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Team
sang "We shall overcome" before taking off at the
Speakers' Corner.
Team
recited National Pledge in front of the Parliament House.
Team
handed their letter to PM Lee at Istana.
Police
gave warnings as procession is "illegal".
Night
vigil with Dr Chee's family outside the Queenstown Prison.
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Why
"Democracy Now"? - Report of the 1st
anniversary of WB-IMF protest
17 Sep 07
On 16 September
2007, five democracy advocates marked the first anniversary of a
72-hour protest when the police formed a human prison around the
protesters last year.
The group consisting of SDP and
non-SDP members wearing T-shirts calling for "Democracy
Now!" and "Freedom Now!" marched the route that it
had planned to take a year ago. We were joined by supporters and
political activists along who walked the entire route which ended
at Queesnstown Prison where Dr Chee is imprisoned.
Along
the way, at a busy traffic junction, we were accosted by a group
of police who made a feeble attempt to physically block us from
moving ahead. The police warning was rattled off by a familiar
policeman who identified himself as DSP Tan. After thanking him
for the warning, we continued to walk on.
It is no
coincidence that those of us who took part in last year's
December 10 Freedom Walk were hastily issued police letters to
warn us instead of prosecuting us for participating in a
procession without permit.
These police letters dated 14
September 2007, are usually mailed to us were slipped these
letters in our mailboxes or into our homes on the same day to
warn those of us who were intending to commemorate the September
16 anniversary.
It is lamentable that the Singapore Police
Force which is supposed to protect the people is plotting to
persecute democracy advocates. Who or what are the police
defending when they intimidate, charge and arrest activists who
come together peacefully to voice their concerns? The excuse that
public protests will degenerate into chaos and violence is the
same tiresome rhetoric that the PAP Government uses to justify
its despotic stance.
But why are the Singapore Democrats
so fervent and adamant in our call for democracy? What has
democracy to do with how we live our lives?
It is
precisely because there is no democracy that callous regulations
and policies such as the compulsory annuities, raise of GST,
bus-fares, ERP fares etc. continue to plague Singaporeans. To add
insult to injury, while we dig deeper into our pockets to
survive, the ministers increased their already bloated salaries
even further.
Democracy and "bread and butter"
issues are not mutually exclusive. In order to speak up
fearlessly about how governmental decisions affect our very
lives, our basic rights and freedoms of expression must be
protected. It is only in democratic societies that governments
listen to and respond to the needs of the people.
The SDP
and democracy activists will continue in our work to bring
democracy, freedom and justice to our country.
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