Update 1 May 2013 - Inaugural Labour Day Protest - Day Of Reckoning
Five important reasons why you must participate in labour day protest – For a better Singapore
With five days to go before our inaugural labour day protest, I hope that Singaporeans will turn out in full force at Hong Lim Park to protest against the 6.9 million population white paper and labour related issues.
I have listed five reasons why Singaporeans must show up at our labour day protest:
1. People’s power
2. Future of the country
3. Future of the movement
4. Do not wait till GE 2016
5. Ground up labour movement
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JOBS THAT SINGAPOREANS WON’T DO
See you there!
There are many out there who know what is going on but choose to hide and live in denial that this PAP system works against Singaporeans. I urge you to come to Hong Lim Park with your placards and stand in solidarity with our fellow Singaporeans to say “No to 6.9 million”.
Obviously the PAP Govt will ignore our voices as they did in the past. That is why we have this social decay today.
So please have the b*lls and make it a priority to show up and support our Singaporean cause on 1st of May at Hong Lim Park, NS brothers! This is our call of duty, see you there!
OPEN LETTER TO MINSTER KHAW – PLS GIVE US THE COST BREAKDOWN OF HDB FLATS
The May 1st “Say no to 6.9 Million” has been labeled “xenophobic” but the irony is many Singaporeans are asking very practical questions that the PAP Govt is not able to answer except giving a “merry go around” answers or saying “what do you think?”
My brothers and sisters, answer the call of duty for your country, for your future generations, don’t expect others to stand up for you, please support the voices that speak for us, if not one day when they are gone, there will be no one else to speak for you, in your time of need!
Grow some b*lls and see you there!
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May Day Protest – The need to fight for our rights!
We do not need to protest if the governance by the incumbent was excellent.
We pay them hefty fees, and we are deemed to be daft, lazy, choosy or whatever they wish to call us Singaporeans.
We know we are not, but, suppression did us in.
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Labour day protest – day of reckoning for fellow Singaporeans?
As we head towards May 1st 2013 today and a bigger gathering at Hong Lim Green I wish to share some thoughts with our fellow Singaporeans.
We all recognise that Singapore is at the cross-road of change. The politics of the last 2 years impels us to think and reflect on what kind of Singapore we wish to have.
The gathering of 5,000 Singaporeans at Hong Lim Green on February 16 compels us to accelerate our thinking on this vital issue.
No longer is it sufficient for us to leave everything to a government that has lost its direction and agility. It is not easy for a depoliticized state such as ours to move forward. However there is still hope.
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The “other” May Day event at Hong Lim Park
Don’t know how many people know this but there are actually two events taking place at Hong Lim Park on May Day. The more well-known one is by the same organisers who held the Population White Paper protest in February. This has been billed variously as a sequel, a move to call for a better Singapore – a labour day “protest’’ – a ground up movement – unlike the prim and proper NTUC May Day rally held indoors for invited guests only. It will start at 4pm.
There is also a morning event starting at 9am, held by a group of people who call themselves Stand Up For Singapore. These are the people who distributed tokens to bus and taxi drivers who worked during Christmas. They propose a picnic-style event on that same patch of green more known for political events than for parties.
Being named after a national song, it is no wonder that this group has been facing some flak from those who think they are government plants out to take the shine away from the 4pm event. Never mind that this is Stand Up for Singapore organising the event – not some political group.
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A Problem Out Of Thin Air
When Gilbert Goh announced that he will be holding a May Day protest at Hong Lin Park, I questioned the wisdom of that. I said then that the successful protest on 16th February could be a one-time thing as the 10 weeks break between the two protests would be a problem and less people will show up on 1st May.
That might no longer be the case as the May Day protest just got a shot in the arm by, of all people, the Singapore government.
The problem started when two ministers contacted the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP), a Muslim civil group, and exerted pressure due to Nizam Ismail, a director of the group who was scheduled to speak at the May Day protest. In a post on his blog, Mr. Ismail announced that he decided to quit as a board director of AMP as it had been hinted that government funds "might" be withheld from the group if he spoke at the protest. His resignation was to distance himself from AMP.
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Changing of Facebook Wall Pic To Promote Inaugural Labour Day Protest
As we are currently experiencing and suffering from the problems of the over-population, sky high property prices, delayed marriages, overloading of transport systems, many are underemployed and jobless, suffering silently with workplace discriminations.
These issues and problems will even worsen as we allow the population to grow to 6.9m. It will adversely affect our lives and our children lives.
Without unity and protests from the common folks who suffers from bad policies, we will be at the mercies of bad policies. I therefore urge you to join in our protest cum gathering this May day.
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Foreigners told to stay away from May 1 event
The organiser of the February protest against the Population White Paper is asking foreigners to stay away from the second protest at Speakers' Corner in Hong Lim Park on May 1
Mr Gilbert Goh, who runs the website Transitioning.org, made the decision after the National Parks Board (NParks) - which manages Speakers' Corner - notified him on April 18 that he would need to apply for a police permit if foreigners were participating in the protest, he said at a press conference yesterday.
Mr Goh, 51, said that as he did not plan on applying for a permit, organisers would be putting up signs at the park on May 1 stating NParks' regulation on foreigners.
"We'll put up the signs. We want a peaceful protest. But if foreigners show up, we can't just chase them off," he said. Mr Goh had earlier advertised the event on Facebook with a message that said: "Locals and foreigners are all welcome to join in this Labour Day protest and we are expecting a 10,000-size crowd."
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Foreigners not allowed to participate in Labour Day protest?
The organiser of the next week's Labour Day protests says foreign nationals may be barred from the event due to a technicality
Gilbert Goh of transitioning.org said on Tuesday at a press conference at Bras Basah Complex that he has not applied for a police permit to hold the follow-up protest to the "No to 6.9 million" mass protest held earlier this year.
The move comes after a request by the National Parks Board (NParks) for Goh to apply for a police permit that would allow the participation of foreigners in the protest.
Under the terms and conditions for use of the Speakers’ Corner, a police permit "must be obtained if permanent residents of Singapore are speaking or organising a demonstration, performance or exhibition, and/or if foreigners are speaking or participating in or organising activities at Speakers’ Corner.”
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Inaugural labour day protest – first in Singapore’s history
We have also received news from NParks that we need a police permit as foreigners are participating in the event. We have decided not to apply for the permit as firstly we do not have foreigners helping us to organise or speak at our event – as per our first Feb 16 protest and secondly we have never being asked to apply for any permit except for the online speaking permit.
The clause stated in the NPark ruling for foreigner participation is also unclear ie, #10. A Police Permit must be obtained if permanent residents of Singapore are speaking or organising a demonstration, performance or exhibition, and/or if foreigners are speaking or "participating in" or organising activities at Speakers’ Corner
The clause is very clear on all other aspects of foreigner involvement except for the "participating in" part. Do foreigners who attend the event deemed as participating in the event?
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Count down to May Day Rally at Hong Lim
The call so far is for Singaporeans to be there, rain or shine. For safe measures, Gilbert may want to add another call, be there no matter what. Even if the rally is cancelled by the authority, Singaporeans can still be at the park, with no speeches or stage or shows. Would there then be a case when the park will be barricaded to keep Singaporeans out? It will be really weird won’t it?
The message from the people against the big population is loud and clear.
Would the Gang of 77 hear or get notice of it? Would anyone of them be bothered to say, hey, the people did not like what we are going to do? Let me try to put myself into the Gang of 77 and try to sense or feel what are they thinking, if they do bother to think about it.
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Nparks wants protest organisers to apply for permit
With 2 weeks to the second protest at Speakers’ Corner against the population White Paper, the organisers of the event have been asked to apply for a police permit.
The “For A Better Singapore” event on 1st May is a follow-up to the one on 16 February which saw some 5,000 people turn up in support.
On 18 April, the National Parks Board, or Nparks, informed Mr Gilbert Goh of transitioning.org, the organisers, that he has to comply with one of the rules of use for Speakers’ Corner for the 1st May event, namely:
“A Police Permit must be
obtained if permanent residents of Singapore are speaking or organising a
demonstration, performance or exhibition, and/or if foreigners are
speaking or participating in or organising activities at Speakers’
Corner, Hong Lim Park.”
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For A Better Singapore
This is a labour day sequel protest against the 6.9 million population white paper and other matters that affect Singaporeans. Locals and foreigners are all welcome to join in this labour day protest and we are expecting a 10,000-size crowd.
If you like to speak at the event please email gilbert@transitioning.org and we will get in touch with you. There will be light pre-event entertainment at around 3.15pm. Please design and bring along your personal placard so Hong Lim Park is rocking with protest placards! Please also download our androids hp appshttps://www.dropbox.com/s/
For media enquiries, please email gilbert@transitioning.org.
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Significance of May day sequel protest – For a Better Singapore
The theme of our sequel event is For a Better Singapore and as its also labour day, we will want the event to be represented by many Singaporeans from all walks of life.
We have a 66-year-old Singaporean speaking on the CPF retirement scheme, two mothers talking about the fears their children will face in future and a young disabled guy speaking about challenges the disbled face in our country.
Nevertheless, its difficult to plan for a better sequel after the massive success on 16 February and as organisers, the pressure piles on relentlessly – both from the local people and international community.
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May Day White Paper Protest
Thanks all for your comments which we will take note of. With limited funds we will need to budget properly and provide for essential services i.e tee shirts, stage, sound and other logistics.
As for speakers, we have yet to firm them up so won’t announce till much later. This round be assured that we will want to inject more ordinary Singaporeans caught out by the 6.9 million population white paper so that their voices will be heard.
We already have a 66-year-old senior citizen talking about the CPF retirement money in both Mandarin and English and are also trying to get a physically challenged guy to speak out for the community. We have spoken to a JC student, NUS undergrad and NTU undergrad and hopefully one of them will take to the stage. We are also in the midst of asking someone to do sign language on that day so the hearing impaired can turn out for the event but this is not confirmed. There will be fewer politicians speaking this round with some NGOs and bloggers taking the stage as well.
See you soon Singapore! Can we count on you again? Lets rock Hong Lim Park as we had on 16 Feb
Why I Organised the Labour Day Sequel Protest – For A Better Singapore
By now, many of you would have known of the labour day sequel
protest – For a Better Singapore – organised about 2 1/2 months after
the historic protest on 16 Feb
The second labour day protest will once again feature on the 6.9 million population white paper and other matters that affect Singaporeans which include minimum wage, proper labour legistration for both foreign and local workers, retirement planning among others.
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Next White Paper protest set for May 1: organiser
SINGAPORE - FEBRUARY 16: People in Singaporean scarves as they sing the
National Anthem during the protest against the government's White Paper
on Population at Speakers' Corner at Hong Lim Park on February
The stage is set for a sequel to Singapore’s groundbreaking Population White Paper protest last month.
Event organiser Gilbert Goh of transitioning.org told Yahoo! Singapore
on Tuesday that he has successfully applied for a Speakers’ Corner
permit on Wednesday 1st May, which falls on Labour Day, a public
holiday.
The event is being staged as a follow-up to the initial White
Paper protest held on February 16, which was also organized by
transitioning.org, a support site for the unemployed. On that day,
almost 4,000 people braved the rain to listen to a panel of speakers
address concerns over the White Paper on Population.
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Target 10,000 people for White Paper Protest 2
The Facebook page for the second protest against the Population White Paper has been set up:
http://www.facebook.com/events/138310433012844/
The second public protest is scheduled on Labour Day, 1 May 2013, which is a public holiday, at the Speakers’ Corner (Hong Lim Park).
It is organized by the same organizer, transitioning.org, of the first White Paper protest, ‘Say NO to 6.9 million population’.
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Sequel Protest: Say No to 6.9M population
You heard him right! After the blockbuster success on the 16th of March 2013, Gilbert Goh of Transitioning.org wants to organize yet another protest.
Gilbert has a knack for making protests look like rock concerts. Do join him to see what he has in store this time around!
While you’re here, we like to hear from you.
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Sequel May Day Protest
This is a labour day sequel protest against the 6.9 million population white paper and other matters that affect Singaporeans. Locals and foreigners are all welcome to join in this labour day protest and we are expecting a 10,000-size crowd.
If you like to speak at the event please email gilbert@transitioning.org and we will get in touch with you. There will be light pre-event entertainment at around 3.15pm. Please design and bring along your personal placard so Hong Lim Park is rocking with protest placards! Please also download our androids hp apps https://www.dropbox.com/s/hmp8mf1unu5k99x/May01.apk for the latest updates.
For media enquiries, please email gilbert@transitioning.org. We also want to remind Singaporeans that we are not collaborating with the other Facebook group Say NO to an overpopulated Singapore even though they have regularly posted our event on their facebook page. See you soon
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Labour Day Sequel Protest Against The 6.9 Million Population White Paper
It's a public holiday. Be there to give your peaceful support!
Check out details at
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May Day Protest: Say "No" to an overpopulated Singapore"
Location: Speakers' Corner @ Hong Lim Park
Start time:
End time:
Owner:
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May Day Protest Rally – Why?
Many of you have attended the first protest rally in February. And a sequel is being arranged for May Day. What curious me, and perhaps Gilbert, would be the motivation of the people who made it a point to be there. Many were there for different reasons. They all went home feeling recharged with an old emotion of a past when they were Singaporeans.
It seemed that that was a long forgotten feeling that was lost and found again in Hong Lim on Feb 16. Many cried, as simple as that. Many were emotional. This is what being a people united is all about. Something connected them, something clicked.
The people in the Govt may also want to know what was that strange emotion felt by everyone present in Hong Lim. There was something out there that bonded the people. Gilbert too would want to know. It will make his second effort more meaningful.
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I was at Hong Lim Protest for our Singaporean children
Many of us, who live overseas are disgusted by what Singapore has become. Half of us want to go back to Singapore to retire after we are no more employable. In the country we work in, their government protects its citizens. But in Singapore, it’s the reverse! They only protect the rich and elite.
Singapore has become the country club house of the rich and elite. Many of the rich come to Singapore with corrupted/ill-gotten money, especially the PRCs and Indonesians. You can find this news almost every week in our MSM, Shitty Times.
I hope, through this start of NEW FREEDOM MOVEMENT, the next elected non-PAP lead Government will start loving its citizens more than the foreigners. Put in better welfare for the old and poor
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continued from: Voice Of The People @ Hong Lim Park
