2007 Posts: 4259 Location: Indian Ocean
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Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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Jaysit wrote: | If this happened to an Aussie or a Brit (no dearth of those in SIN), and the cops and the ambulance took 30 minutes to show up, I can bet that said Aussie/Brit's compatriots would have laid waste to the entire street. |
Er...I don't think so. _________________ Yeah. |
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